My area in Florida is the 3rd highest case rate but the highest death rate per percentage . I’m not ready to venture out anytime soon. Our rates briefly dropped to almost 50% but is now creeping right back up. I’m seeing a lot more congregating with kids and teens and their parents.

I don’t have the answers. The whole world is going through the same thing. I know people need to work. I’m just worried that people are letting their guard down a bit too early.

"Though some people are foolish many are responsible and don’t want to endanger themselves or others."

Unfortunately it only takes one foolish person to infect another then another then another.

The State of Oregon is opening up very slowly even though it has one of the lowest number of cases/deaths.

Counties can now send in their plans for reopening and in some cases, if they meet the requirements, will be able to open in Phase 1 on May 15. Phase One includes, restaurants, gyms, salons, etc. Many rural counties will probably meet the criteria; however, the metro Portland area which is comprised of 3 of Oregon's largest counties, is at least 3 weeks from being able to open. I live in one of those counties and while my city has less than 10 cases, I am glad that we are not opening soon.

When we do begin to reopen, I will not be going to my hair salon unless I am the only client in the shop. I have already arranged to have manicures and pedicures at home when it is allowed. I won't be dining in at restaurants but I will continue to take out and give generous tips to the servers.

With that said, I am going to my dermatologist on Thursday. They have advised me of their safety protocol and I am satisfied with it.....I think.

Another Floridian, though I live in the county just south of the last 2 remaining ones that are still basically closed (Miami-Dade and Broward). Our checkpoint to the mainland is still in place but restaurants have been allowed to open at 25%, and hair salons are allowed to reopen today. My stylist texted she will be letting clients know when we can make appointments.

This week I see my plastic surgeon for my first in-person follow up for my reconstructive surgery that was done mid-February. We have been using the online medical chart email function-periodically I send close up pictures of my nose (which is a rather unnerving photo attachment LOL), he reviews and sends me directions on how and what to do or not do. According to a good friend who uses the same practice and location, there are a LOT of safeguards in place so I'm going to put my trust in the medical staff.

After the appointment that friend and I are tentatively planning to meet for lunch, which will be a picnic outdoors on campus. I'll bring takeout sandwiches. It will be nice to spend time doing something normal like that!

While I’m not sure I’m ready to go to the salon, when it opens, in a month, my hair has officially outgrown its style. I last got my hair cut just over two months ago. If appointments are scheduled fairly, I’ll probably be able to go in a month or two after they open. But I may not want to, That is a long time for my hair to be flat.

Speaking of foolish, we had a restaurant defy Governor's orders and open yesterday. South of Denver.

Oh boy deeg - I wouldn't want to be in there!! That picture did cause a weird thought to pop into my head though. Assuming we do get some kind of immunity if we get CV19 and that we can achieve herd immunity, would it be in our best interests to let those who may be low risk and/or who want to risk it go out and do so to speed up that process while those who don't want to take a chance continue to stay home? I'm sure there are flaws with that idea but it did come to mind.

I don't know when our salons are going to open but my hair is growing out better than I expected - DH's too. I trimmed the back of his along the neck yesterday which helped. I could get by with just a back neck trim too I think. I used to think I'd get to the salon ASAP once they open but now I'm not so sure. I think I'd ask my stylist if she'd come by our house again as she did on March 25 - the last time we got our hair cut/trimmed.

3katz, I agree with you. Things cannot stay closed indefinitely. People have to work. Kids are going to have to back to school, surgeries have to be performed, routine medical procedures need to be scheduled, etc. But we must be careful; we must do things slowly. Sadly, there are those who will refuse to go along with that. Our salons opened this past week and the mr. and I were able to get in with our stylist the day BEFORE her shop was opening to the public. We did not go together. She did a few clients that day and it was just her and one client in the salon at a time. She disinfected between each client. For part of my appointment, there was another stylist at the other end of the salon, their break room, supply room, etc. further disinfecting and moving furniture from seating area (clients stay in their car until their appointment, no sitting in shop). As the mr. has been working through all this and has occasionally seen clients (precautions taken!), etc. he really did need a haircut. As mentioned in another thread, I've decided to let go of coloring my hair, so I wanted to go in. I had planned to wait till she told us she could see us alone.

The thing about churches is, how do you decide what 50% or what 50 or 100 persons can attend? Our church has been thoroughly sanitized, etc. but how do you fairly limit WHO can attend? Also, I believe our county has indicated that while churches can now meet, no children's activities. So no nurseries? No children's service? Which I understand, but you are going to have to bring children in to the main service and they will count into that 50% or whatever number it is. Hard to do. I did see this weekend a couple more churches are having "drive-in" church, which might be a good thing. I know we gave out food boxes again this past week and those of us that met to do that were thrilled to be together, talk, catch up, etc.

I'm with you 3katz.

Most restaurants are open here, by reservation only, and they are getting more and more busy. This week, retail stores get to open up. I'm ready for that. Not everyone here wears a mask, I can see both sides, but I feel like if you are compromised, you need to stay home and quarantine yourselves from others. In my city, some hair and nail salon owners wanting to open up last took the city to court and won. Glad for them. In the end, I think the young should get out and get this over with faster, nothing is a perfect situation.

My son has been meeting, starting last week, with under ten friends, going to the lake and fishing and paddleboarding. Kids are outdoors a lot more, I think that is good. Not much for them to do yet around town, those places open up this week. Also, my son got his hair cut and they both wore masks.

I am happy our federal government shut down things for awhile to get our bearings straight, and get ahead of things as well as we could have.

Right now I am just trying to come to terms with where I live and that we CHOSE to be here. I am seriously questioning my life choices at this point. The SAH arguments have worn me out. I live among idiots.

For starters, NC ranked 51st among the 50 states and DC in Covid19 support. Quite an accomplishment doncha think?

https://www.thetimesnews.com/news/20200511/north-carolina-ranked-worst-in-covid-19-support

And then there's this lovely item in the News and Observer (Raleigh)

A group of about 11 mostly-armed demonstrators protesting the stay-at-home order marched around downtown Raleigh and ordered sandwiches at a Subway on Saturday morning.

Our church has been thoroughly sanitized, etc.

What good does sanitizing do, if the first person who enters after the sanitizing is infected? It's like bedbugs, an establishment can be super clean, and have just finished a bedbug abatement treatment, but as soon as one traveler brings bedbugs into a room they are at square one again. Or dusting - as soon as I finish dusting I can see those dust particles beginning to fall again.

NYC is making a big deal out of closing down every night to clean the cars, but wouldn't it be more effective to station a team on each train to constantly wipe down surfaces with disinfectant? Perhaps they already do that in addition to the deep cleaning when they shut down?

As terriks, the real issue is people in confined spaces for extended periods of time, not necessarily the surfaces. It's been shown time and time again that these clusters of infection really proliferate from large gatherings and/or extended in-person contact.

We will need to find the right balance between economic development and minimizing early death. Every study and mass testing trial has shown we are far away from the 60% to 80% required for herd immunity (even considering those disputed studies using the unapproved antibody tests). Reaching that will still take many deaths, even if the highest risk populations are confined.

Thanks for that map, Gooster. It makes me feel better about being in Riverside County instead of Los Angeles, and the density here is way below the density in L.A., where I did not feel particularly safe. We have to go back this week-end, but only for a couple of days.

I looked at Texas also and noticed that Coryell County (next to the county where I grew up) has a very high rate, perhaps because that is where Fort Hood is located, but it also has the Gatesville Correctional Facility, where one of my cousins used to work. I do wonder if military bases have a higher rate. Mason County Texas has an extremely high rate, but it is also where there are some large retirement/nursing homes.

I'm okay with NE California opening up a bit, since it is very rural and sparsely populated, but I heard that Mendocino County wants to open up, especially its beaches, and that could possibly cause some problems, as those beaches could become very popular, even though they are cold with even colder water. Right now, Mendocino has an extremely low rate of infection, however, but that could change, as it is a popular place to visit in the summer.

What good does sanitizing do, if the first person who enters after the sanitizing is infected? Of course I understand what you are saying terriks, but facilities are supposed to be disinfecting, which will be done after any service held at the church. As I mentioned, my church IS NOT holding services at this time. State and county guidelines/restrictions should be updated around May 29 and a decision will be made after that as what to do next. My actual city has an extremely low rate of the virus, although my concern is the neighboring tourist areas. If people flock back to these areas, and infection rates pick up, it would almost certainly affect our little area. I have an acquaintance who has a one year old child, just found out she is pregnant and her and her husband both work in a dinner theater in one of these cities. My heart goes out to them. They also have a house (mortgage) less than two years old and of course, all the bills that go along with a house/family. I know they need to work. At some point, things are going to have to open up. Maybe not as we knew it, but still, people have to work.

Well, we live in NC, and I honestly don’t feel like I am surrounded by idiots. People in my area are quarantining and wearing masks. The state certainly wasn’t one of the first to begin easing, and I think our 3 phase plan is logical.

I try not to judge people who are genuinely concerned about their future. Many protesters have lost jobs, can’t feed their families, and feel that government is overstepping. While I support the steps the government is taking to control the virus, as someone who studied the Constitution and Constitutional law in college...there are a few things that perhaps do cross a line or two.

A bulk of the cases (and deaths) in NC are in congregate living facilities, mostly nursing homes and prisons, so people aren’t seeing the cases in their communities in the same way people in NYC are. All they know is the government is telling them what to do and won’t let them work. And they are mad and scared. Who am I to judge and call them names? NC certainly isn’t the only state with protestors.

Just Terrilyn and Running I live in Florida as well. Collier county Marco Island area. These past two weekends the beaches here and Naples became so packed with people from Miami area that Naples ended up closing their beaches on Sunday. There were boats backed up at the one small ramp on Marco and people parking illegally here and on the little town of Goodland. My DH wanted to take our boat out on Saturday and I gave him a firm no for an answer. Also a few hotels in Naples were totally booked Friday and Saturday night with East coasters as well. It was a real crap show so I was glad yesterday was rainy! Hope you get your beaches open soon over there!!

It's too bad some people feel the need to show up with guns but I guess that goes with the territory for the type of freedom our country was founded upon. I suppose these people are just trying to make a point about freedom vs. gov't control. Thankfully I haven't run into anyone visibly bearing arms - another benefit of staying home. It would kind of freak me out I think.

nini I live in the WNC county with the high nursing home infection and death rates and because they are largely confined to those facilities, there is a significant % of the population here that thinks there should be no SAH order at all. I applaud the Gov for the methodical approach to reopening but it's not being met here with a lot of support and a great deal of outright defiance.

https://www.hendersonvillelightning.com/four-seasons-politics/9168-cawthorn-hosts-tailgate-event-to-support-restaurants-and-shops.html

I envy you the sense that your community is acting with caution. It is not the same here overall. My compassion for the people who are suffering financially is not in conflict with my frustration with people protesting or going in stores maskless. But the fact is, the Gov could open the state 100%, no restriction on anyone and people will still suffer financially because they've lost a job that won't just reappear. Restaurants and stores will not see a pre-covid return to their businesses just because restrictions are lifted and will not restaff 100% - people are frightened and will remain cautious for a long time. There is no magic switch to be flipped to turn the economy back on, it will come back at the pace dictated by the people, not a government relaxing or lifting restrictions. The business drop off and DOW plunge pre-dated the SAH orders. People were reacting to what was happening in other countries and the government response followed that.

Cmm, you wrote:

"These past two weekends the beaches here and Naples became so packed with people from Miami area that Naples ended up closing their beaches on Sunday"

This is what is worrying me to no end--as soon as the checkpoint into the Florida Keys opens up we will be inundated with day trippers from Miami, which of course is by far the most intense COVID hot spot in the state. For some perspective, as of today the Corona infection count in Miami is 14,167. The Corona infection count in the Florida Keys is 92.

And frankly there are way too many covidiots up there who think it's their god given right to come down and do whatever they want for 'a day in the Keys'. My grocery store is the first Publix as you head south....we're all gonna die.

Running I don’t know if this is true but I heard Miami area beaches will open May 18? It seems the East coast people stocked up before they crossed over to Marco and there didn’t seem to be any restaurants here that reported an uptick in business.

I know some younger people who work in the service industry, and the stories they tell about rude customers is so disheartening. Similar to the Cape Code ice cream shop. One 20-something who works at Buffalo Wild Wings told me she was yelled at repeatedly by customers yesterday because their kitchen couldn't keep up with the orders.

My state (Illinois) has faced what seems like immense criticism on its re-opening plan. It's in phases, with less populated counties easing restrictions sooner than Chicago. But the counties surrounding Chicago are kinda clumped in with Chicago, and they are complaining the loudest. And now, Wisconsin lawmakers are trying to dissuade federal money coming to our state because our state has been in a fiscal mess of our own making for years (this is true).

It sometimes feels like everyone, everywhere, is just complaining and pointing fingers. I have to really look hard to find the good in people these days.

NC is a purple state so you have a mix of urban and rural, kind of like Colorado. But, yes, my Nextdoor is out of control. And although NC has a Democratic governor, the state legislature is mostly Republican. NC is generally one of the “better” states in the south, though I agree with DLM, in that we question sometimes why we live here but at least it’s not SC, etc. If I could get a job in California, or overseas or Canada, or if I can look to retire somewhere else if I make it that far in 10 more years.

I find it fascinating how adamant so many are that they KNOW who to believe, what to believe and are soooo quick to point fingers at the other side!! Truth is no one knows the full picture of this..and can't. History will tell, until then do what you need to to FEEL safe. Will you be safe-IDK I think it's a crap shoot but you can keep a hold of your sanity. This started with the sentence "our grocery stores are opening..." Ours never closed..and the county still only has 6 confirmed cases. IMHO population density is a huge factor. Not what political ideology your government is run by, not if stores are open or closed, not how sanitized a place is but HOW MANY PEOPLE IN CLOSE QUARTERS there are! So yes don't ride elevators with 14 other people but touch a can of peas at the grocery store YOU WILL BE FINE!! COULD you get this from_______ya science says YOU CAN but has anyone??!! No one is saying it has actually happened!! Wear your masks, wash your hands when returning home, socialize outdoors..but let businesses get back to business and lets keep our heads!!

Baby steps for us--my hair stylist called and I've got an appointment to have highlights and a haircut next week. I trust that she will take all precautions required, because one of the reasons I go there anyway is the clean and hygienic manner in which she runs her salon.

And my husband just had his first haircut since February! On a Zoom board meeting this morning one of my directors mentioned our neighborhood barber shop is open and that he found them very careful and clean. So after lunch my guy headed off and came home looking like his usual self and expressing relief that 'I can't feel my hair blow around anymore' LOL

We are to hear more tonight about what's next for MN. The current order expires on Sunday. We were told weeks ago that even though we'd flattened the curve enough to beef up ICU, ventilator and PPE capacity that we had to wait for testing capacity to reach 5000 per day and for additional tracking/tracing capability. Well we've pretty much reached the 5K - anyone with symptoms can now get a test - and we've hired 400 people to do contact tracing. So hopefully some additional things will be allowed to open with suitable precautions. DH and I would really like to get a haircut.

Aside from that we probably won't do anything much different than we have been doing as we aren't going to do anything risky. DH's business was allowed to open a couple weeks ago, golf courses opened in April and we otherwise stay at home alone either at our city place or our lake cabin. We talked to our neighbors at the lake about getting together for an adult beverage once the weather is warm and we can sit six feet from each other outside. It would be nice to do that.

I was talking to one of my city neighbors at the mailbox and I said we've had no visitors and have visited no one. She mentioned their kids and grandkids come over regularly and she'd just as soon die if she couldn't see them. I have noticed that about some other friends and relatives - they get together regularly with their kids and grandkids who don't live in the same household.

ETA: as of May 18 we can now gather in groups of less than ten with distance, all retail can now open at 50% capacity (continue to keep our distance and wear masks) and planning for bars, restaurants and hair salons to open June 1 - restrictions yet to be decided. All of this is subject to be reversed if certain thresholds for infection rate, deaths, hospitalizations, etc. are exceeded. I think it's a well thought out plan and reasonable based on the current conditions in MN.

There are now 17 counties within California moving into the opening phases, with the approval of the state. These are mostly rural (but no entirely, some include small cities like Roseville, with 140,000 people, so not exactly tiny), and do not have large numbers of cases and in few if any deaths throughout the shutdown. They have, however, undoubtably benefited from the reduced mobility imposed on travellers from larger population centers, in particular places like Lake Tahoe, where an initial flare up was extinguished. We will see if Sacramento itself is allowed to open up within a week or so, with another 1.6m in the county. It shares borders with the other counties that are opening but the levels are very low relative to other metro areas.

My hairstylist texted last night. They are allowed to open May 18. I told her I miss her dearly, but I am going to pass. My last appointment was Feb. 28. I am literally going nowhere. All my business travel and concerts are canceled. She said most people are not interested in making appointments right now.

We bought clippers for DH. They took a couple of weeks to arrive. We watched some YouTube videos, and it actually turned out OK. He even said he should have bought these sooner. MIL dropped off her scissors so I could do the top.

I'm not quite ready to use the clippers on myself, LOL, though I've thought of it if I wanted to cut off all my hair color.

Gscience, I cut and colored my hair yesterday with 100% success, thanks to youtube. You wouldn't believe all the new videos on cutting hair because of Covid.

I saw another disturbing picture on FB yesterday. You know how all schools are closed, right? A prestigious school in the city which has been closed due to Covid, had all the teachers congregate outside the school, probably about 40 of them, standing side by side, arms around each other while waving at students who were driving by. Not one teacher was wearing a mask.

I wanted to comment and ask why they closed school if no one had to social distance and wear masks? lol

My DH and son have a haircut apptmt. for May 26. In the meantime, they are gelled up like Grease backup singers to keep the hair out of their eyes.

My salon has no ETA.

DH cut my hair about a month ago. It's one length and he was able to get it very even. He let me cut his hair last week. I watched a Youtube video for cutting hair on "older gentlemen", choosing one where the customer's hair was similar to DH's. It is not rocket science, folks. All you need is a sharp pair of hair scissors and a beard trimmer/edger to do the neck and over the ears. You don't need to do a clipper cut. Your fingers are the guide for the length on the sides. Comb a small section out vertically, hold hair between fingers with fingers close to the head, and cut the hair that extends past your fingers. Trim top. There are videos specifically for cutting the hair around ears, which was the hardest part. I went back and watched one because I wasn't happy with how I did the ears. I was holding the beard trimmer wrong.

Won't repeat what was said about Alabama above. I don't understand people that rushed out Day 1 to get hair cut, nails done and then out to dinner. People are headed to the Florida Panhandle. Crazy, IMO. Mother's Day photos of 3 and 4 generations of get-togethers. Not cool. Three of DD2's neighbors had parties last weekend.

The good news, DH has agreed to leave his hair longer. I've been telling him for at least a year she was cutting it too short. I told him leaving it longer takes 10yrs off of him, so he's now convinced. LOL

I had a massage appointment this week. I canceled and next Monday's too. Also canceled a hair appointment this week. Risk vs benefit. But I am going to my endocrinologist appointment next week, need ultrasound to verify still no cancer after thyroid removed 2yrs ago.

We are still cooking all meals at home, with the occasional half-baked pizza we finish cooking at home. No plans to get take-out anytime soon. Still using grocery delivery for large orders, but DH did run into Whole Foods this week and said it was not crowded, people stayed away from each other and it was mostly Amazon shoppers. We also ventured to the local garden center (not big box store) to pick up flowers and potting soil.

I am tired of staying home. I did a front yard visit with two grandchildren and DD2 yesterday, which was nice, but I want to hold the baby, not see her from 6ft.

Some good news on numbers in reopening states GA and FL.

I am interested to see what happens three or four weeks out from the openings. People go out, they get exposed, they get somewhat sick for a week or so and then some will turn worse and head to the hospital.

I'm hoping that MN doesn't open gyms, because my husband will go daily. He still thinks this is all overblown. When I say that I'm in more than one high risk category and will likely die or be disabled if I get it, his response is that he thinks 70% of us will get it sooner or later. The lack of empathy and consideration on this is causing me to give serious thought to whether I want to continue being married.

I'd like to go to the local nursery, but they aren't set up to do curbside. None of my appointments were essential, so they can wait. Our hospitalization rate and death rate are still bouncing around their higher levels. I'd like to see a sustained decline before increasing potential contact with people.

Moxie - I'm so sorry about your husband's attitude. I can understand why you wouldn't want to live with someone who has such disregard for your health. 😥

I'm happy that I grew my hair out several years ago. I can easily touch up my hair color, and I don't really need a hair cut at all.

My husband has been cutting his own hair for decades with this same little hair cutting tool. We've been together since 1983, and I can't remember the last time that he went to a barber.

Even in places that are reopening, it's been phased and with restrictions and the worst areas within states still have some restrictions (like south Florida). One really needs to look at the counties separately to discern the trend. For example, if you look at Florida you can see the daily trend in case counts is driven by declines in two counties -- those two counties have yet to reopen and have shown a strong downward trend. On the other hand, these two counties are where the worst of the impacts were felt originally. Thus, this is not to say low impacted counties are seeing a rebound, it just say bad data analysis to stay that reopening caused fewer cases, without excluding areas where opening did not occur. (And I'm also not implying that areas with little to no impact should not be relaxing)

Some of New Mexico begins to re-open on Saturday. Churches are limited to 10% occupancy. Overall, I think our state has done reasonably well with the very noted exception of the Navajo Nation area. My problem with re-opening right now though is the lack of needed supplies. I think it is folly to reopen when there are not ample supplies of hand sanitizer, cleaning supplies, masks, etc. I am also irritated with the lack of guidance nationally on steps to take for safe re-opening that goes beyond numbers of people. For instance at church, is there a safe way to offer coffee and refreshments? Is there a safe way to do communion? I am absolutely disgusted that the guidelines the CDC prepared were not released yet. If we want the economy to hum along and get people back to work safely, we need the tools to do it.

Oh Moxie - so sorry your DH is such an insensitive clod. Mine is not high on empathy either but he is taking Covid-19 pretty seriously since he has some mild underlying conditions. Ordinarily he would also be the type to say this is overblown but I guess I have the facts drilled into him.

The virus is here in my little town. Today DH had an appointment with a specialist at the small hospital not far from us. DH wore a mask while no medical personnel did, and the patients sat side by side not wearing masks either. I'm l livid.

That's crazy, Oakley.

Interesting to read where everyone is at this point. My half of PA is supposed to start reopening on June 4 th, although I think I read that some stores can open for curb side service now. Restaurants have been doing that all along.

My dentist called to confirm my appointment for May 20 and I said I’d rather postpone until August. My dentist is in a different county from me, as is my hairdresser. I’m doing fine with my hair since I did a good job of coloring it and I’m just letting it grow.

Our flower nurseries have been open. I tried to go to one today and it was a madhouse. Some wore masks, some didn’t. I didn’t even go in after I saw the crowds. I can’t deal with crowds under the best of circumstances. I can’t figure out why some but not all nurseries are considered essential. Our hardware store also sells plants and flowers so I’ve been buying there.

I just wonder what the future holds. A huge recurrence? Life returning to normal. I have no idea.

New Mexico here. tishtoshnm summed it up really well. I am stunned by the number of people not wearing masks. They post stuff all over the community pages about how it's not going to happen, it is unconstitutional, etc. Granted, we have had a fairly low case count where I am, but it has been increasing and I'm really concerned it will skyrocket. I did all my running around today before the gates open. I used curbside pickup everywhere. One person wearing a mask at the hardware store. No people wearing a mask at the feed store. Two people wearing masks at the grocery store, and one of them was the store employee that brought out my order. Scary.

Beach hotels are reopening. (Maybe all hotels?) No one, other then the paying occupants, can enter the room during your stay. No maid service, no room service Inside the room. Towels can be left outside the door, if needed. At least one major St. Pete Beach hotel leaves the towels in a sealed bag.

I do wonder if there is a big discount on rooms?

Oakley, are there not guidelines dr's offices are to follow? I would call the health department and report this office. Yesterday I went to the dentist. when you arrive, you call in and they ask you several health/travel questions. Then you are allowed to come to front desk. They take your temp. Staff are wearing masks and shields. One reason I didn't fear going was my dentists have always been extremely fastidious. There are a few more steps they are following implemented because of the virus. I'm not sure how many patients could be there at a time, I only saw one leaving and was in the waiting room by myself. I know one patient was being worked on as they took me back to my exam area. No magazines, etc. in the waiting room, some of the furniture had been removed so that patients can not sit close.

Allison, you can get out, just don't get out among people. In the beginning it was bugging me, I think because I knew I couldn't get out. We would take a long drive every few days. Then as the weather started getting nicer, we would take a picnic and find a spot to eat. We've also done driveway and parking lot visits with our dear friends. They are family to us and talking on the phone, etc. just wasn't cutting it. Have done the same with my sister.

Maddielee, we traveled just days after 9/11 and I remember many hotels were giving discount rates. People were not traveling so much and they were desperate for business. Almost everywhere we went that trip, we have discounts. Food, hotel, etc. There were actually big yellow signs up at many rest stops thanking people for traveling! I would guess we would see some discounts this time too.

Just got back from the grocery store. Much fewer people wearing masks, to the point of being arrogant, nose in air, walking right past me, perhaps because I WAS wearing a mask. Even a friend I know did not observe social distancing at the cashier. Didn't wait behind, loaded his groceries onto the conveyor belt while mine was still being packed.

I guess the cashier didn't want to remind him? I don't know.

I think I have only once had someone get too close to me. I looked directly at the guy and sternly said - HEY SIX FEET! He said nothing and we both moved farther apart.

I saw on the national news this morning that we are one of the 9 states cleared for re-opening because of our testing rates. However, it stated there are many more states re-opening whose rates were not so good! I knew our number of new cases has gone down, death rate low and that we have a high rate of recovery. However, if Dollywood and other major tourist attractions open in the near future, I am very leery of what will happen when/if we get an influx of out-of-town visitors.

@3katz4me, on Thursday my neighbor two doors down had tree people come to their house that blocked the street, our driveway and our trash can. She emailed me previously about blocking the street on collection day when we were remodeling. We were extremely careful about parking, etc. but it's "do as I say, not as I do" with some people. Anyway, I opened my garage door and said "Sir!" as chainsaw man was walking away from the truck and asked him to please move, yada yada, yada.. Another man came from their property, across the circle, into our driveway and I had to ask him THREE times to not come any closer before he stopped. >:(

We have an elementary-age girl in our neighborhood who I think is on the spectrum. She rides her scooter down the middle of the street and screams, "SIX FEET" to everyone on the sidewalk.
You go girl!

I was meeting a workman the other day. I was showing him where an electrical outlet was available for his tools, and he didn’t come toward it. I wasn't‘s sure what to say, I just repeated “it’s around the corner here in the garage.” He looked at me and said “Do you mind? 6 feet.” We both had masks on, but yes, I was too close. He wasn’t rude, just direct. He worked there for 3 days and was a really nice fellow, that just took me aback for a moment.

I can remember to put on my mask, but I have trouble with the 6’, especially when discussing something with repairmen. When you are pointing something out in a utility closet, it’s too easy to be less than 6’.