Sometimes I wish the consequences for not masking and for walking around like COVID doesn't exist would be more obvious and immediate. But it often feels like those who are extremely careful and aware end up getting sick, while those who don't take any precautions barely get sick. And I feel like it proves their point that COVID isn't relevant or dangerous. Or that only people with "bad immune systems" need to worry, but if you're healthy it doesn't matter. Does anyone else feel that way?
I've been a COVID-cautious person since the very beginning. I'm not completely zero COVID (I occasionally take calculated risks, like small indoor gatherings with friends or family, and I have a little bit of additional exposure via my husband), but in general we mask in all indoor public spaces and avoid indoor dining and other high-risk activities. I travel for work and I'm frequently the only person on the airplane in an N95. We say no to most gatherings from Nov-April because we live in a very cold climate and a city where people have pretty much given up masking.
Risk assessment has become second nature: I plan my masked grocery shopping for weekday mornings when the air is cleaner. I scan every public space I enter to assess ventilation. I stay on top of the current wastewater data and other virus levels. I follow COVID news, immunologists, and mask advocates on social media.
Sometimes I feel like I'm TOO informed, because now I'm not capable of going anywhere or doing anything without that constant awareness of the risks I'm taking. I sometimes wish I didn't know about all studies detailing the harm COVID can do to our health long-term.
In contrast, my best friend has pretty much given up masking or taking precautions. She's not careless, but she acts like that part of her life is over and she's resumed living her pre-2020 life. She's been pregnant this year (a long-anticipated and high-risk pregnancy), through the very worst of the winter virus season, and that didn't change anything. She got her annual covid and flu shots, but her husband refused to get his and she was fine with that.
I was surprised by all the things she did while pregnant: going to movie theatres, eating in restaurants, going to all her medical appointments, lots of social activities...all completely unmasked and unbothered by people who might be sick around her. All things I would never do, especially while pregnant.
And yet, despite all my precautions, I got sick with a very bad cold this winter and was in bed for 10 days in March, had a lingering cough, and then got shingles a week after (I mean, come on!). . . and she only had one tiny cold all winter and shrugged it off.
Does anyone else feel frustrated by their family or friends who act like COVID doesn't even exist anymore, especially when they seem to be living their lives with zero consequences? And also a bit jealous to see them living so freely, because of course we all wish we could have that (if only we didn't know what we know).
