Wow, this is something I think about a lot. Personally, I'm married but for both of us, most of our close friends live far away and we have struggled making friends locally. We have a lot of people that we are friendly with but can't seem to move from acquaintance to friends. The fact that we are also still trying to be careful re: COVID also has complicated matters. We go out and do things, but there is a definite cost/benefit analysis to what we are willing to do. It's hard to figure out the right balance between protecting ourselves and others and getting out and meeting people. But yes, these trends are troubling, I see myself in a lot of them, but making meaningful changes is really hard.
I'm in a similar boat with my husband and I having most of our friends out of state, and not having many friends locally. Covid really halted all good progress we were making. My state (VA) is unlikely to impose any covid restrictions since Youngkin was elected last year, but it doesn't seem that normal social lives have really returned for... pretty much anyone.
Another great piece, Jill -- I also find that being the self-employed WFH parent I shoulder more responsibility when it comes to kids’ needs because I’m more “available.” I suspect many parents who happen to have flexibility like me end up in this situation, and many of us may experience greater flexibility disparity, so to speak, these days than before the pandemic.
I agree in principal with all of this. But as someone who actually goes into midtown Manhattan 4-5 days a week for work, it is nowhere near a ghost town. Walk into Stout on 41st or Annie Moore’s or Park Avenue Tavern and see just how packed they get. It’s like COVID never happened.
San Francisco on the other hand? Man it really is.
Wow, this is something I think about a lot. Personally, I'm married but for both of us, most of our close friends live far away and we have struggled making friends locally. We have a lot of people that we are friendly with but can't seem to move from acquaintance to friends. The fact that we are also still trying to be careful re: COVID also has complicated matters. We go out and do things, but there is a definite cost/benefit analysis to what we are willing to do. It's hard to figure out the right balance between protecting ourselves and others and getting out and meeting people. But yes, these trends are troubling, I see myself in a lot of them, but making meaningful changes is really hard.
I'm in a similar boat with my husband and I having most of our friends out of state, and not having many friends locally. Covid really halted all good progress we were making. My state (VA) is unlikely to impose any covid restrictions since Youngkin was elected last year, but it doesn't seem that normal social lives have really returned for... pretty much anyone.
Amen to all of this.
Another great piece, Jill -- I also find that being the self-employed WFH parent I shoulder more responsibility when it comes to kids’ needs because I’m more “available.” I suspect many parents who happen to have flexibility like me end up in this situation, and many of us may experience greater flexibility disparity, so to speak, these days than before the pandemic.
I agree in principal with all of this. But as someone who actually goes into midtown Manhattan 4-5 days a week for work, it is nowhere near a ghost town. Walk into Stout on 41st or Annie Moore’s or Park Avenue Tavern and see just how packed they get. It’s like COVID never happened.
San Francisco on the other hand? Man it really is.