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FirstLight

(13,352 posts)
Thu Nov 12, 2020, 10:13 PM Nov 2020

COVID question... What do you guys think of "pods"

So I have heard that there are little groups, maybe one or two families, who decided to quarantine from the rest of the world, but still have limited interactions together.

I wonder what you know or think of this idea, to satisfy our need for social interaction, while keeping safe as well. Idk, I guess I feel like I already go out to the freaking store too much even though I distance, mask and sanitize...

Got no plans to meet up with anyone I haven't already seen in the last 6-9 months. Not traveling, not going out, etc I have ONE best friend who is more of a recluse than I am, and her kid homeschools, so they are not out in the world and she is not working in public anymore, retired. We still get together and have game night. Since she was a daycare provider years ago, clean hands etc are really big in her house anyway lol.

As things get worse out there, I see myself stopping on any errands and only doing delivery of groceries. Going back to March behavior I suppose...

As we are all having some cabin fever and pandemic fatigue...please let me know...how are you holding up and what is your social life lilke these days?

47 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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COVID question... What do you guys think of "pods" (Original Post) FirstLight Nov 2020 OP
I am still behaving exactly as I did in March and have done ever since. The Velveteen Ocelot Nov 2020 #1
Same here. cwydro Nov 2020 #41
Heard of them. The key is that participants have to be serious about doing it right. Eugene Nov 2020 #2
As long as everyone follows the rules... DrToast Nov 2020 #3
I have a select circle Tink41 Nov 2020 #4
"...except I have this creeping feeling it's coming for us..." yonder Nov 2020 #17
Yes me too! Tink41 Nov 2020 #18
They are fine . . . but Ms. Toad Nov 2020 #5
Sucks when your family is the biggest threat to your life. lagomorph777 Nov 2020 #19
It does. Ms. Toad Nov 2020 #26
Frustrating, right? Tink41 Nov 2020 #20
Yup. With my daughter, it's picking and choosing. Ms. Toad Nov 2020 #25
Keep a UV air cleaner in your room. lagomorph777 Nov 2020 #28
Got a HEPA purifier arriving Saturday Ms. Toad Nov 2020 #29
I don't think it would be safe to share a bed, with any amount of air cleaning, even masked. lagomorph777 Nov 2020 #31
I'd been sleeping in the recliner for that very reason, Ms. Toad Nov 2020 #39
Oh my god you poor thing. lostnfound Nov 2020 #36
We're a pod of 12 msdogi Nov 2020 #6
I hope you are very specific in questions to each other. Ms. Toad Nov 2020 #30
I depends. I don't trust anyone bamagal62 Nov 2020 #7
I have one friend I walk with every day dawg day Nov 2020 #8
Curious Tink41 Nov 2020 #21
I help elderly neighbors out- dawg day Nov 2020 #24
I understand now! Tink41 Nov 2020 #47
we have 5 people we will get together with gopiscrap Nov 2020 #9
This was tried with HIV FreeState Nov 2020 #10
This. It only takes one. bamagal62 Nov 2020 #16
Pods are how the grandkids are organized in their schools. Klaralven Nov 2020 #11
Some of the private schools doing "in-person" learning BumRushDaShow Nov 2020 #12
I isolated in March and am keeping at it Marthe48 Nov 2020 #13
HI!! Tink41 Nov 2020 #22
Good! Marthe48 Nov 2020 #33
That's me, too, except that since March I haven't set foot in any store or restaurant The Velveteen Ocelot Nov 2020 #43
I've traditionally spent a lot of time with friends Codeine Nov 2020 #14
Hey, I'd love some details on that. Where do you go? nolabear Nov 2020 #44
What games do you play? Codeine Nov 2020 #45
Old school. Cards, word games, Risk maybe. nolabear Nov 2020 #46
THANK YOU! I appreciate everyone's input FirstLight Nov 2020 #15
I do not trust a single person outside of my household. usedtobedemgurl Nov 2020 #23
I work in healthcare and have potential exposure each day, so I do not Tanuki Nov 2020 #27
I think that having to go out and do grocery shopping is one of my biggest issues. Autumn Nov 2020 #32
I do delivery and dropoff Marthe48 Nov 2020 #34
I spray with Lysol and alcohol and dry goods go in large containers. I don't have Autumn Nov 2020 #38
I have a pod, sort of... ananda Nov 2020 #35
I have always done my grocery shopping, masked, but only about every 2-3 weeks mnhtnbb Nov 2020 #37
Don't eat them Silent3 Nov 2020 #40
My wife recently went to lunch with three of her friends. MineralMan Nov 2020 #42

The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,280 posts)
1. I am still behaving exactly as I did in March and have done ever since.
Thu Nov 12, 2020, 10:18 PM
Nov 2020

Last edited Thu Nov 12, 2020, 10:58 PM - Edit history (1)

Until this thing is under control I will consider myself to be on lockdown, regardless of what the state/city officials decide - and they are now imposing more restrictions, but probably not enough to keep stupid people from being stupid. So as long as people continue to be stupid I'm going to continue to try to save my own ass from them by staying home. And since a pod is safe only if everybody follows the rules all the time, and I don't trust anybody but me, I wouldn't do it.

Tink41

(537 posts)
4. I have a select circle
Thu Nov 12, 2020, 10:24 PM
Nov 2020

Ive seen my sibling out at a park, stargazing. I meet my adult child and grandchild 1x a week, always outdoors walking. If we do go inside w the cold weather it's masks. Clorox wipes in bathroom. No food or drinks unless it's carryout. I have a co-worker buddy that I've known for almost 30 yrs and we talk a few times a week for support. Met my niece and nephew at a forest preserve during the summer, brought food from home and sat at separate tables.
I'm not a "social" person by any means of the imagination. I'm not having an issue w any of it, except I have this creeping feeling it's coming for us. I've kept myself entertained by house projects, baking and doing a complete turn around of my eating habits. I'm feeling great! Better than I have in years.

yonder

(9,631 posts)
17. "...except I have this creeping feeling it's coming for us..."
Fri Nov 13, 2020, 12:16 AM
Nov 2020

Yeah, same here. We had slightly loosened up since March, but are now back to where we need to be. However, that "creeping feeling" is back with a vengence.

Despite what half the country thinks and despite what that half thinks about a quarter million victims so far, Covid remains a killer and deserves respect.

Tink41

(537 posts)
18. Yes me too!
Fri Nov 13, 2020, 10:45 AM
Nov 2020

I was a little more "relaxed", had gone to Dr, Eye Dr, Haircut, and some stores for home projects. Of course masked, not touching anything but my cart and items purchased, then wiping down hands, phone, steering wheel when I got back into car. As of this coming Monday we are back under a stay at home advisory, which I'll most likely go back to home delivery for everything. I'm lucky to have that option. I'm also lucky to have a point of view that I just do what needs to be done and accept things quite easily. Like Thanksgiving for instance. Am I sad that it won't be like normal, yes. But the alternative is too horrifying to consider.

Ms. Toad

(33,915 posts)
5. They are fine . . . but
Thu Nov 12, 2020, 10:25 PM
Nov 2020

The pod is only as safe as the participants.

Remember the saysings during the peak of AIDS and STDs? When you sleep with someone you are sleeping with everyone they have slept with as well.

If they are true pods (equivalent to a mutually exclusive monogamous/polygamous group), they should be safe. But what makes such relationships unsafe is not what goes on within the relationship - but the side-relationships each person in it has with others outside the relationshiop/pod.

But my famliy isn't even a safe pod for me - so I'm now wearing a mask even in my house - my spouse says she wears a mask outside the home, but what she means is outside the home - unless I'm having lunch at a restaurant with a co-worker, unless I'm hanging out in the coworker's office, unless I'm in a car with any of my 6 siblings, or at their house, etc. My daughter has similar definitions of being safe.

Ms. Toad

(33,915 posts)
26. It does.
Fri Nov 13, 2020, 11:14 AM
Nov 2020

I can control the rest of the risk - and I can control it within the family, but I resent having to take precautions against my family as if they were strangers.

Tink41

(537 posts)
20. Frustrating, right?
Fri Nov 13, 2020, 10:50 AM
Nov 2020

Same dilemma, family practicing but their "rules" and definitions. My brand new grandaughter's Dad does not believe in any of it.
Freely going all around town, gym etc... His immediate family same way think it's a hoax. Have to mask up when grand baby and daughter are around. It's very strange how people pick and choose what they are willing to do.

Ms. Toad

(33,915 posts)
25. Yup. With my daughter, it's picking and choosing.
Fri Nov 13, 2020, 11:13 AM
Nov 2020

With my spouse, she's never been a rule-follower, and mild cognitive impairment makes it worse since she really doesn't seem to get it.

We have a spare room that is filled with junk. I'm about to clean it out and move in, so that I have someplace to hang out at home (and sleep) without wearing a mask.

Ms. Toad

(33,915 posts)
29. Got a HEPA purifier arriving Saturday
Fri Nov 13, 2020, 11:22 AM
Nov 2020

The quick check I did said HEPA was better as long as the air cycled through it frequently enough.

Still not safe for sleeping with my spouse without a mask - but it adds another layer.

Ms. Toad

(33,915 posts)
39. I'd been sleeping in the recliner for that very reason,
Fri Nov 13, 2020, 01:55 PM
Nov 2020

when there were fewer cases around. Mostly we share different rooms during the day, so I just stayed in my day room without a mask. But Ohio was at 7,000 yesterday - and both spouse and daughter are not being careful.

So it was just late Wednesday that I decided I needed to treat my home as if it was a public space and stay masked all the time. So I may be in the denial stage regarding my family's willingness to put my life at risk and wanting some kind of normalcy - if I have to mask and run a HEPA cleaner, I at least get to sleep in a bed. But you may well be right.

msdogi

(430 posts)
6. We're a pod of 12
Thu Nov 12, 2020, 10:27 PM
Nov 2020

We have been together often since the beginning, we are all very careful out in the world, always mask, sanitize, follow all the rules. And we live in an area of very low rates. Thus is what has kept us all sane.

Ms. Toad

(33,915 posts)
30. I hope you are very specific in questions to each other.
Fri Nov 13, 2020, 11:26 AM
Nov 2020

My spouse believes she is being safe. When I ask her if she is wearing a mask she tells me she wears a mask whenever she is outside of the house.

When I question her about it, her first response is, "Well, I'm not going to wear my mask when I'm sitting in my office by myself." Fine. But do you put one on when you wander next door to visit the next office? "no" Do you regularly go out to eat with that person? "yes" Do you ride in a car with your sister (with the violent anti-masker son) without a mask? "yes" Do you hang out in her house without a mask? "yes" . . . and so on.

bamagal62

(3,218 posts)
7. I depends. I don't trust anyone
Thu Nov 12, 2020, 10:27 PM
Nov 2020

With all of this except those I know what they do day in and day out. My daughter’s coming home from college next week and we’ve required her to test before coming home.

dawg day

(7,947 posts)
8. I have one friend I walk with every day
Thu Nov 12, 2020, 10:31 PM
Nov 2020

We both wear masks, and we're walking outdoors.
That's about it.
I do run errands and shop, always masked.

I can't wait until there is cheap and accessible testing. I'd feel a lot better if I could test every week or so.

Tink41

(537 posts)
21. Curious
Fri Nov 13, 2020, 10:53 AM
Nov 2020

Why do you think testing yourself makes a difference? Once you have it, you have it. Is it to let you know to stay away from people?
I'm truly curious, not pushing buttons or being sarcastic. I can't imagine I'd do anything different knowing I had it, and if I get it, it would just run it's course.

dawg day

(7,947 posts)
24. I help elderly neighbors out-
Fri Nov 13, 2020, 11:12 AM
Nov 2020

Dropping off meals and running errands. Not much contact, but I'm useful to them. I also, as I said, walk with a friend, and live with a spouse and have an adult child who comes over every few days. So I'm not completely shutdown. (My work has been remote for years, so there's no change there.)

But I would stop doing all that the instant I had reason to believe I was contagious. And if I could be tested every morning, say, I'd be able to know that quickly, before there was much chance for me to infect anyone else.


Anyway, the testing wouldn't be just for me to know about my own health (though that's important), but so that I would feel safer interacting.


That's the way it might eventually be in schools and workplaces-- you get a quick test as you arrive, and if you test positive, you go home and don't expose anyone. There would presumably be a short time that you might be contagious before the positive test, but this would very much limit the contact with others while contagious. I think that's what they're doing in some of the nations that have done a better job with containing the virus.

As it is, however, it's really difficult to get a test here. I did get one at a Walgreens, but now there are seldom any available appointments. The county makes them free, but there just aren't enough test kits, I guess.


FreeState

(10,553 posts)
10. This was tried with HIV
Thu Nov 12, 2020, 10:41 PM
Nov 2020

Groups of people that were only intimate with members of the group. It failed because it only took one mistake to take the whole pod down.

 

Klaralven

(7,510 posts)
11. Pods are how the grandkids are organized in their schools.
Thu Nov 12, 2020, 10:48 PM
Nov 2020

Sometimes they meet outside of school with their pod members in the park, etc.

BumRushDaShow

(127,313 posts)
12. Some of the private schools doing "in-person" learning
Thu Nov 12, 2020, 10:55 PM
Nov 2020

have been doing that and my youngest nephew and grand-nieces have been "podding". Thing is, the parents would need to "pod" too in order to make it effective.

Marthe48

(16,692 posts)
13. I isolated in March and am keeping at it
Thu Nov 12, 2020, 10:57 PM
Nov 2020

Since March, I've been in one store about 4 times, another store 2 times and a restaurant once, to get a gift card for someone. I hugged my grandkids on Mother's Day. No other physical contact. My daughter and son-in-law who live in another state have come home twice since March. They are both working from home and isolating. Other than that, I've been solitary. But I don't feel isolated. I talk on the phone, text, I'm on fb and DU. I see people, just outside. Might get tricky if the weather turns cold. But there is Zoom and Skype and other ways to stay in touch.

My health insurance provides a Silver Sneakers card, so I signed up for a chair exercise that the fitness center offers on Zoom. I do that twice a week. One of my daughters lives near me, and I've seen her and her family outside regularly, either their house or mine.

I stay busy around the house, listen to the radio, audiobooks on You Tube. I don't eat out, so I make nice meals for myself. If I don't feel like cooking, I have something easy.

I was introverted before Covid and I probably won't change. I hope you can hang in there.

Marthe48

(16,692 posts)
33. Good!
Fri Nov 13, 2020, 11:54 AM
Nov 2020

I read Dear Abby andMiss Manners every morning. Both are getting letters about masking and other safeguards mostly from people concerned about following the rules.

Hang in there!

The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,280 posts)
43. That's me, too, except that since March I haven't set foot in any store or restaurant
Fri Nov 13, 2020, 02:43 PM
Nov 2020

or had physical contact with anyone (no family in the area except a brother, and we aren't huggers). I have phone conversations, Zoom meetings and classes, and I go outside for walks every day where I see people at a safe distance (and lots of dogs). There's lots to do at home, and lots of books to read and Netflix/Amazon Prime movies to watch. I don't feel particularly isolated, don't give a damn about Thanksgiving or Christmas, and figure I can ride this thing out indefinitely. But I do feel bad for people who are feeling lonely or isolated or who don't have the option of just hunkering down.

 

Codeine

(25,586 posts)
14. I've traditionally spent a lot of time with friends
Thu Nov 12, 2020, 11:10 PM
Nov 2020

playing board and card games. Since COVID we’ve continued gaming but strictly online. Virtual tabletop systems that allow people to play boardgames (not video games, but boardgames with virtual-ized pieces) have exploded in the new Isolation Reality.

Other than work, my kids, and my S.O. I interact with nobody face-to-face.

nolabear

(41,915 posts)
44. Hey, I'd love some details on that. Where do you go?
Fri Nov 13, 2020, 03:12 PM
Nov 2020

Tbh I have so many zoom meetings for various work things I’m zoom exhausted. But I’ve got a pro room and might like getting together to play.

 

Codeine

(25,586 posts)
45. What games do you play?
Fri Nov 13, 2020, 03:36 PM
Nov 2020

Loads of game modules can be found for Tabletop Simulator and Tabletopia. Tabletop Arena is another large one. If you’re more into wargames Vassal is the place to go. For collectible card gamers there’s LackeyCCG.

Note that these are just virtual tabletops; they don’t enforce rules or automate mechanics, they just give remote players a shared environment to move pieces around. You’ll need to know how to play the games just as you would while sitting around your own table.

usedtobedemgurl

(1,100 posts)
23. I do not trust a single person outside of my household.
Fri Nov 13, 2020, 11:03 AM
Nov 2020

I understand my protocol is strict, and I can imagine another couple figuring I was too strict, that they are safe, and what I do not know will not hurt me. The truth is, it could not only hurt, but kill me. I see so many people I thought were safe going out and eating, socializing, travelling, etc. No, I do not trust anyone. I even have to clamp down on my spouse from time to time on what he must do.

For other people? I am not in charge of them, so they can do what they want. I just hope they realize not everyone lives up to agreements and they figure everything will be alright. Sometimes it is not.

Tanuki

(14,893 posts)
27. I work in healthcare and have potential exposure each day, so I do not
Fri Nov 13, 2020, 11:14 AM
Nov 2020

participate in any non-work activity that could expose others, or in which I might become infected and sicken my patients and colleagues. I have seen my best friend exactly twice since March (outside and masked) for this reason. My church has had a few outside services, with masks mandatory, no congregational or choral singing, and 6-ft distance markers spray painted on the grass to enforce social distancing. Otherwise, they have only had services via Zoom or Facebook since early March. Unless you can completely self isolate and are certain your pod partners are doing the same, I think having pods can give a false sense of security. Locally, it was recently reported that whereas the early covid clusters involved nursing homes, crowded nightclubs, and high-density workplaces, the majority of recent clusters involved small gatherings such as birthday parties, etc. I read of an extended family who rented a vacation home and despite pre-testing, most of the family became infected because one teen had a false negative. I keep in touch with my friends and relatives via phone, text, and WhatsApp and remind myself that this is temporary, that a vaccine is in sight, and that I would be devastated if I wound up on a ventilator or carelessly caused someone else to become ill or even die. I look forward to resuming a normal life, with friends and fun and live music and movies and restaurants and travel, but we aren't there yet. I just try to appreciate what I do have (including my health and being covid-free so far) and find things that are interesting and pleasurable within the confines of my current circumstances.

Autumn

(44,762 posts)
32. I think that having to go out and do grocery shopping is one of my biggest issues.
Fri Nov 13, 2020, 11:31 AM
Nov 2020

I won't do the pick up, I've seen those shoppers with their masks down over their nose, touching their face and chatting right up in each others faces. Touch my groceries? I don't think so. I carry disinfectant wipes in the store and handle thing with those. I won't go to restaurants, even the ones with outside dining. I see my kids, one lives next door and one lives a mile away.

Marthe48

(16,692 posts)
34. I do delivery and dropoff
Fri Nov 13, 2020, 12:06 PM
Nov 2020

If I pickup, I wear a mask until I am home and everything is unloaded. But wait! There's more I was spraying everything with Lysol, but now I leave paper packages in the sun for a couple hours, if it is sunny. I read that UV kills the virus. I have the kitchen ready to sanitize the rest of the items, 2 metal strainers (heard virus lives the shortest on metal), and dish towels laid out. After cleaning, and draianing, I will repackage all of the perishables I can. The dish towels go right to laundry, and I wipe everything down from least contamination to most. Pantry items go to my staging area. So do the dry goods I leave in the sun. My general rule is to eat nothing the day I get it. I kept boxes that were precovid and put the inner pack of the same product in the old box. I was keeping track of the expiration date, but realize I don't have to.

Instacart mde me laugh. I got a message that I saved 21 hours of shopping using their service. And I thought, after the rigamarole I go through to avoid covid-19, ya think? lol

Autumn

(44,762 posts)
38. I spray with Lysol and alcohol and dry goods go in large containers. I don't have
Fri Nov 13, 2020, 12:39 PM
Nov 2020

the energy for repacking other stuff. My mail and packages sit in the car, on the dashboard for two days. I'm pretty well stocked up so things are never used right away.

ananda

(28,783 posts)
35. I have a pod, sort of...
Fri Nov 13, 2020, 12:13 PM
Nov 2020

My s-I-l get together once a week to study bridge.

We are very careful. If either of us has a symptom
of anything, we cancel. So far it’s just been allergies,
but you never know.

So far so good.


mnhtnbb

(31,319 posts)
37. I have always done my grocery shopping, masked, but only about every 2-3 weeks
Fri Nov 13, 2020, 12:25 PM
Nov 2020

rather than once a week. I try to go off hours. I live alone and am used to it. In my high rise apartment building there are some tenants who still will not wear masks in the hall, elevators, or lobby. I keep my distance and won't ride the elevator with anyone who isn't masked.

I haven't been to a hair or nail salon since last February. I was about to break down and schedule a hair appointment in October when the numbers started climbing again. I guess I'll just let my hair keep growing. I have canceled all dental cleaning appointments. Haven't scheduled yearly eye exam. Am postponing yearly medical checkup because I feel fine and want to avoid medical offices. Have ordered take out once from a restaurant and never gone out to eat in or outside since this whole thing started.

I do pickup library books. The libraries are closed to the public, but have an online system to put holds and schedule an appointment for pickup. The books you pick up are in brown paper bags. Returned books sit for 3 days before they are processed.

I am having a house built and expect it to be done in mid to late December. Occasionally I have met with people related to that, but always masked and distanced.

I haven't seen either of my sons since before the pandemic. I am hoping that once my house is finished I can entice them to come visit me outside, wearing masks, around the firepit.

My best friend and I have been regularly getting together on her deck. She and her husband do not even go to the grocery store, although she has been out for a number of hair or doctor appointments. I usually wait a week before getting together with her again after one of those. Her husband is declining, both physically and mentally, and has dementia. It's very hard for her not to be able to get away to have lunch or shop or go to a movie or do something for a couple of hours for a break in caring for him.

My long time best friend in California and I talk on the phone with some regularity. But I have to admit, I'm normally a bit of a recluse, happy living alone, and have adjusted fairly well to being so confined. My greatest loss is being able to attend in person concerts and the ballet. I loved being able to walk to performances just about 6 blocks from my apartment, giving me something to do besides read a book or watch TV at night. I really miss travel.

I have no plans to stop my very limited life of grocery shopping, meeting my one friend on her deck, or picking up library books at this point. The closer my house gets to being finished, the more anxiety I have that somehow I'll get the damn virus and not live to enjoy it after spending the last 6 months focused on making design choices and shopping on-line for new furnishings. I can't WAIT to move out of my apartment.

MineralMan

(146,192 posts)
42. My wife recently went to lunch with three of her friends.
Fri Nov 13, 2020, 02:27 PM
Nov 2020

They ate outdoors. But, they had a server snap a photo of the four of them. Standing shoulder to shoulder with no masks.

I blew my top when that photo showed up on Facebook and my wife got home. WTF? I said, more or less. My wife started to argue with me, so I went on Facebook and found recent photos of each of her friends, unmasked with groups of people standing close to each other. I asked, "Would you go out to eat with all of those people in all those photos?" "No," she admitted.

Then I said, "Well, that is exactly what you did with your three friends. You might as well have gone to lunch with everyone in those photos I showed you. Your friends are not following good practices at all, as you can clearly see. I think such meetings are a mistake."

She got it. Finally. I also told her that I was not ready to catch COVID-19 and die. She got that, too.

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