Wednesday is here, a cold Wednesday morning with another overnight frost here on the Canadian prairies. It began with a bit of sunshine which has now been banished behind some grey clouds. It is a good morning to stay inside for coffee and breakfast. The forecast is for some moderation in temperature with a high of 14 Celsius by late afternoon. There is no question that summer is done. Still, there will be sunny and warmish days ahead for me to enjoy outdoors, even while nude. It’s all a matter of acclimatising to the seasons. By the time winter is here, I will likely find that -5 Celsius will be pleasant enough for some outdoor time while nude, especially if I am busy shovelling snow.
Acclimation is the process of adjusting to new conditions such as we are facing in a world that is reeling from a pandemic. The latest news tells us that no vaccine is in the near future, a fact that forces us to come to grips with living with the coronavirus. Some of us live in”bubbles” or so we believe. The people in my town believe there are in such a bubble as no one here has had Covid19. They feel safe and basically take risks within the community because of that risk. Yet, in a modern world which includes my town, there are no isolated bubbles of safety. Too many people leave the town for all sorts of good reasons, including myself.
Though we think we are immune, our psyche tells us otherwise. We respond to that unconscious knowledge typically in two ways. We deny the fact of our vulnerability, even if it means we have to deny the threat. Covid19 deniers and anti-maskers are examples of this response to the unconscious. Logic has no room in any discussion that confronts this type of response. On the opposite pole, we have those that fearfully embrace solitary confinement. Thankfully, most of us are somewhere in the middle ground, listening to science which tells us to “limit” our risks and the risk to others by wearing a mask when in situations where we are close to others.
Maintaining social distance is not about going into isolation, but simply acknowledging that a safe space of about two metres is all that is needed, especially if we wear masks when we are unsure about the people who we come into contact with as we leave our immediate social bubble. Of course, you, my readers already know this. What we don’t often realise is that when we are out of our immediate social bubble and when we are easily able to maintain social distance, such as when out walking in a park, or at a beach, or somewhere out in nature, we don’t need to continuously wear a mask.
I don’t wear a mask when hiking in the hills or in the backyard. Neither do I wear clothing. That all changes when I am in the presence of others. If distance is maintained, the mask is kept handy but the clothing remains on my body. It’s all about common sense. However, as each of us is learning, common sense is a rare trait in humans. Of course, there are no guarantees as what we “know” is not all that much. The best we can do is the best that we can do as we acclimatise to the world that is constantly changing.
Where I live there is many who feel they are not at risk and wave their flag of individual and god given rights. I find time to “agree” with them (which I do not) and prompt them to go further and disrobe with me. Because the rules that require us to wear clothes are as wrong as the rules that require us to wear masks. Normally the flag waving stops and they walk off. Sometimes they argue and I have a good laugh. On a serious note, I am finding this mask wearing and hand cleaning more normal as the days wander seamlessly into winter.
Interesting response – “you have the freedom to not wear a mask and so I have the freedom to not wear clothing.” I love it.
I find the expressed need for crrtainty in uncertain times and circumstances to be remarkable. People want guarraties where none are reasonable and they want them from those who are in no position to give them.
Clients want architects to guarranty the cost of a building, municipal approvals, and the contractor’s performance just as much as they want guarranties that social distancing, or masks will work 100% of the time.
So few speak out about doing the best with what we know at any point in time and expecting that advice and response will change as we learn more.
In attitude we are pioneers no longer.
I don’t find much remarkable regardless of the times. Those who crave certainty, even demand certainty, are those most fearful of existing on shifting ground. It must the psychotherapist in me to look at humans this way. LOL!
I do admre those amongst us who are committed nudists. When the sun is out I can be found naked in my garden laying on my gravity defying reclining chair. I know that the people I’m acquainted with, think I am an oddball and their reaction to my admission to being a nudist is predictable. You know, open mouth and then a snigger, an immediate change of subject follows!
One of these days, I’m going to flout convention, break the law, defy the rules, alienate me from my family and do the impossible! GO NAKED DOWN THE STREET TO THE VILLAGE STORE.
The trouble is – i lack the courage and I know that at present it’s too darned cold!
I’m with you on that, John. Going out in public and flouting convention is something I won’t do as there are too many losses.