Travel and COVID-19

I think it’s fair to say that, due to COVID-19, all travel plans have come to an abrupt and screeching halt.

Mine included.

I won’t say this is good, in fact, I think it’s far from ideal, but it’s given me A LOT of time to think, and I believe I’ve come to a sense of understanding.

I didn’t realize, until recently, how huge a part of my life travelling really is. Not only do I usually have to go from point ‘a’ to point ‘b’ every day of my life, but now that I’m not able to do that, even for the most mundane of normal social aspects of my life, it really puts everything into perspective.

Now that I can’t travel, I miss it more than ever.

The last time I made a post was… 3 months ago? Almost? Needless to say, I apologize for the inconsistency. I’ve been having a minor existential crisis, but am happy to say that I’ve mostly figured it all out.

To everyone and anyone who reads my blog posts, who misses travelling and, well, can’t wait for this to all be over so we can all get back out and go places…

I hate to say that that might not happen for a while. As long as people don’t follow guidelines, or beaches are sprung open, (nudge nudge, wink wink, AMERICA (they’re not the only ones to blame here, but COVID is going through their population like wildfire. But, that’s besides the point.)) borders will remain closed, and the ability of even in-country travel will be limited.

The fact of the matter is, that I don’t see Canada opening the borders until at least 2021, maybe 2022. Vaccines take a long time to make and perfect, and until we have that or herd immunity.

All of this to be said, it’s been a really weird and stressful time for everyone. I hope that this is all over soon, and that everyone’s doing okay, and that if you’re not, that you have someone to turn to.

I feel like a big problem, especially now, is that the media tends to focus on the worst of society. Everything bad hits the news, and everything good–if it hits the news at all, is kept in the backwaters, never making it to the front page.

But there is good to come out of all of this. The air hasn’t been cleaner in decades, maybe even in a century. Wildlife is prospering, and every day more and more people turn to local sources, and to bikes instead of cars. There’s a bike path where I live, and in response to isolation and social distancing, it has never been busier. Cyclists, pedestrians, and runners take to the path while maintaining safe distances from each other.

Everyone has time to think, and I don’t believe for a moment that everyone’s glad about isolation. Some are thriving, but others are not. Jobs layoffs have been brutal for some, and many are struggling to get by. Change is coming, and I hope it is for the better.

So while we can’t travel, or go anywhere, really… There is something to be taken from all of this. I think it’s making everyone realize how incredibly strange life is, and that when opportunity presents itself, we should live it to the fullest.

Good luck all! Stay safe. Watch out for each other, and stay in touch with your loved ones.

See you on the other side!

Peace.