Laurie wrote:MikeEdoessomething! I thought it was you...Aren’t you also the guy with the long commute to work? Live in a small town where everyone knows everyone and then lately you noticed unfamiliar faces walking in seemingly nowhere near nuthin’ on your way to work?
Hi Laurie. I'm not the person you are referring too- lucky for me I live 5 miles from work so its an easy commute. I'm in Raleigh now, which feels like a small town compared to the Fort Lauderdale/Miami area where I grew up and New York where I was born and my family live. But this area of North Carolina is growing so fast. Homes being built every inch available. Yet they do not do anything to the roads
I was actually just inquiring as to how YOU are coping / surviving this thing? And plans for you to go back looks hopeful for you. I hope that’s good news for you! I just remembered your posting about your experience here and there in the longest MM thread and I definitely liked the people in this thread. I guess because it’s a more personal, in depth discussion as opposed to our kratom strains, do’s and don’ts. I’ve just felt lucky to happen along this thread well into those first days...this thread is quite a read compared to any other I’ve seen, lol.
I bet you are dam right about some locations regretting early opening.
Thanks for inquiring though. I hope you are doing well. This community is something special. I was a lurker for years, on reddit and here, before becoming active and so glad I did. I'm doing okay, trying to stay sane lol. Unemployment system nearly drove me INSANE!! 7 weeks with no benefits and my case was pending and I was deemed ineligible also. That was stressful. I just got my debit card with the benefits about a week ago!! Such a huge relief. I had savings and credit space but the wait for unemployment was really so stressful. I try to keep a perspective on things, and so many people have it far far worse, and I am better off than most. And I was given back pay in benefits too, so most of what I lost I got back. I would say around 75% which I won't complain about
I'm not sure what I will do if things open up in 2 or 3 weeks which is what is being discussed right now. I've been out of work since March 15th but I really have done nothing in that time. All my energy was on unemployment. That was all I thought about besides kratom lol. I called unemployment office literally everyday and was on hold for various amounts of time every single day. I really hope things here and anywhere do not open up too quickly, but I fear the wheels are in motion heading in that direction. Sadly, most people do not care about a problem they can not see or which does not impact them directly. So many believe the threat is gone or that this was never as bad as it was made out to be... There was another "re-open" protest here in Raleigh today. What people are not asking is this: if things open up, and the virus spreads again, does everything shut down all over? If a store opens and a few days later an employee gets infected/tests positive, does the store shut down? Employees quarantine? What about if someone working at a mall gets the virus, does the whole mall shut down?
If things open and then shut down again, do employees have to re-file for unemployment? Do employees have to come back to work even if they live with the most at risk citizens? I take care of my parents and my father had heart surgery 2 months ago and is about as high risk as they come. If I don't return to work do I lose my benefits even though guidelines urge people to stay home in certain cases where high risk people are involved? How are the guidelines going to be enforced or what happens to those businesses that defy guidelines? What about the operating and financial cost of opening and closing and opening and closing? Do we continue the cycle, and just "wing" it every time we open and then shut down? For example a restaurant that opens and then is forced to shut down a few days later is going to incur losses from opening for business (food, labor, etc etc), only to then be force to shut down. Food is wasted, people lose benefits by returning to work only to once again be unemployed?
Imagine a major hurricane striking a large coastal city AND dealing with the virus at the same time? Or wildfire while the virus spreads? The food supply is already being impacted, how much worse will opening restaurants make it for those who rely on food banks? People are starving right now and lining up for hours to get food and suddenly the country thinks a switch can just be turned on and restaurants can go back to normal? Things will not go back to normal. No one seems to be talking about these questions. Ignorance is bliss so keep the masses blind by giving them entertainment and food and they won't see the
poison rotting the system
Our health care and food supply structures are cracking or damn near falling apart already. Adding more stress to these already fragile systems risks the entire structure collapsing. If that happens then what we have gone through so far will seem like a vacation.
Thanks for the update, MikeEdoessomething! It’s nice to see your post today. Very bright and positive energy in your words.
Hope the reply isn't too negative as I needed to vent

I do try to stay positive though these days it is easy not to be. I tell myself to be thankful for what I have and remember the simple perspective: "It could always be worse"
Thank you for the kind words. Reading what you wrote made my night! I am an inspiring writer. I write as my main hobby, to vent, express myself, etc etc... So hearing my words have any positive impact is
music to my ears
Sorry for the HUGE rant

! I started replying and my thoughts went every direction and I guess I just needed to vent. But thanks Laurie for the kind words and thoughts! I hope you are and your loved ones stay well and safe.