Retirement Rehearsal

According to the CDC, the history of quarantine is as follows: The practice of quarantine, as we know it, began during the 14th century in an effort to protect coastal cities from plague epidemics. Ships arriving in Venice from infected ports were required to sit at anchor for 40 days before landing. This practice, called quarantine, was derived from the Italian words quaranta giorni which mean 40 days.

This strange time of life has brought up some human dynamics that we're all adjusting to. We're having to learn simple contentment in a crash course timeframe. Typically this is developed over decades.

For our days to feel productive now, we're having to dust off our stored away hobbies and develop out older methods of communication to keep up our human connections.

The most impactful activity that has been removed is our gatherings. Having a beer with a buddy after work, having people over to bar-b-que or date night to try out a new trendy restaurant. These have always been uplifting staples of our ordinary. This is specifically tough because of how social we are as a species and current culture.

While there are much larger negative impacts that are very real and very unjustifiable, I wanted to highlight the hopeful piece of my brain. This chapter isn't fun, but it is a chapter. We're in the thick of it right now, but the pages will keep turning.

Additionally, I hope there will be good byproducts that come from this. Get to know your family better. Spend time honing in your hobbies. If you don't have non-Netflix hobbies, get to know yourself better and develop some. It will help you in retirement.

With so much uncertainty in the air, we're looking for answers that have yet to be found. One certainty though, is that time will win and our species will adapt like we historically have.

In summation, take this seriously. Don't be selfishly flippant about your routine. Stay home and outdoors. Spread love, not Corona. Yep.


New in my life: Having to cut my own hair and my dream of having a mullet are coinciding nicely. Turkeys are smart. I'm building and writing to show affection and looking forward to same-siding.


Keep smilin'


JM