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Perks to this new way of living

Phoenix32

I know there has been great hardship and loss for people due to covid 19 but I thought it might be nice to have a thread about the unexpected perks of life as we know it at the moment.

1. My parcels are left in my porch for me to grab when it suits me.

2. I don't have to feel guilty for staying inside.

3. My appointments have been switched to video call or phone call which is very handy and I hope this will be kept up where possible.

4. I got to virtually view an apartment and sign a lease online, I didn't once have to deal with anyone in person.

5. I've gotten a welcome break from the pressures of life and socialising and I'm functioning pretty well in my little bubble.

So what are the perks ye have found, if any?

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corner of hells

Mrsmum wrote: »

1)Saving loads of money.

2)Realising if I didn't actually buy clothes for five years, I have plenty that need a wearing.

3) Not being under pressure to visit family down the country. Zoom working just fine.

4) Attending to maintenance jobs around the house that needed doing.

Same here , attending to household maintenance , fixed a leak in the kitchen that took quite a bit of swearing and wrestling under a press , then amazingly another fcukin leak appears in the attic .
On a lighter note , I got a new pup as the lockdown started , hes been a pleasure around the house as he tries to eat a couch.

[Deleted User]

Leg End Reject wrote: »

I think you'll only be able to to a pub if they've always served food and you order food too. You'll be ok Mak with your chicken wings, chips and pint, but you probably can't sit there for a few hours.

That said, the coffers are empty and there's a lot of tax on alcohol, so things will return to normal soon enough. We have to live with this, not avoid it.

As an aside, I was in a shop earlier and the second person in the queue. An elderly lady and her daughter approached the checkout from the wrong side. The person working there abruptly told them where the queue was. Given the elderly lady is in a higher risk group I told her to go ahead of me. Her daughter was going to wait until I'd been served, she couldn't see around the aisle that there was more behind me, so I told her to go on too. No mutterings behind me which was nice, but a pity to see that not all shops are giving priority to older people. It was probably one of her first trips out and about.

That's right. We'll be going to the local when it opens and having food and drinks. There is a date during the summer where pubs that don't serve food can open. Either way food or no food I'll be sad if I can't go for a quiet drink on my own

Pete Moss

The cheesiest, but best way that I can describe the perks of this new way of living is the personal development I've gained in some ways.

The sh*t that used to stress me out before this pandemic seems like a walk in the park.

I tested positive for it in March, right in the midst of all the panic about it, seems like a few years ago now! I was freaked out a bit, but luckily I could keep working from home, which I enjoyed. My better-half was expecting, this freaked me the f*ck out, especially with the positive diagnosis - I was so worried that covid could hit her hard, being pregnant or hurt our unborn and my toddler had been attending additional needs classes

Since then, my son was born, I've been fortunate to gain some more time with my new born than I would have under normal circumstances. I've had some absolutely brilliant days with my daughter who had been attending additional needs classes. She's amazing and even as a toddler seems to love Led Zeppelin. I've lost 8lbs in weight, begun eating healthier, started doing meditation and I'm now comfortably running 10km. I've talked to my folks more, particularly me Da.

I feel I now have a bit more time to consider others. This whole lockdown has impacted people massively and I have friends who have lost their jobs and have felt massive bouts of depression. I feel like I've become a better friend to these people, I've found more time and understanding of what empathy actually is. I've certainly not got on top of everything, like others - I've had bad days. I've enjoyed a few more beers than I normally would have had. I've felt sh*t that others are baking bread, building sheds, or leaning piano, while I'm wondering where the fook all this additional free-time is.

But I've since realized I'm using this "free-time" in different ways to do the basics. The stuff I couldn't fit in when life was at full-tilt. I feel like I'm a bit more in the moment and going a bit easier on myself. That's my biggest perk of the lock-down

I know others have had it much worse and I sincerely hope things turn for the better for those.

Anyway, if you're reading this, I hope you and yours are keeping well - you're sound and you're a ride. All the best

[Deleted User]

Potential-Monke wrote: »

I'm loving it. I have a bit of a hermit lifestyle for the last few years, I gave up on trying to be the person everyone wants me to be, or what society expects me to be, so I was already not going out anymore, got a night job so asleep during the days, and it's been far better for my mental health than trying to be everything that everyone else says I should be.

With the lockdown, I can finally tell people to back the f up if they get too close, whereas before this you'd be seen as a mad person. It's made me more aware of other peoples hygiene too, and I hope it has spelled the end of shared workspaces. My job is networking support and can completely be done from at home, and I've told them in surveys they've sent that, because I live with my parents who are both over 70 and both with different breathing conditions, I can't chance coming back in unless I'm guaranteed my own desk, pc, peripherals, chair etc, which will never be used by anyone else. Not something they can guarantee so makes sense to keep me working from home.

While I do appreciate people seem to think that everyone should have been able to take a lesson on personal space, hygiene and general wellbeing of others, I give it a few months without a case and everyone will be back to normal, throwaway fashion, keeping up with the Jones', not washing hands anymore, etc. We've already proven we can't even keep social distancing in the first stage, most people will fall back into old routines in no time.

Why can't you just be the person you want to be and who cares how you are seen as long as you are doing what's right for you?

gogo

Literally feel like I’ve been living my best life during lock down, still working full time but will option to work from home when needed for the kids, my husband and I try alternate days. Previously I’d be out with the kids at training/matches 4-5 times a week - so would come in from work, quick change and back out the door with them, and finally home about 8ish to start house work.

I’ve had none of that constant running, I’ve cooked dinners, baked, had uno championships with the kids, walked every evening with them... Work meetings all conducted over zoom, which for some reason alleviates pressure for me, we used to have meetings about meetings, in excess of two/three hours a day, having to use zoom cut that out.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always played with my kids but I’d be lying if I said my mind was wandering to the next task I’d had to do... now 4/5 games of nothing but uno is no bother..

It’s probably not suistainable long term, my husband and I are tired, alternating days and making sure we have cover for them, he’s front line and some days I need to be in the office, but the amount we have saved in Creche fees is amazing and really wondering is there a way we can make it work with some level of reduced child care going forward.

One of my kids has aspergers...and is literally living his best life! He couldn’t give a monkeys if he never sees anyone again, he is literally a different child, no pressure of having to conform to society that he’s not bothered with, he’s also benefitted from having us home, the thoughts of telling him in August that he’s back to school, Creche etc will break me.. but as someone said above, life will return to normal and he will have to be able to deal with that too, but for now, we are having a great old time!

mayo londoner

Jurgen Klopp wrote: »

The vast majority of rural folk are "professionals" as well who commute to the nearest large town or city for work. Plus the arrogance of how its said. As if the slack jawed yokels can't be having our educated betters coming in to show us the error of our ways. Small hint, when we get a college degree it's in a specific discipline, it doesn't mean people have to doff the cap to you on everything you spout

Ya I'm sure the odd dub gets a rough time but most of the ones who come in and then whinge about not being accepted into the community are the types of fools who move to rural house then spend half their time burning the arse of the poor local Gardai making noise complaints about cattle roaring or tractors coming and going in the neighboring fields early morning and late at night during the summer doing sileage

Or hilariously arrive to a community and make zero effort to get to know locals then whinge when they sell up they were never accepted. If you move to any place you need to make yourself known in a nice polite way. It can be harder rurally as there's not as many groups etc to get involved in. But my God the amount of people from cities or other countries who buy a rural place and don't even salute someone back then you hear they are moving out again and have been whinging they felt pushed out.

Or some ignorant type who automatically assume all these culchies are thick and in need of educating, that won't get you far in any community looking down your nose, rural or not.

Sound dubs get seen as sound and be treated as such, in fact surprisingly if you are nice and friendly you might even get invited to gatherings or just to people's houses for a visit.

Act the knob and you get treated like one whether it's in a rural community or an urban area

Brilliant post. Arrogance of a lot of Dubs coming to rural Ireland and thinking they are above everyone is unreal. We had a Dublin couple 2 doors up from us a few years back and were up their own hole and made no effort with anyone, soon moved back.

Openly gay couple from Dublin moved here 9 months ago, got heavily involved in local community, no problem getting stuck into a sing song in the local, no ego, no bull****, get on with a house on fire with everyone as they made the effort and visa versa. Lot to be said for it.

mayo londoner

Personally, last 3 months been as good as I've ever had since my childhood. Based up in Dublin usually doing horrific hours, moved back home, spent time with my parents, aunts, uncles, nieces nephews etc, and made me realise that there's way more to life than the dream of having a big bank balance.

Going back to the office in 2 weeks and know there isn't a hope in hell of ever getting WFH through them so main objective now is to find some sort of job outside of Dublin that is flexible working hours and a decent wage. Don't get me wrong, I like Dublin, just can't justify house prices and going for long walks/cycles in the proper sea air every night with the birds singing and the sound of silence for the first time since I left secondary school has made me realise how much I miss living near home.

Strangest thing is that we have fibre optic broadband and it is 10 times faster than any internet I've had in Dublin, 2 o my neighbours who are based in Dublin and moved home last couple months have said the exact same thing, whether it be in the office or my accomadation. I think this will be huge for rural Ireland in the next 3-4 years and would love to see my home get an influx of both newbies and people who are from the the area moving home for good.

Nicetrustedcup

Myself is the extra 2.5 hours a day that I have gained buy not haveing to travel to work On the bus!!!!

Now it’s get up 7.30 have a shower, get dressed into a tracksuit, eat breakfast and go up stairs to the home office to start working.

However it has also made he realise how lucky I am to have a job at this time and how I love what I do and enjoy it while it lasts.

But I am also finally catching up on my video game backlog. I think I might have completed maybe 10 games during the past few months !!!

Thelonious Monk

No pubs to destroy my weekends and wallet. No booze now and jogging 5 or 6k most days. Make the most of it.

corner of hells

mayo londoner wrote: »

Brilliant post. Arrogance of a lot of Dubs coming to rural Ireland and thinking they are above everyone is unreal. We had a Dublin couple 2 doors up from us a few years back and were up their own hole and made no effort with anyone, soon moved back.

Openly gay couple from Dublin moved here 9 months ago, got heavily involved in local community, no problem getting stuck into a sing song in the local, no ego, no bull****, get on with a house on fire with everyone as they made the effort and visa versa. Lot to be said for it.

"The arrogance of a lot of dubs...." , how dare they come to rural Ireland.

Thelonious Monk

mayo londoner wrote: »

Brilliant post. Arrogance of a lot of Dubs coming to rural Ireland and thinking they are above everyone is unreal. We had a Dublin couple 2 doors up from us a few years back and were up their own hole and made no effort with anyone, soon moved back.

Openly gay couple from Dublin moved here 9 months ago, got heavily involved in local community, no problem getting stuck into a sing song in the local, no ego, no bull****, get on with a house on fire with everyone as they made the effort and visa versa. Lot to be said for it.

For every one of these arrogant Dubs there’s probably 10 country folk living in Dublin bitching and moaning about how sh*t the place is. We’re all equally terrible at the end of the day!

Huntergonzo

There hasn't really been many positives, it's been mostly shít I reckon but one noticeable upside is that the bank account is growing because there's no pubs to spend the money in.

Also the lockdown's got me back cycling an actual bike rather than an exercise bike....which is nice.

PmMeUrDogs

Honestly haven't noticed many perks.

I hate sitting at home and I'm usually fairly sociable so being away from work, friends and family was hard. My friends almost all struggled mentally so I spent a lot of time trying to comfort them.
My necessary surgery and medical appointments have all been indefinitely cancelled so I'm basically sat here in pain every day until they're eventually done.
People i know have taken their own life.

It's honestly been fcuking horrific, I'm just incredibly happy I got back to work during lockdown because of being an "essential" service. It kept my mental health in check, thankfully.

The only positive i can take from it is that it's reinforced to me that I adore the company I work for, and it's reminded me how much I love my workmates.

otnomart

Working from Home has been a positive for me.
I don't call it a "perk", however, because it is something that benefits companies and society as a whole.

Maybe having shops closed has made people aware of over-comsumption. This awareness could turn in concrete actions for sustainability and environment.

I can not think of any perks.

The lockdown has hit people in different ways.

I am somewhat in the middle as I could still work and do it safely from home.
I know people on other ends of the spectrum: from people in the UK who have been furloughed with salary topped up by employer to 100%; to the staff in my local supermarket and chemists, who have been at risk every single day and now look absolutely exhausted frankly.

And then there is the housing/space divide.
I live in less than 350 square feet with no balcony, no garden, so if I want to get some fresh air I have to go out.
There are people who share accomodation with strangers and, in addition to the above challenges, they also had the issue of keeping distances and constantly disinfecting common areas.

And then there is the family aspect.
From people with no kids who organised drinks nights on Zoom; to people with kids who are absolutely exhausted by home working plus home schooling.

So no, even trying hard I can not think of any perks.
And I am a glass full kinda person.

Mister Vain

Much less stress. No pressure to attend work nights out and listen to the boss talking shyte. I've more free time and energy to train so I'm in the best shape of my life. I'm learning new things. I'm more creative. I've started reading again.

The only thing I really miss is the motorsport and car shows. I love going to Mondello Park but all the big events have been cancelled this year which is a shame.

bee06

It was a great 3 months for us introverts. I had a baby in March, no visitors popping in to see the baby a day after I’d given birth. No trips to the in laws. My husband WFH so I get a bit of a lie in after being up with the baby because he doesn’t have to leave for work at 7.30.

I’ve also made more of an effort to support Irish business (easier said than done in a lot of cases) and switched to cloth nappies.

Phoenix32

It's really fascinating to see how people cope so differently, some really struggle and others thrive, I guess it depends on what you enjoy in life and whether that involves groups or people or if you prefer more solitary activities. I've had to cocoon so I've been cut off more than most people but I'm used to having to be very careful as even getting a cold can leave me needing to go to hospital so I guess in that sense fear around getting ill and around viruses and bacteria isn't really different for me or the precautions I need to take aren't that different either. I'm also a very solitary person so if anyone was built for a lockdown it was me

pgj2015

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

For every one of these arrogant Dubs there’s probably 10 country folk living in Dublin bitching and moaning about how sh*t the place is. We’re all equally terrible at the end of the day!

True, I was out in Dublin just before Christmas, talked to a lot of people, all from the country, id say 1 in 10 of them were happy to be in Dublin, the rest of them were just there because that is where the jobs are, they nearly all told me they would prefer to be living in the countryside.

[Deleted User]

Phoenix32 wrote: »

It's really fascinating to see how people cope so differently, some really struggle and others thrive, I guess it depends on what you enjoy in life and whether that involves groups or people or if you prefer more solitary activities. I've had to cocoon so I've been cut off more than most people but I'm used to having to be very careful as even getting a cold can leave me needing to go to hospital so I guess in that sense fear around getting ill and around viruses and bacteria isn't really different for me or the precautions I need to take aren't that different either. I'm also a very solitary person so if anyone was built for a lockdown it was me

It really is. I've had little to no fear about myself getting the virus. My fear was instead focused on lockdown neverending which was irrational.
Funny thing is I am also very solitary and love being alone. I certainly do miss certain people but not as much as I miss my freedoms.
Before all this most things I did by myself but they are things that stopped.

I also think living circumstances have a huge part to play. Its easier I imagine to be in lockdown with your family and a nice house and big garden than. I'm generalising I know because nobody knows what goes on behind closed doors. Its just that when I hear a happily married person with a family tell people to "suck it up". Well I can't help but wonder.

Bob the Builder

ChikiChiki wrote: »

Why spend half a million on a semi detached in Dublin when you can get a bigger house on a sizable plot of land down west. With our great motorway network Dublin is incredibly accessible from all quarters in 2020 for the occasional meeting etc.

No motorways to Mayo, Sligo or Donegal

owlbethere

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

I definitely get it. I’m going to miss so many aspects of lockdown.

For sure, no one should be in any rush to get back to the way life was. The rat race was brutal.

owlbethere

I got more free pockets of time that I used for exercising. I go out walking a lot now and have added in other exercises that I enjoy. Coupled with clean eating and I'm losing weight and the reducing the bmi so if the virus comes my way, hopefully my body will be able to handle it better. My starting bmi was 39.9, now down to 36.9. I have more work to do and I'm more determined to keep going.

pgj2015

owlbethere wrote: »

For sure, no one should be in any rush to get back to the way life was. The rat race was brutal.

Maybe but what about going to croke park for an all Ireland final on a nice day with 80,000 people in the stadium. going to a gig in some venue, packed crowd.flying off to Spain, Germany, USA etc for a holiday even playing a bit of 5 a side with your friends. Id be in a hurry to get back to all of that.

unhappys10

Loving it and don't want to go back to how things were.
Myself and my wife switched seamlessly to wfh, no impact on salary.
No 4 hour round trip daily to Dublin for me means no traffic, more time at home, saving a fortune on commute costs.
More productive in work also, worked the extra half hour here and there to get something finished where I normally would have left to beat the traffic.
We have a little girl, our first, who turns one tomorrow. Over the last 3 months we have been here to see so much of her development that would have been missed, first words and steps etc.
Getting out for loads of walks and exercise which I never had time for due to the above commute.

Hoping for wfh permanently after this, even if I had to go to Dublin once a week I'd be delighted but my job doesn't require it, I can do everything from home so no need whatsoever to drive to Dublin to sit in an office

So more family time, Dublin salary with West of Ireland living costs, more savings, less stress and less commuting, loving it.

Dr. Bre

No more people ringing the doorbell looking for my money

lisasimpson

Didnt release how much i was spending driving everyweek. Well defo try to work more from home than pre covid. Even checked the mortagage to see if we could more than the monthly repayment. Its not much but paying a small bit more off using the savings from commuting costs until we return to the office.Even though ive have done some on line shopping ive definatelt saved. Also the drive to support irish companies made me less likely to buy from Amazon. I know innmy circle its often mentioned we are going to support local businesses more. I hope people continiue to do that when the rat race returns
The extra time back in the evenings is great to get out in the fresh air.
Really hoping to see a revival of rural towns and villages. You 20 somethings will alway draw to the large urban centers for the social life. But i hope county councils will see the potential of work hubs that you could rent a desk space for a day/wk. This would also help overcome an isolation people may feel when working from home

gretta123

Lundstram wrote: »

The arrogance. :rolleyes:

We're doing fine in rural Ireland, thanks. Please stay in Dublin.

Rural rural Ireland does not need urban “young professionals” moving to live with us and thankfully they don’t want to live with us.
It’s a mutual lack of appreciation

_Kaiser_

Been able to WFH throughout this - but was working from home 1/2 days a week beforehand too - so that's a definite perk. My job is such that I can do it from pretty much anywhere as long as I have a laptop, phone and Internet & I fully intend to do more of this.
Luckily the company is embracing the idea so if I can work it out that I only had to actually go in once or twice a month, it opens up things like moving further away but a cheaper/bigger place for it.

I certainly don't miss the office environment. No proper canteen or hot food onsite means you'd either have to drive into the town, or bring stuff and hope to find a seat, or eat in the car. Most of my dealings are with offshore people so no social aspects (plus at this stage of my life, I'm past the nights out with work)

I'm saving a fortune in diesel, takeaways (previously ordered more out of convenience after a long day and commute), and other random daily expenses - but offset by increased grocery shopping, utility costs and Amazon

I'm also quite happy on my own anyway most of the time so have no issue with being at home alone. If anything I get more done work-wise without interruptions or hunting for meeting rooms to take a sensitive call, and as most of my mates are long settled all over the place, we have a good group on IM and Discord

Redneck Reject1971

To be honest you have all done very well with the pandemic.Much more than other countries.In Mexico there really hasn't been any organized restrictions which is why we now have rampant infections.So well done to you and I hope normal life for you all is right around the corner.

Never have I and as well as you all would ever think we would see such a thing in history.Most of us are still here and that is a cause to be thankful.And also give pause to those who were less fortunate.

JohnnyFlash

Making the sandwiches the night before.

I'd got into the habit of heading into a Spar or Mace to buy a roll. By the time you'd picked up a coke and a bag of tayto you'd be asked for at least 7 euro. Takes only a few minutes to put the sandwich together the night before, or throw together a salad. It's far nicer to eat, and I even got around to liking tea from a flask.