This pandemic is resulting in the world changing faster than what we would normally experience. For my wife and myself, the inability to travel to the USA to visit our middle child and her family is one change that has us experiencing lost time with our growing grandsons who live there. Even closer to home, our relationship with our neighbours have been altered.
Normally, we hug when we get together with our neighbours of the past eighteen years. Since all of us are now seniors, we have listened to the advice for safe distancing which translates to no hugging. We still gather together for outdoor barbeques or sunny afternoons for wine and good company, but we keep a distance. Perhaps it is our age, but no one is willing to risk being the cause of passing on the Covid-19 virus.
Another change has been the reluctance to head out to my local [four hours distant] naturist campgrounds to be with naturist friends who either visit there, or live there full-time. The unknown in terms of where they may have been or whom they may have come into contact with left me unwilling to risk visiting, especially since my wife could be at risk through my extended contact with others.
This makes the second year in a row where I haven’t used my small camping trailer as a part-time residence at the naturist site. For a naturist, the freedom at being in such a setting is indescribable. Outside of naturist sites, nudity is very, very limited to time and place. So, in real terms, this is a real loss.
Aside from the pandemic, just getting older is a big enough change. We both are now in our seventies and though we are both very fit and active, the change is noticeable, especially in terms of our psychology. Being home more than in the past, we have found a pleasant rhythm in our life and are enjoying a quieter life at home.
Visiting our eldest daughter at her seasonal camping site in a provincial park was pleasant enough, but the noise from passing traffic and nearby campsites taught us that our backyard was much more in tune with nature. The allure to go camping retreated, at least the idea of camping as a getaway from the hurlyburly of normal life. Besides, neither of us enjoy the stress of travelling down highways pulling a camping trailer any more.
As a result, we decided it was a good time to sell our small trailer. The market for campers and trailers is better than it has been for some time because the pandemic is keeping most people from extensive travel out-of-country.And so, yesterday, late afternoon, I created an online ad to sell our trailer. T
here will be a empty space in the normal picture of our driveway if and when the camper gets sold. Will it be a loss? Yes, and curiously, no. As with all changes, it forces us to open up new doors. One thing for certain, just making the decision has changed our lives.
What recent losses have forced you to change in order to fit into your new reality? What decisions have you made that will open up different doors?