After the last three to five months, when people all over the world are practicing social distancing and staying at home unless going out is absolutely necessary, all everyone wants to do is to go outside and enjoy the things they used to do or have taken for granted. People on social media keep talking about wanting to exercise outdoors, go on errands, hang out in public places with their friends, and even going back to their offices.
It’s clear that many have grown tired of the Netflix and chill lifestyle and now yearn for a change of scenery and outdoor activities. Unfortunately, it would be irresponsible to disregard the threat of coronavirus and just go about with life as though the pandemic never happened. Doing so would put your family’s and other people’s health at risk. Everyone might be sick of doing it, but staying at home is still necessary at this time.
Is it possible to find a compromise? Yes. There are those who have been smart about quarantine from the beginning, choosing to retreat to places where they can stay isolated without necessarily staying indoors. Not all of us have that luxury, but it doesn’t hurt to dream!
Here are examples of locations that would make quarantine feel less burdensome and stressful.
In master-planned communities in the city
For people who are more at ease in the city, a condo unit in a central business district that’s managed by a community-oriented estate developer would be ideal. While the living spaces are typically smaller than single-family detached houses, parks and paved and shaded walkways are often right outside your building. Many major cities that used to enforce strict stay-at-home rules are now easing restrictions, so enjoy your access to these green spaces more. Moreover, supermarkets, stores, and retail outlets in CBDs are always well-stocked. The supply of certain food and other items might ebb and flow, but you can depend that they will soon be back on the shelves.
By the beach
Many tourists visiting exotic islands and famous beach resorts had been stranded at the height of the lockdowns due to COVID-19. One such example is a British family in Siargao Island. They were only supposed to be on vacation in the Philippines, but international flights to and from the country got canceled in March when most of the country went into strict lockdown. Far from being cooped up at home, they spent their days relaxing on the porch of their beachside cottage, building sandcastles on the shore, and napping on hammocks under a shade.
There were also people who were blessed by lady luck. In Singapore, for example, 400 people who arrived from abroad at the height of the country’s lockdown were forced into quarantine. The government housed them for 14 days at the Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa Resort. Self-isolating, delaying business plans, and staying away from their families (and protecting their health in the process) in exchange for staying in a 5-star resort? Not a bad deal at all.
In the countryside
Once the world got wind of the masterful way New Zealand “eliminated” coronavirus, many recalled the gorgeous vistas of the country: mountains topped with snow all year, lush pastures as far as the eye can see, gravelly hills with thorn bushes, and glacier-fed lakes that range from cyan to blue. With a population of 5 million and a population density of 18 persons per square kilometer, New Zealand became the poster country for isolating in rural paradise.
To be fair, quarantine in the capital of Auckland doesn’t sound too bad, either, but not all of us can be so lucky as to quarantine for 14 days in a hotel (all expenses paid for by the government, too), being served delicious food and more cake than you can eat.
It’s fun to imagine ourselves in any of these locations, but ultimately, the essence of quarantine is acting responsibly. Whether you go for afternoon walks in the deserted fields in Umbria or bask in the near-to-normal life in Seoul, acknowledge that your actions can have a resounding effect on the people around you. Keeping that foremost in your mind will make it easier to adapt regardless if you’re quarantining at your home in the suburbs, in a rented room in the city, or a sprawling property in the mountains.