There are surely more than five, but here are the highlights:
1. I was watching an episode of “Fringe” recently where the protagonists encountered someone they described as a germophobe. The character earned this designation because her home had hermetically-sealed windows, an air purification system with HEPA filters and bottles of hand sanitizer in every room. Turns out she had a son who was immunocompromised, but in my mind, she was just prepared for COVID-19.
2. Thanks to the toilet paper shortages of 2020 and 2021, I’m now a convert to the bidet. Every toilet in every home I live in from this point forward will have one.
3. I used to love going to the grocery store; now, I exclusively use Hannaford To-Go and Instacart with drop-off service at my front door. Pre-pandemic, I’d spend a good hour planning meals, checking the pantry for ingredients and compiling a shopping list for two weeks’ worth of meals. After driving to the store, I’d wander up and down the aisles, filling my cart while listening to music or Zombies Run. Then, I’d bring the groceries home, unpack the car and put everything away. Going to the store was an event, one that took up an entire morning.
Due to the pandemic, I haven’t been inside a grocery store since February 2020. However, buying groceries online is actually pretty convenient. I particularly enjoy creating shopping lists and hitting the “buy again” button. The orders arrive at my door within a pre-selected two-hour window and I can do other things while a well-compensated shopper compiles my cart and delivers each order. Shopping this way means I’m also less tempted to purchase items from pretty displays and shelves of impulse buys.
4. Important errands and appointments are now scheduled between surges. As soon as New Hampshire returns to low transmission of the virus (or as close an approximation as I can estimate since the powers-that-be refuse to collect accurate data), I cold-call doctors, dentists, vets, librarians, handymen, etc., to take care of all the things that need to be done before the next coronavirus variant causes everyone to become sick again.
5. Me in 2019: No one needs to pay for more than one or two streaming services.
Me in 2022: Since I can no longer go to the movies, I subscribe to every streaming service!
4 Comments
Courtney Mroch
I LOVE this post, Jade!!! It sounds like shopping for groceries the way you do now saves time, which I’m always interested in. But what about money? I imagine there’s a bit of of an upcharge to have someone else do it for you, but in the scheme of things does it actually save you from impulse buys? Or did you not fall victims to those like I do? lol
Either way, I LOVE this list because of the honesty and how it reflects that times really are different now. Also, I never realized how much we have in common on so many levels. From movies and streaming services to bidets and shopping habits! (I love browsing the aisles, and have still been going to the store but my trips are abbreviated and as in-and-out as possible.)
Anyway, thanks for sharing.
Bob Sassone
The thing that has changed for me is going out. I try to do everything I need to do on one day, in one trip. On the day I get groceries, if I have to go to the bank or the pharmacy or a doc appt, I’ll try to do it all on that day, on the same trip.
Jade Walker
Thanks for the comment, Courtney. Shopping for my groceries online isn’t really that much more expensive than buying in person. Our local store charges a $10 delivery fee, plus whatever you want to tip. Since I only buy groceries twice a month — and I appreciate the service these folks are providing — I tend to tip well. I don’t have to pay for the gas required to drive there and back. And, let’s be frank: time is precious/priceless!
I also save money by buying store brands for certain products, using a loyalty card, purchasing seasonal foods and clipping coupons. This week, the store even offered loyal customers a coupon for $18 off if you spend $200.
Jade Walker
That makes a lot of sense, Bob. One trip — less exposure.