Dear LPG,

Many of us have now spent months living at home in a bubble of not many, or even a bubble of one, and while none of us are really sure when that bubble is going to be well and truly burst, the news broadcasts are hinting at the fact that we are on the way back to all being a bit more normal in as much that the front door can be opened again for well-masked two-way traffic.

The sad thing is that I have now spent so long at home that I am not sure if I really want to get out into the big bad world again or if I am ready to invite any of it in.  So much of the contact I had with my telephone–friends during the spring and summer of 2020, was about the time when we would be free to do the normal things again, but back then it felt that lockdown had been for the best part of ever and I, for one, was raring to go. 

But after a brief period last summer we all found ourselves back behind closed doors and we have had yet another eight months to get really used to our enclosed circumstances.  It has now been over a year and, the end appears to be in sight but I think that I have finally learned to feel quite comfortable at home and, after everything that has happened, and in spite of the fact that I have had my vaccine, there is still something comforting in knowing that I am best protected from the pandemic while I am at home and it is true what they say, ‘practise makes perfect’, and I think that my social skills and personal skills are suffering from a lack of that very entity while I have had loads of practise when it comes to being at home.  The truth is that I am not so sure that I want to brave the great outdoors again when the time comes.

It is always said that we pensioners have had less reason to go out than most.  We have no need to get back to work and most of us have got used to depending on our children and younger friends rather than it being the other way round.  They have been getting the shopping in for us and I know that the only times that I have been out lately have been when I have been taken by car for a really short shopping expedition or trip to my GP.

I have talked a bit with friends about it and they are showing signs of agreement, so I took a look on line and found a little information and advice which might help anyone who might have similar anxieties.

I thought that I was in the minority but some online statistics I found suggest that there are quite a few people feeling this way.  I really resented all the restrictions at first but this past year has helped me to gradually feel that staying at home is my best plan of action for the future.

PA, Woolwich.

PA shares her findings…

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