Covid-19 Updates: 150 in My County, 2 Deaths Total

Well, the numbers are in and this little peninsula county is holding steady. 150 total verified cases, 2 deaths, and so far testing of first responders shows 3 infected for every 10,000 people here (though more testing is coming at last!)

The governor here has a plan to s-l-o-w-l-y reopen in stages. Phase 1 is shut-down, but we’re going to allow parks to open again in a few days (though some parks have already been opened) and a few other restrictions will be lifted. Phase 2 begins at the end of May if the numbers stay steady or drop, which will be even more opened. Phases 3 will be 3 weeks later IF numbers are steady or down, and the final phase before all restrictions are eased will be 3 weeks after that, again, only IF numbers are steady or down.

That seems logical to me.

I’m hoping to use the next couple of months to built up supplies again before the next wave hits, maybe late summer or fall. I HOPE it would wait til winter, but I doubt we’ll be that lucky. Not the way so many areas are opening up prematurely with their numbers going up.

There is an exodus of people fleeing cities right now. As things are opening up, city dwellers are selling their urban cribs and finding homes in the suburbs or near-rural areas. Cat heard this report and said we need to get our old mobile home out of here and replaced. I heartily agree! We need the extra income and the safety net. Cat feels her job is good for at least a few more months. She’s one of the most crucial coders there, too. Still, there is a chance she’ll lose her job if the company goes under and she’s really feeling insecure. So we’re in the midst of planning for that contingency as well. The mobile home would be rented out until such a time as my mother dies and my sister can buy it, then she can pay a modest lot rent. I also told Cat we need to start looking around for another renter in the main house. Carefully and being SUPER picky, but yeah… we need to at least be thinking about how to do that.

Finally, after 2 months staying at home with Cat, maybe going out on average once every 2 weeks at most for an errand to the bank or pharmacy (not counting drives) I can honestly say we don’t want to kill each other. In fact, we’ve been steadily working most things out. I still miss my time at home alone, but we’re in a much better place, friendship-wise. A couple of tense moments popped up, but we worked these out quite swiftly, sometimes in just a minute or less. We’ve come a LONG way since we first moved in here. I’m far less jumpy and Cat is far less grumpy. And– yes, Tess being out of here (oh-my-god did we luck out on the timing!) is a factor in that for sure.

I’m hopeful but cautious. We are going into a Phase 2 ourselves– enjoying a slight reprieve from the strictest avoidance with the public while building up supplies once more in anticipation of a Second Wave that closes everything down again and for a longer period of time. Cat is going to plug in and use a second freezer that’s being stored in the garage. A higher electric bill will be the result, sure– but the extra food storage will be welcomed, especially as I need easy-squeezy freezer food when I’m flaring.

So, in short– our area is not bad, we are making it so far, and we’re planning in order to keep it that way as long as possible.