[Fredslist] Don't Panic. (And thanks for all the fish)*

[Tessa Marquis]

I am in San Francisco, “sheltering in place”. This should not be
misconstrued as “house arrest”. I am not wearing an ankle monitor. I am
posting this to provide some tips from three weeks ahead of most of you.

Good news! There are loopholes to our safe confinement, purposefully
created within the definitions of “essential needs” and “essential
services”. The “needs” are work, food, medical, and family. The “services”
are the providers of work, food, medical care, and those you take care of
in your family/extended family.

We can travel by bus or taxi/rideshare or private car or by walking or
riding bikes. We are able to go to markets, pharmacies and doctors (except
for elective appointments), and any work that cannot be done from home.

Farmers Markets can stay open, Bars must close. Schools and Libraries are
shut, the Parks are open. You can take your sailboat onto the Bay, but you
can’t take the Ferry to Sausalito.

In fact, here in San Francisco we can get take-out food at most
restaurants. Some are open for dine-in with limited seating. We can order
food delivery, for as long as restaurants can afford to keep open.

The Supermarkets are starting to get control over their inventory and their
time. We have lots of small stores of varied cultures which are excited to
have our business. You will hear about problems in the toilet paper aisles,
but you will not hear about the many “Gothamly” acts of kindness, sharing,
and support that are in effect daily.

Neighbors are shopping for the elderly – people are buying gift cards from
favorite stores to provide a cashflow so they can stay open – offers of
free dog walking – facebook group story-telling for the little kids. There
is a definite increase in socialization, rather than the isolation we have
seen with increased internet use. I hear rumors that people plan to emulate
the Italians by singing from their front doors and rooftops at a designated
time each week.

Frankly, I had already expected and planned for this shutdown. It is a
matter of setting your mind to understand what *may* occur, rather than
just go with the flow or be afraid. I have been operating within a Risk
Assessment Plan. I have not succumbed to hoarding or fear-based shopping. I
do not buy everything all at once.

So remember: No Hoarding, just Plan things. No fighting, Just Be Kind.

This is an opportunity, not a punishment. Learn to draw, knit, sew. Read
novels. Have long phone conversations. Write letters. Yes, Letters!

Take Deep Breaths.



PS Send me an email if you want my step-by-step guide on food selection for
shut-ins.
Use Subject Line: Gotham     tmarquis at newstandardinstitute.com

* Read “Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy”
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://gothamnetworking.com/pipermail/fredslist_gothamnetworking.com/attachments/20200318/c0a749c1/attachment.html>