I find I've enjoyed the lockdown in general. I'm a writer, and I've used this time to work on personal essays, often picking up essays I started months or years ago and finding a way to finish them. I've had two of them accepted for publication in the last month.

I also have had an interesting change in some of my relationships. For a number of years I've met with three of my former work colleagues once a month. We'd go to a restaurant and have a meal, a little wine and some good conversation. Since the virus struck we've met over Zoom, only now we meet once a week. Our conversations have deepened too. This happened spontaneously; I would not have predicted it. But it's been deeply satisfying.

In the same way, my best friend and I, who used to get together once a week, now have a long phone call, only now we do it twice a week. And the people I used to see in yoga class once a week are now in touch by phone and email, which we were not in the days when we saw each other. In other words, despite staying home all the time, my relationships are somehow closer.

The one low note is that I'm not able to see my granddaughter. She is only three, so Zoom conversations are hard, and since her mother works at a hospital, being physically close is not possible. At this age kids grow and change rapidly, and I'm sad that I'm missing this part of her life. But I know that we will be together eventually.

I think what's helped me the most is that in addition to being old, I'm an introvert. I enjoy solitude; it's not a punishment to be home all the time, with my also introverted husband. He and I generally do our own thing all day, then have supper together and spend the evening together. It's a nice comfortable rhythm.

As an older introvert I’m good. The only hard thing is when my son stops and I can’t enjoy one of his bear hugs.

I also tend to take on the collective angst of younger families, those w babies, and children at home. As an Aries I want to FIX things for them... but have learned it’s not mine to fix, it’s theirs to grow through, as life is exactly that...

I'd read Leland's article and liked it but thought he picked an unrepresentative sample: a "super-elder" (not many 91 year olds are starting a business); the widower who deeply needs to rest and recover from caring for his husband, and Janet Wassermann, who has had a severely compromised immune system for 50 years, so has been sheltering for half a century already by her own account.

I mind not seeing my children and grandchild, and friends, but we have food, a comfortable apt. the tech to 'see' them on video chats— it has been no real hardship.

But I predict when one's community re-opens, those over 65 will be told to continue our isolation. We will be a distinct population instead of in this together. We'll feel sidelined and sad— or vulnerable when we try to participate in a somewhat more normal life.

Susan R. is right. I echo the same sentiments. I have soooooooooooo much to do around here that I miss some of the news on TV. I worked since I was 6 and retired at 71. It does me good to see this disaster with my current benefits. Thank God I'm sitting this one out. B

I agree with so many of the sentiments above. This could not be a better time of my life to be quarantined. Retired, income small but stable, food in my frig, TP in my bathroom. What's to complain about? Surprisingly, I am an extrovert who has sought out connection all my life, but in true Jungian fashion, I've been moving towards introversion these last ten years and now at 75 I am very content with a quiet lifestyle with just enuf human contact to keep me sane. There is much to stimulate my over-active Gemini mind here at home and I enjoy my own company, so I feel blessed and grateful. In a life of many challenges, resilience has been my middle name, and it has not failed me now.... I was so glad to hear this opinion from Leland and others. Thanks for hitting the mark again, Ronni!

I don't mind SIP since I have several fun activities that I love to do (sewing, quilting, making bread, etc). I still hate cleaning. The big stressor for me is getting food & necessities since I don't shop because of age & serious medical conditions, which make me most vulnerable. I am lucky that my daughter shops for groceries, but then I face the anxieties of wiping everything down with disinfectant wipes & worry if I am being thorough enough. The deluge of fake & dangerous news, plus the saddest life experiences of so many people leads me towards depression. So it's just not a matter of my daily life, but worry about my loved ones while we are apart & facing the fact that I would not survive this infection that produces constant tension.

Hah! Like Salinda Dahl, I too came down with a flaming tooth infection a few weeks back, and had to leave the house for antibiotics, and for a tooth extraction. At one point my chin looked like there was a small tomato glued to it. Anyway, it all got taken care of, and I'm fine.

I'm going to be contrarian and disagree that you need a lot of money to tolerate being old. I have a very small income--but I also have very few expenses, reasonably simple tastes these days, and pleasure in just hanging out at home, where I spend (far too much) time on the computer. I belong to several online groups, including a recovery group, and I've been using zoom a LOT, and loving it. And in the evening, I have my choice of a variety of streaming services--though I admit, I tend to be riveted on Maddow, Anderson Cooper, and other news commentators.

In fact, I notice that I enjoy thinking that, far from being alone in being home, I now have lots of company, since so many of us are home! So--doesn't bother me at all. I WOULD like to see the pandemic end, of course.

Wow - most of these sentiments really make me angry. I'm ok - fuck those who aren't!
Personally I would much rather be out there on the front lines doing something useful.
Yes, I have my big apartment over the lake, and I have all my wonderful neat devices but thousands and millions are dying alone - unable to even say goodbye to children and grandchildren let alone husband and lovers and just those we love.
Its horrible! I wish I was young, healthy and poor but able to help.
No offence to anyone - just have to say the way I feel. Rather depressed I suppose.

Hey Betty Bishop, What you say resonates with me. I am personally very ok as I am an intovert and love to read, walk, enjoy my dogs and parrot and have security ...house, food, etc. ; however, thinking about mankind, Europe, the USA...younger folks...a lot to be depressed about...were I to let myself which I will not. It is not about me. It is about we are all connected and the ship has some significant leaks which if not repaired we all go down..yes, hard to disengage from that and say, " hey, I am fine, I am an introvert. " I hear you.

Stay safe everyone...stay sane...

Namaste,

Karin

My husband and I are doing fine with the "safe at home" here in our state. We actually seem to get along better now. But both of us wish we were able to do more out in the community to help. Best we can do now is help a neighbor who is 20 years older than we and donate to local food pantries and meals on wheels. Spouse has had a lot of experience with bird flu, so he is frustrated that with his age and health issues, he can no longer contribute other than to encourage people to stay safe. Meanwhile, we text and email and call and Facetime with family and impatiently wait until we can get those grandkid hugs again.

PS - I must admit I am also a recluse and seldom left my apartment except to go for a swim or meet a friend. I actually also love this aloneness - writing, painting, reading, computing, movies it is all great. But I would give it back in a minute if they find something to slow or stop the monster roaming around out there. I am sure most of you would too.

We're getting by with Netflix, Zoom, Facetime, lots of books and a little gardening. But I sure do miss my activities, my classes, my friends . . . and the ability to be able to plan ahead!

This is not so different from my usual life. Before I went out to karate class, now karate class comes to me via Zoom. Before I did Feldenkrais method "lessons" and workshops both online at home and in person; now I do them online at home. Before I went out to occasional music performances, walking to meet friends at jazz clubs or taking the subway to Lincoln Center or to a friend's large prewar apartment near Columbia where they have stellar chamber music house concerts. Now I listen to music through my computer and the attached sound system that an audiophile friend helped me set up. When I went out, before, it was the exception, and I always cycled back home to my apartment and cats. I'm an introvert. I need long spells alone. And if anything, I have less undisturbed solitude now, with friends and family calling to check if I'm all right or to relieve their own loneliness and anxieties. Unlike normally, I can't not answer the phone, because they'll think I'm dead! I'm in New York!

Besides being an introvert, the type who always "had my nose in a book," before this I was a caregiver for ten years, which involved increasing isolation and seclusion. So I've had a lot of practice. And on top of that, I learned from Jacques, whose whole world was shattered when he was in his teens by the aftermath of WWII, that anything can happen at any time. That too was good preparation. I am less surprised than many Americans by this development. For one thing, scientists and science writers have been warning of its inevitability for years. Hanging around science publishing, you know that. And I had the sense that our world had become a house of cards, and that SOMETHING was going to give it the little nudge that would bring it down. We haven't seen the half of it yet. It is going to be hell, especially for the most vulnerable. It's also an opportunity. Personally, I have reasons to live but no particular right or necessity to. I'll protect myself and those I love as best I can, while knowing I am dispensable and, from nature's point of view, as another member of this renegade species, part of the problem. I have my "drugs"—karate, my antidepressant, and an online connection with a once and possibly future lover, my stimulant. I have enough to eat, and work to do. I can't complain!

I feel rather anxious about what will happen in Paris next May 11th , anxious for my children and grand children. As I am retired, I won't take the tube or bus , I will wait and see, stay in quarantine, day after day, it is long, it is hard not to speak directly to a human beeing, we cross the street when somebody is arriving on the other side; Thanks to you Ronni and all the commentators, you are wonderful people !

My husband and I are OK about the necessity to stay at home . He still goes on his bike rides every other day and runs on the treadmill in the garage the other days. Of course, we are sorry that so many people have no job or no income with the resulting problems to deal with. My grandchildren all live at home - 2 sets of 3 grown kids, and their parents still have an income (although it is disrupting a job start for one planned for May). But, at least, they are not destitute, have food and shelter. So I consider this among my many blessings daily.

I am exercising more than before the lock-down as I walk everyday in the neighborhood for 30 mins. and I work in the yard at least an hour everyday. I miss the once a week yoga class but I do various yoga postures a few times a week here at home. I am more adventurous with my cooking for our dinner now b/c it is much better to have a tasty meal and it has to be at home. We take turns grocery shopping when we run out of everything, and now it is required here to wear a mask to get in the stores.

For about the past 4 years I had knee and hip pain from arthritis and a torn meniscus in left knee ...tho after the laser repair it was fine. But my right knee and hip were very painful and I had a hip replacement almost 11 months. So I was unable to do any yard work thus hired gardeners to tame my jungle. Now I am thrilled to say I have put in a garden with tomato plants, sunflowers, sweet peas, wildflowers, and I am able to weed, and also to prune the out-of-control natives all over my "drought tolerant" yard.

I, like so many, am an introvert as well and love to read, but before the pandemic I frittered away lots of time just looking at the thrift shops nearby. So the lock down has led me to clean out my old photos and separat what I want to keep and what to send to the children...cleaned out articles saved from graduate school in 1989 (!) and also clear out desk of paperwork daily that were saved for some reason. It's a trip down memory lane.

Yes, I miss going out for lunch and a movie with a few different friends every month, and also my weekly yoga and art classes but the days just zip by and I am pleasantly surprised that now I can sit on our patio and look at all my beautiful roses and flowering plants and really appreciate them. Before I would just worry about what needed to be watered and what needed to be done etc. etc. etc. instead of just soaking in the peace and serenity.