I'm currently in Mission Beach, San Diego. What pandemic?

[Coventina]

So, after much deliberation, my husband and I decided to make our annual one week trek to Mission Beach.

We always stay at the same place, a small, 4 unit condo building.

We arrived shortly after 5pm to find that the pandemic has changed nothing.

Hordes of people, almost none wearing masks.

Bars and restaurants are closed to indoor eating/drinking but the outdoor patios are PACKED!

Fortunately, in the building where we are staying, each unit has their own entry and there is no central air or heating.

We went and bought groceries, and we'll be doing all our own cooking while here.

Maybe the beach will be less crowded during the week, but we'll see. I'm not going to do the boardwalk at all.

Still glad to be out of the Phoenix heat, and have a beautiful view from the condo.

But really, I'm shocked that San Diego is not a raging hot spot the way LA currently is.

The behavior of people here is far worse than Phoenix. Really shocked, honestly.

[Dem2theMax]

1. San Diego isn't doing that well actually.

And you just described why.

I am in the county, but very north of where you are. And I just stay inside my house or hang out in my backyard. Everything is delivered.

[former9thward]

29. San Diego is doing well.

It only has 533 deaths out of a total of 8429 deaths in CA. The average of positive tests is 4% compared to the CA goal of keeping positive cases less than 8%.

https://www.10news.com/news/coronavirus/san-diego-county-reports-603-new-covid-19-cases-nine-deaths

[chia]

2. I live inland, where San Diego city limits meet East County

Mask use is actually pretty good where I live, at least at the stores I shop at. I ventured down to Coronado one afternoon thinking I might be able to walk on the beach with a good amount of distancing if I was walking at the water line. Not a chance. There were literally hordes of people on the beach, in the water, running back and forth between the beach and the water, and probably less than 5% had masks on. It was impossible, and I had to leave. I was shocked too. I chalked it up to Coronado being more conservative but if Mission Beach was the same? We're so screwed.

[Locutusofborg]

3. I live just across the bay

Near the San Diego Mission Bay Resort. I almost never see a soul without a mask. I'm thinking the Mission Beach and Pacific Beach crowds are primarily tourists.

[haele]

4. At the beach, you'll see a lot of tourists- most likely Zonies.

We do have our Covidiots in town, but most people wear the masks - probably around 90%. The church folk and the visiting Imperial County/Arizona residents though - Oye.

Haele

[Coventina]

11. We are Zonies, for sure. I don't know if the idiots around us are also Zonies or not.

I'll check out what the other three units have for license plates tomorrow.
I noticed at least one of them had CA plates. (And it's definitely not a rental, a big, beat up SUV with stickers).

[haele]

24. No mean to offend, some Zonies are cool.

But there are more than a few - especially the former Californians of the Faux news watching RW persuasion visiting their "old stomping grounds" who are pretty much the stereotype of the Ugly American Tourist when they hit the beach in San Diego.

As I said above, we have our own local Covidiots, but during the shut down when tourists were not in town, it was obvious especially on the hot days when there there would normally be crowds that the majority of those crowds are tourists.

Spouse and I aren't even attempting to visit the beach this summer because of tourists and Inland County RW nut jobs like our daughter's in-laws who have no problems bringing glass bottles and sneering at the normal beach regulations - and now spewing that Plandemic bullshit when they come down to the beach to cool off.

Haele

[haele]

44. I most humbly apologize to Coventina. And any other Arizona DU'ers I've insulted.

As a San Diegan, I let my frustrations over the issue with those on tourist and other open recreational areas flouting mask regulations and basically ruining the ability for anyone to seek refuge in those areas. I painted with too broad and frankly, too provincial a brush and unnecessarily hurt Coventina without realizing that she is just as much a victim as I and my family are from these Yahoo's, both tourists and natives, who insist on endangering us all.

Again, I am so sorry I blurted out my anger without thinking. It was wrong, and inhospitable.

Haele

[SlogginThroughIt]

5. No offense but I don't think it was a good idea.

You went to a different community and you went grocery shopping. You very well could be beinging the virus to those people who work there. Mask or no mask. Sorry but this was fairly selfish in my opinion.

[brush]

7. Ahhhh...get real. Seems like the selfish ones are ones running...

around without masks when everyone knows masks are critical to helping contain the virus.

[SlogginThroughIt]

9. I am being real.

Traveling to a destination and putting undo stress on the locale and then chastising others that are taking it a step further? Sorry. I just don’t see how that was a good idea.

You cab disagree but it is what it is.

[brush]

13. Sorry, not wearing masks is what's not a good idea.

That can't be any clearer. Why are you defending those not wearing masks?

[SlogginThroughIt]

15. And traveling to other locales

You are not a local there and mask or not you are bringing more risk to the locals.

This was one of the very first things we were asked to not do. It is why cabin areas here in MN are nervous. People started going up north and grocery shopping. Putting those people in even more danger. Masks are great. They are not 100% effective. You wanted to go do your thing and you did it. Good for you but you are putting more pressure on the people in that locale.

[brush]

17. The poster was doing as recommended by medical experts...

so as not to spread the virus. The no masker are not.

[SlogginThroughIt]

18. I don't disagree

The no maskers were obviously endangering people. I just think that unnecessary travel and therefore unnecessary shopping and added consumerism outside of normal locales also puts unnecessary burdens on people. We have had to forego 3 planned family vacations of the same sort because it isn’t worth it to put more risk on other people.

[pamela]

36. No, the poster was NOT "doing as recommended by medical experts"

Medical experts are begging people from hot spots like Phoenix not to travel to other locales at this time or, if someone must travel, to quarantine for 14 days once they get there.

[brush]

37. Wearing masks is recommended. Going maskless is not.

And btw, California is just as much a hot spot now as Arizona. It's a good guess that thousands going maskless is one of the prime reasons.

[pamela]

38. So you can ignore several recommendations as long as you follow one? N/T

[brush]

39. Pls post a link. I know Gov. Cuomo has a quarantine policy for...

visitors. I haven''t heard of one declared by Gov. Newsom.

[Coventina]

8. My husband and I have been isolating at home for months.

We're the ones taking the risk, not bringing it.

You are in no position to judge me.

[SlogginThroughIt]

10. Sure I am.

I mean we are judging everyone else right?

You shouldn’t be putting unnecessary risk on others. At least not while in the same breath chastising others.

[Coventina]

12. Riiiiiiiiight.

[PCIntern]

26. Perhaps you need to pick your battles more judiciously

These individuals felt it was necessary to get out of the Phoenix heat for whatever reason. By definition, as a family, that makes it necessary. They follow protocol to the best of their ability, and are attempting to minimize risk to themselves and to others. That’s all any of us can do.

[SlogginThroughIt]

35. Sure. And thats fine.

But they are putting extra burden on a different community. They said they wod go to the beach if it wasn’t too crowded. But thats how it starts. Rationalizing the situation. And then the next family thinks, oh it isn’t too busy and then you have more and more families that think one more family is ok.... I am not saying burn them at the stake I am just pointing out that while calling out others there are things that they can be called out for.

[PutGramaOnThePhone]

20. Excuse me?

Everyone needs to act as if they are “bringing the risk”. How do you know that you aren’t? You’ve been isolating at home, avoiding connections, and now you just made, and will make, new connections to COVID spreaders during your travels, and at your destination. Now how do you know you aren’t “bringing the risk”, as you continue to make connections on vacation? The web of connections will continue to spread out as you and your fellow vacationers return home, and who knows who is “bringing the risk”.

Between the two of us my wife and I have canceled 3 very much anticipated vacations. It seems to me that this is just not the time to travel for a vacation...if ones cares enough to try to be part of the solution.

Let’s add “and skip the damn vacation” to “wear a damn mask”. We wear the mask for others. How about we skip the vacations for others?

[DesertRat]

34. Well said

Welcome to DU

[brush]

6. That's too bad. You'd think Californians would be more informed...

after the early shutdown there. What a contrast between California and New York where both governors were so on top in their initial virus responses. New York is still maintaining it's flattened curve.

[DesertRat]

30. As others have mentioned most of the people this time of year are tourists

Mission Beach is so popular with my fellow Arizona heat escapees, that they dub us "Zonies". While there will be other inland CA residents there on a beach vacation as well, I wouldn't blame "Californians" for not being informed.

[brush]

31. What about the maskless ones?

[DesertRat]

33. I think that anyone not wearing a mask is a selfish idiot. nt

[BigmanPigman]

14. "Shock and Awe' in Ocean Beach - a Reader Rant" (San Diego)...

"Shock and awe, is the only thing I can say. I was shocked at how cavalier everyone was taking it, not wearing masks, not practicing social distancing. People walking down the sidewalks, past bars trying to be restaurants, people crowding each other. Over at the foot of Newport, on the wall: no masks, people sitting next to each other. Even vendors setting up their wares on the grass didn’t wear masks."

"It was like a regular, summer day at the beach. People carrying their towels, their boards, their umbrellas, their sunscreen. No masks. Finally, along Abbott on the sidewalk, I saw a guy actually wearing a mask. I had to swivel in the car chair to take in the singularity of his act. Wow."

"I was in awe, awe at the audaciousness of the people flocking to the beach around 1:30 in the afternoon. Not a care in the world. Laughing, talking, sitting with friends. Going into the water. The sun, the sand, the surf. That’s all that mattered."

"And you know what else? There wasn’t a sign of government the entire time I traversed the scene. No police officers. No traffic control vehicles, no signs from government warning people about the need to wear masks. Nothing. Government was not in sight. It was the wild west of COVID-19. The shock and awe eventually made me quite depressed for the rest of the day. All I could do was to go home and light up a bowl. Forget about it."

https://obrag.org/2020/07/shock-and-awe-in-ocean-beach-a-reader-rant/

[Luciferous]

16. So you went on a vacation and are surprised other people are doing the same thing?

I get that you might be taking more precautions than some, but taking a vacation during a pandemic doesn't seem worth the risk to me and yeah, I'm guessing that a beach, even during the week, in the middle of the summer is going to be pretty busy...

[SlogginThroughIt]

19. Thats my point as well.

[PCIntern]

27. I live at a beach town

I go to the beach far from others between lifeguard stations and sleep on my chaise. I am no threat to anyone and no one is a threat to me.

If it’s that easy to catch this is all pointless.

[DesertRat]

32. +1

This is the height of tourist season in Mission Beach. It's an easy drive from Arizona and a popular summer escape destination. We've gone for decades, this year being an exception. I'm sure the locals are frustrated with the influx of tourists too.

[sarcasmo]

21. DR. Fauci said stay out of restaurants and off airplanes.

[Liberty Belle]

22. They likely drove here from Arizona.

It's 120 degrees or so in AZ. I can't blame someone who after sweltering for months in that decides to go to the beach for a few days, wearing a mask and trying to social distance.

The problem is all the others, including many locals, who think the beach is party central and refuse to wear masks or stay far enough apart.

Most of all though I fault San Diego's Supervisors for failing to insist on enforcement. If the started fining everyone who was doing this, it would largely stop. But the Republican-majority on the Supervisors refuses to do so.

So our COVID cases keep going up and up, we're on the Governor's watch list meaning most businesses are closed down, at least indoors, and many completely, with no end in site. Over 600 new cases today alone.

[FreeState]

23. Why did you come here?

Seriously if you don’t live here don’t come here. Respect the lives of the people of San Diego.
Stop visiting please.

[obamanut2012]

25. Yup - I felt the same way when people said they were coming here to FL

Stay the hell home. We do not need anything, or anyone else, overloading our resources right now. I live five minutes from nice beaches, and haven't been since Mid March, when I used to go almost every week.

[LisaL]

28. Usually these places want tourists to come.

[SharonClark]

40. Wow!

You travel out of your area and then complain about other people who are not complying with recommended covid precautions?

And then you complain that other DUers don’t have a right to judge you after you judged a lot of other people?

You should have expected some pushback.

[Coventina]

41. General reply to thread:

Sorry to have offended anyone with my life choices.

As I said upthread: We've been self isolating for months, and we are continuing to self isolate here (aside from the trip to the grocery store. We were masked throughout.).

We drove our own vehicle.

My husband and I are the least of San Diego's problems.

But, feel free to lambaste me. I'll be spending the rest of my day looking at the ocean and reading Shogun.

[PutGramaOnThePhone]

46. Offended?

(freedum to not wear a mask) = (freedum to go to a bar) = (freedum to vacation) = ...

Your vacation sounds like it would be my cup of tea. Three weeks ago I was going to be up north here in MN, looking at Lake Superior and reading, swimming, hiking, and just relaxing. I’d be embarrassed to call forgoing the privilege of my vacation a sacrifice. I guess not traveling is my contribution to the team effort that we need, to at least try to lessen the impact this Pandemic is having, and will continue to have on EVERYONE in this country - in big and small ways. Am I being self righteous, melodramatic , and overly pessimistic? Perhaps. Am I offended? No. Maybe some of those close to the 140k plus dearly departed, hospitalized, or recovering - of which there could’ve been far, far fewer - would be offended. Or maybe they’d feel a mixture of sadness, dismay, and anger like me. Are you offended? Methinks you are.

Thanks for what you have done, and are continuing to do for the team! However to me, the life choice of a vacation in these times, is like you’re doing your recycling, but choosing to drive around in a Ford Expedition, and leaving it running with the air on while you’re at the grocery store.

[Coventina]

47. .

[ismnotwasm]

42. People don't understand the pandemic

I believe people think it’s an argument about deaths, and suffering and recovery rates as well as a tale of origins, when it’s actually a showcase about what our current healthcare system can handle. How many hospitals, clinics, equipment, medicine and healthcare workers vs the number of people with covid-19.

By the way, covid *IS* a shit way to die. Shit thing to be sick with. Killing your Nana or BIL who had a double lung transplant for freedom is fucked up.

So, you know, Seattle is doing..ok..The four hospital system I work for has a total of 31 cases as of the other day, from a height of 112-115 I think. I don’t know the numbers from other hospitals. Our hospital was not overwhelmed like they were in other places, but we were definitely stressed. I often wondered what it would have looked like if the numbers were doubled. We had a field hospital set up for non-covid patients we never used in anticipation.

Quick check, looks like San Diego county has A total of 19 cases. I would see if that number rises over the next few weeks.

I’ll be honest, I’m not looking forward to The flu season combined with a poorly managed pandemic, combined with the basic selfishness of human beings this winter.


Seattle has had a kind of crappy spring and summer, so that kept people in too, as we as having a governor who guided us well. Our numbers dropped, then began to rise. I see unmasked kids playing basketball, middle aged women playing tennis, lots of walkers and runners. We try to Mask, try to avoid each other.

My floor was able to avoid covid patients for a long time, but not anymore (a large portion of them are immunosuppressed)

In my opinion the pandemic showcased the known flaws in our healthcare system, if we ever want to get to universal healthcare, we have a lot of work to do with infrastructure.

[mentalsolstice]

43. I read your story this morning with mixed feelings

I live a mile from the beach, in Walton county FL. Our county is f’d up, we have a large bay dividing the north from the south. The county seat is in the redneck north, they rule, and depend on the tourism $ from the south. So we have little power to control development, infrastructure, etc.

OTOH, here in the southern part, we’ve witnessed the impact on our economy during the pandemic. We don’t have big chain restaurants, pretty much everything is small business, except for grocery shopping. So we have many friends who have suffered economically during our short shutdown, thanks to our POS governor. As far as health and hospital beds go, nope there’s not a lot here.

So, it’s been a mixed bag for us. Tourism here was up 5% for Memorial Day, and July 4th. Now we’re starting to see rising numbers.

When I start this response with mixed feelings, I meant it. There are two sides to the issue of traveling. Just be kind and respectful to others.

[womanofthehills]

45. If you come to NM from out of state you need to self quarantine for 14 days

No out of state visitors will be allowed in state parks either - so no camping. Masks are mandatory in stores and for groups. You can be fined $100 for not wearing a mask. We have had lower rates because of our governor's actions.

[Demovictory9]

48. the hordes did the same as you...

[Raine]

49. People who should stay home come here to California

then gripe about the other people they see. Those people probably dont live here either but have come from somewhere else on vacation. They run around on the beach putting Californians at risk then take disease they caught from other vacationers back to wherever their home is.