I work in the medical field and I have no kids.
I feel like these are the 2 topics that effected the most people. Through this entire thing, I have kept going to work. I think in the first week of official Lock Down, I received my "Essential Worker" documents that I was to keep in my vehicle in case I was ever held up or pulled over or accosted for being out. There was a serious decline of volume at work (at first) when everyone was actually staying home - but I still had to go to work. Definitely job security. No "WFH" [working from home] for me! So, no. I was not effected by the Unemployment Disaster. For me, it was honestly "Business as Usual."
I only mention the "no kids" part because of so many people at work that had to figure out what to do about NO SCHOOL, and thus some kind of childcare arrangement. This did not apply to me, which was yet another way I was Same Ol, Same Ol, Same Ol...
Back to perspective: everything really stayed pretty much the same. There was an odd time where Toilet Paper was out of stock for WEEKS (maybe even months) at the grocery store. Luckily, we were able to get some mailed to us from another state. I'd try going to the grocery store and end up just wandering up and down empty aisles. And don't get me wrong, there were moments out on the balcony that I'd listen to news and it literally sounded like I was listening to the dialogue from a Zombie Apocalypse movie.... but it was our real. fucking. news. Those moments were extremely surreal.
The only other issue I encountered personally - was the Trip to San Francisco. I waited as long as I possibly could, but the one thing I had my heart super super set on [Alcatraz Island] was closed until further notice. I kept checking every week, with no change. It was when we were 1 week out that I got an email notification that our flight itinerary had changed so drastically that it renamed itself "Your Trip To Chicago!" ..... that was the last sign I needed to cancel the trip. Luckily, due to the circumstances, the entire process was flawless. Everything was super easy to cancel.
Otherwise, I have been passing a huge bulk of time by working on more graphic design projects. I, like, quadrupled my Etsy Shop inventory, which is still growing. The shop itself has really taken off! I'm still a little baffled by it... I never really thought my stuff was very..... worthy? I know I get a lot of creative release from it, so what it generally brings me isn't a "tangible" thing like money is.
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| One of my projects! |
It doesn't hurt that my most loved & enjoyed hobby happens to be a money maker that has no "overhead" costs.... everything comes down to my time & effort & artistic expression. What a wonderful project to dedicate my downtime and energy to - especially while everything in the world is shuttered.
Put another check mark in the "Blessing" column for me. I know I will emerge from this pandemic and national shutdown fairly unscathed. I know I am incredibly lucky.