A feeling of freedom.

[Frank Apisa]

Wife and I went out for dinner last night with another couple. Outdoor eating at a decent place in a town where they have a Friday night antiques car display. The long main street is fined with old cars...most with the hood and trunk open for inspection. Some are rather mundane...but many are truly old beauties from back when cars were made with a bit of pizzazz in mind.

I shoulda taken some pictures and posted them...and may next week.

BUT the feeling of being out at dinner and walking (without a mask on) through a place with a decent number of people strolling made for a feeling of liberation...of freedom. 

I still wear a mask when in the food market (or anywhere inside where there are people I do not know) and probably will do so for the rest of the year. But almost everyone in town last night was maskless...and smiling.

Just wanted to share the delight I felt with being around others...and feeling relatively safe. I'm naturally a gregarious person...and I had a few beers, so I was speaking with just about anyone who came close. It was fun in a way I haven't felt in quite a while.

Hope all of you have been having the same thing happen for you.

[brewer]

I gauge my mask wearing based on observations of the group I'm interacting with. Now I'll wear the mask if I perceive that not wearing will make a significant amount of others uncomfortable.

[Frank Apisa]

I gauge my mask wearing based on observations of the group I'm interacting with. Now I'll wear the mask if I perceive that not wearing will make a significant amount of others uncomfortable.

Yeah, glad you mentioned that, Brewer. 

If I think others will feel uncomfortable with unmasked people around, I will wear mine. I have one with me all the time. Last night was incredible. The temp was perfect, there was a mild breeze to make things even more comfortable...and the number of people with masks on was very low...mostly very young people (pre-teens, for the most part.) That group has not been vaccinated in New Jersey yet, so I guess they are using it to protect themselves rather than others.)

[no one]

You should continue to wear a mask, preferably one with a ball gag!

[tackattack]

I just wrapped up our summer vacay to universal. The US COVID rate for full vaccinations is @46% now. I saw about 5% of people wearing masks. While most seemed happy to be out, most were also wary of direct contact. There was far less bumping and chatting in crowds and queues. In general, my time in public felt like playing a game of minesweeper. Most types of people seemed desperate for conversation and interaction. There was far more politeness in elevators and lines. Mixed bag for me, being an extroverted introvert. Other people seemed slightly cautious but mostly careless and desperate with a dash of distrustful. The park and hotel workers seemed to have a good routine and well prepared. I’ll say though, that not one white and privileged were not giving 2 shits about sanitizing or masks before their breakfast, present company excluded for the past 2 weeks.

[Frank Apisa]

I just wrapped up our summer vacay to universal. The US COVID rate for full vaccinations is @46% now. I saw about 5% of people wearing masks. While most seemed happy to be out, most were also wary of direct contact. There was far less bumping and chatting in crowds and queues. In general, my time in public felt like playing a game of minesweeper. Most types of people seemed desperate for conversation and interaction. There was far more politeness in elevators and lines. Mixed bag for me, being an extroverted introvert. Other people seemed slightly cautious but mostly careless and desperate with a dash of distrustful. The park and hotel workers seemed to have a good routine and well prepared. I’ll say though, that not one white and privileged were not giving 2 shits about sanitizing or masks before their breakfast, present company excluded for the past 2 weeks.

The "being careful" does make sense, but it is an incredible pleasure to see smiling faces again. The worst part of the mask for me...is that it hides smiles!

I've only been to Universal one time...in LA. Great experience. You are lucky to be able to do it on a regular basis.

[tackattack]

I don’t do it regularly, but we do try and do something when the kids are out of school and to avoid the heat of Georgia in summer. Everyone did seem to be smiling a lot more, but maybe that’s a bias because we haven’t been seeing smiles due to masks.