It ain't over til it's over

One of the things I've become extremely grateful for in recent months are the groups that are taking COVID seriously and who plan extremely low-risk events and do what amounts to truly "living with COVID".  Unlike the majority of others who have moved on and continue to pretend it doesn't matter as more and more of them and their friends get it for the 2nd, 3rd, 4th time and are getting to understand what some of us have been worried about all along. 

Having found some COVID-conscious community that really works to care and be inclusive has been a mental breath of fresh air.  After literal years of feeling isolated and disregarded, it is nice to know there are people who are interested in figuring out how to make things work in a way that looks like something other than hiding at home and never being near another human again.

I actually got to see a movie recently in a theatre that was arranged to be only for those who would test ahead of time, mask the entire time and would not eat or drink.  It was weird and nice and I'm deeply grateful to that community for leading and arranging that meet-up.  The same community also continues to consolidate COVID information and information related to discounts and sales for masks and tests.  

There are parts of the world I really miss that I won't go near as long as the community at large is not interested in keeping me and mine safe.  The world has changed and it's never going back to the way it was.  And my recent goals have included how to best find joys in safer places, and how to mitigate risks as much as possible.  It is very heartening to find community in the same spot that is doing all it can to bring back joy in safe spaces.