Winter is coming
Time to get creative.
The virus hasn’t changed, reports of a gentler strain of SARS-CoV-2 have been wildly exaggerated: no, the virus isn’t killing less. Things aren’t getting better in the U.S. or in Latin America. And in Europe, after a long summer of complacency, a second wave is hitting fast and strong.
What has changed is our understanding of it. Not only have we become a bit better about treating it, we’ve also got a clearer idea of how we pass it on to each other. The weather is growing cold up here in the North Hemisphere, so we must be extra-vigilant about protecting ourselves, but need we reproduce the lockdown we endured in the spring? Not if we’re clever.
This is not an all-or-nothing situation. It’s not LOCK UP OR DIE. Understand what’s safe and there is no reason to be home alone, bored to tears, for the next six months.
This list is non-exhaustive, so please email me your ideas or add them in the comments.
👩👩👦👨👦👦 Pod up
Whenever possible, create a “pod:”
Humans need physical connection; everyone needs a hug sometimes, and for most adults, sexual desire is part of being alive and healthy. Working parents need to cooperate with others for child care. The children themselves need social interaction in order to develop as healthy human beings. Elders need care and companionship.
That’s why many public health experts have recommended “quarantine pods” as an effective way to get our social, emotional, familial, and sexual needs met without unnecessarily endangering ourselves or others. Pods are small, self-contained networks of people who limit their non-distanced social interaction to one another—in other words, they’re the small group of people with whom you share air without using breath-control precautions such as masks.
For this, you need to be on the same page with the members of your pod. This is a great piece on all the details you must consider to form your quaranteam. This includes your level of vulnerability, your tolerance for risk, your logistical needs…
🥶 Get comfortable with the cold
1. Equip yourself🧣
My friend Saschka, who is German, is fond of quoting Alfred Wainwright:
There is no such thing as bad weather; there is only unsuitable clothing.
I hold this as one of the greatest truths of a life well-lived.
Generally speaking, we’ve got lots to learn from our Canadian, Danish, Finnish, and other Polar Circle friends, who let their kids sleep or play outside in low temperatures. Snow, rain, or shine, plan to spend time outdoors all winter because — yes I will repeat this ad nauseam — outdoors is the only safe place to socialise with anyone outside of your pod.
Here’s a good list for the little ones in your life. Find warm, waterproof clothes for them and for yourself. Ninety per cent of the clothes our kids wear are hand-me-downs, inherited from older, bigger friends. Adult layers can be relatively inexpensive. Ours are from Uniqlo — we’re still wearing the HEATTECH innerwear and light down line we bought in 2013. The only thing we’ve spent serious money on is snow boots (worth it).
If you’ve got old outerwear in good shape, or jumpers, warm trousers, base-layers, please consider donating these to shelters before the cold arrives (that means before the holiday season).
2. Know your myths 🧞♂️
Things that will make you sick: being inside with others, breathing in each other’s space, not ventilating, shaking hands.
Things that have never made you sick, nor ever will: air draughts, low temperatures, rain, snow. The worst things that could happen are frostbites or hypothermia, but you needn’t fear them if you dress warmly, keep moving, and only stay out for a few hours.
3. Outdoors heating 🔥
If you have the luxury of access to a garden or a yard, you could invest in an outdoor heater, portable fire pit, or chimenea.
🍽 Dining out
It is possible to dine or drink outside, even in winter.
1. Restaurants and bars🍷
Many establishments will (or should) be investing in heating systems. Spot those that do and be intentional about patronising them.
Also find places that have made a huge effort to offer takeaway meals or food you can easily prepare at home.
2. Picnics 🧺
On nicer days, there’s no reason not to meet friends for picnics. Bring blankets! Some parks offer picnic tables, but we’ve also seen New Yorkers come out with camping or beach furniture, especially those whose mobility is reduced. Bring games, too! Get warm food at your favourite to-go restaurant, bring mulled cider in a Thermos… You’re set.
🕺Moving about
This really depends on the place where you live.
1. Cars 🚙
Cars are for you and your family. Unless you’re podding with someone, avoid giving them a ride.
If there is no option, or if you must take a taxi, ask to crack open diagonal windows and wear masks (and coats) at all times.
2. Walking and biking🚶🏾♀️🚲
Still the absolute safest mode of transportation in Covid times. I love going out for walks with friends, and biking around clears my head. Very much looking forward to doing this over the winter.
3. Public Transport 🚎
This is the one that scares people the most. Strangely, public transport hasn’t been linked with high infection rates. It may be that fewer people are taking them. It may also be that it is easier to ventilate in warm weather.
Generally speaking, avoid them if you can. If you can’t, avoid peak hours, try not to touch anything to buy your tickets, crack open windows when possible, and wear your mask at all times.
🤹 Culture and entertainment
1. Hard no on theatres of all kinds 🎭 🎬🎸
Some of us may have felt safe, until now, to go catch a movie, attend a concert, go to the ballet, or see a play indoors (looking at you, Europe). As autumn arrives and numbers rocket, I am sorry to say, it’s not. At all.
Outdoors fun is safe, as I said, but in winter, that becomes more limited. It’s possible to make it happen with tents, heaters, etc., but of course, it’s an investment for event organisers. We can always hope they’ll be inspired.
I will note, however, that plenty of entertainers have moved their talents online. They’re even charging for these shows! I’ll concede that it is not ideal. Our authorities everywhere should be subsidising theatres to help them survive this. So that’s maybe something you can do: call them so the arts are protected.
2. Museums and exhibitions 🖼
This depends on the situation where you live. If Covid is out of control, don’t go, even if they’re open. If your locality has got a handle on the viral spread, it’s possible, so long as it’s done carefully.
First, check what the museum staff are doing. Are they making visitors queue outdoors? Are they limiting the number of people inside? Are they demanding that masks be worn? Are they keeping things moving inside? What about ventilation? If you feel satisfied that these criteria are met, then yes, why not! Just make sure not to stay more than 5-10 minutes in each room, and stay two metres or more away from other visitors.
🥘🥤Food and Drinks
So you’ve got a garden or a good spot at the park, and all the heaters required to entertain. Your guest list includes only people who can hold their booze and whose idea of a joke is NOT to pretend-cough in people’s faces. You’ve placed hand sanitiser bottles at every corner of the table. Your playlist is locked and loaded to get everyone up on their feet and dancing, because you know it’s a great way to fight the cold. You’ve established a clear end time to your get-together so no one freezes half to death.
The CDC suggests that one person serve food to avoid having multiple people touch serving utensils and to control the flow of traffic.
(…)
You can even host a basic tea party, she says, with people showing up with their own mugs. The tea can be in a thermos; cookies, bars or pumpkin bread can be individually wrapped.
Ayer suggests mimicking what many bars do in Brooklyn: Mix up a cauldron of mulled cider. Then invite friends over for a mug, with a splash of bourbon or rum if they are so inclined. (Small finger foods may not be your best choice for glove-wearing guests.)
A CAULDRON of MULLED CIDER. Or wine! Or tea! I’m excited just thinking about it.
It is just as important to stay connected as it is to stop the spread of the virus. Whatever you do, stay safe. Here’s a suggestion for your warm-up-and-dance playlist:
Wishing you all fun and health.