Isolation Problems

[Ag]

I felt like this deserved it's own topic, with the realities of isolation becoming clear.

Obviously masturbation has became trickier than normal. But also I just want to get super drunk with my friends on the phone, Mr Ag just has to go and RUIN IT.

 

[Rita]

Poor Mr Ag. You would be UP IN ARMS if he attempted to join in.

 

[OutSynk]

The joys of being an introvert, single and living alone.

 

[Ag]

I'm currently preparing a House Party drink tonight in spite of him.

Which will create more problems no doubt.

 

[octophone]

I think this is a fair topic.

I've very lucky - I live alone and self-isolated for 7 days which is now up. If I had a flatmate, it would have been 14 and we'd have been isolated together. I think there are two people in this world with whom that would not have been absolute hell and they are my dad and my sister. As such, all I had to do was find things to absorb my interest; plenty of new music from Bandcamp, a little bit of reading but less than I might have hoped, a film or two, some podcasts...hell, I even did a synch watch of an old Eurovision...I never had to consider how anyone else would feel about anything I was doing to keep myself going. Someone else being around immediately makes you consider that person too. I might want to listen to a 90 minute Miles Davis live album that is, in places, all-out percussive noise but very few others would find that in any way entertaining.

I think, for all the jokes people are making - and it's how we cope - it's an absolute bastard to be incarcerated with anyone.

 

[OutSynk]

I even did a synch watch of an old Eurovision

 

[Sheena]

MASTURBATION mostly, absolutely.

Also just plain BOREDOM. I'm such an outdoors person and, although I'm still (JUST ABOUT) ok, the clocks going forward next week is going to SLAUGHTER ME I think.

 

[Ag]

Also neighbours. But they've been remarkably well behaved so far. The cunts to the left seem to only have a couple of their normal residents in, rather than the normal revolving door of loud Chinese people.

 

[KindaCool]

Does anyone else feel kinda guilty that they're...ENJOYING the isolation?

I can't help it. I love 'alone time'. It's my favorite thing in the world. Especially at home. But it's hard to dismiss the guilt that comes from having a great time reading, writing, building, and most importantly BEING PAID, while other others are struggling and even dying.

I've reached out to offer help to friends, but it's hard when movement is so limited.

 

[Sheena]

Neighbours is interesting- we've got new ones downstairs and they seem very nice, but have a tv in their bedroom (below ours) and are up watching/ talking til 12:30/1am every night- I presume cause they don't have to get up and go into work the next day.

I get up at 5-5:30 at the moment, so I can't MOAN, but we whisper until about 8ish...

 

[Alla]

I understand that you're ok with isolation, but how can you enjoy it? Specially knowing what's happening and how many people are putting their lives at risk for you (delivering food, etc).

 

[Suomi]

This might sound a bit lame and Supernanny for homosexuals, but we're actually doing a Gratitude Star Chart. The problem is that he is so used to working from home, and I have never worked from home, so to be suddenly sharing a space is tough for him, especially when the tasks I have to do include making videos for the children, recording podcasts, lots of facetiming. And before we had a system with housework that has now kind of fallen apart, so we give each other stars on the chart for doing jobs here and there and to feel like we are sharing the load. I actually came up with the chart SARCASTICALLY after an argument but now I really like it and he says it helps him to feel appreciated too.

 

[Alla]

but have a tv in their bedroom (below ours) and are up watching/ talking til 12:30/1am every night

I know it's very common, but I don't understand how people can watch tv in their bedroom. I guess they also eat in bed, which is the last thing I would do at home.

 

[Sheena]

I know it's very common, but I don't understand how people can watch tv in their bedroom. I guess they also eat in bed, which is the last thing I would do at home.

I don't have a tv in my room either. Occasionally I'll treat myself to an episode of ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS or something before bed on my computer, but it's a RARITY.

 

[Debbie Jellinsky]

I know it's very common, but I don't understand how people can watch tv in their bedroom. I guess they also eat in bed, which is the last thing I would do at home.

I love watching my favourite shows on DVD in bed, it helps me fall asleep. Roseanne, My So-Called Life, Buffy, SATC... I don't need to pay much attention and can drift off to sleep.
Now eating in bed is filthy and disgusting and should be punishable by law. Breakfast in bed never appealed to me.

 

[octophone]

I guess they also eat in bed, which is the last thing I would do at home.

Oooh, I'm with you there. Nothing worse than crumbs getting into crevices or, worse, entwined in one's pubis.

 

[KindaCool]

Hot chocolate in bed with a book is amazing though.

 

[Sheena]

Hot chocolate is a DRINK

 

[Sheena]

And still, WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT AND THEN HAVE TO GET OUT TO BRUSH YOUR TEETH?

Sickos.

 

[dmlaw]

I quite like being on my own so I didn't expect to have much trouble with isolation as long as I could still go to the supermarket or out for a walk. For some reason, not having the option to meet up with friends or similar even if I wanted to is making this quite a bit harder than I had anticipated.

 

[Ag]

I understand that you're ok with isolation, but how can you enjoy it?

You don't have to absorb it all. I've decided for my mental health to only watch one broadcast a day, and otherwise kept my news consumption to a bare minimum. You don't HAVE to be traumatised all the time to respect the situation.

 

[Alla]

The worst thing about isolation is not being home alone enjoying porn, guys, it's knowing you can't go out. Knowing that if anything happens to my parents, who are a few hundred kms. away from me, I can't just go there, and even if I could I wouldn't be allowed to stay with them in the hospital. And having way too much time to think about things like that.

 

[Ag]

This might sound a bit lame and Supernanny for homosexuals, but we're actually doing a Gratitude Star Chart. The problem is that he is so used to working from home, and I have never worked from home, so to be suddenly sharing a space is tough for him, especially when the tasks I have to do include making videos for the children, recording podcasts, lots of facetiming. And before we had a system with housework that has now kind of fallen apart, so we give each other stars on the chart for doing jobs here and there and to feel like we are sharing the load. I actually came up with the chart SARCASTICALLY after an argument but now I really like it and he says it helps him to feel appreciated too.

Might nick this.

 

[Alla]

You don't have to absorb it all. I've decided for my mental health to only watch one broadcast a day, and otherwise kept my news consumption to a bare minimum. You don't HAVE to be traumatised all the time to respect the situation.

I don't even watch tv AT ALL and try not to read much online anymore, which helps a lot.

 

[Ag]

On the bright side, the amount of cars outside has reduced to virtually ZERO. People think this is a short cut from a busy dual carriageway, instead it's a very tricky to get out of Victorian cul-de-sac. While this is obviously VERY FUNNY INDEED, it's a lot of noise pollution. Same with the (often drunk) human traffic using it as a throughway to... well absolutely nowhere. So not at all bad!

 

[Kate]

Hot chocolate is a DRINK

Tune in again tomorrow for Sheena's Fact of The Day

 

[Rita]

I must admit I am still watching most of the coverage. I don’t know WHY, as I agree it can’t be great for ones mental health but I can’t help wondering about the numbers.

 

[Rita]

I am quite enjoying getting to spend time with my kids. My daughter was either at college, working or at her boyfriends and my son spends most of his time in his room these days when he is not at school so I have enjoyed more interaction with him whilst homeschooling. I have made a stern rule that he is not to go on to his console during usual school hours which he is not too happy about, but frankly I don’t care.

I FaceTime my mum every day anyway so nothing really changes there. I am very much a people person though so am generally craving more social interaction than I am currently getting. What I would do to have a few of the girls round for a bottle of wine.

 

[Alla]

I have made a stern rule that he is not to go on to his console during usual school hours which he is not too happy about, but frankly I don’t care.

I'm laughing because my sister is doing the same and obviously they're not happy about it, but this is what a good mother would do.

 

[big ron]

Wanking absolutely, having to crack one off in private quickly just isn't the same. We've been having a decent amount of sex, but even then we can't be too noisy with a small human ruining the fun.

Apart from that, I'm not really phased by it. I've left the house a total of 3 times since the 14th. 2 were school runs before lockdown and 1 was a beer run to the shop at the weekend. I have a nice house with an office I can hide in and shut the door if I want a bit of peace. Luckily I quite like the people I live with most of the time.

 

[big ron]

I have made a stern rule that he is not to go on to his console during usual school hours which he is not too happy about, but frankly I don’t care.

We had that rule but I've fucked it off this afternoon to get some shit done. Ron Jr is currently sat in my office with me quietly minecrafting on his switch so he doesn't get lonely. Which is mega sweet.

 

[SDF]

I think for me, the biggest thing, is not being able to just pop round to see my friends.

And I actually miss seeing my work colleagues too, going to lunch with them etc.

 

[SDF]

But y'know, I see myself as a lucky one. I don't have the virus, and neither do any of my friends or family, so trying to be thankful

Love the star idea @Suomi

 

[RaspberrySwirl]

Thank God for being single and living alone. I would have killed myself and everyone else if I’d been forced staying indoors with other people.

 

[Sheena]

WRONG THREAD

 

[Alla]

Thank God for being single and living alone. I would have killed myself and everyone else if I’d been forced staying indoors with other people.

I thought you were still going to the gym and pretty much everywhere. Is Sweden in lockdown now?

 

[RaspberrySwirl]

No we’re not on lockdown so I’m not isolated but we’re cutting down on social activities.

But either way, I wouldn’t mind the isolation part at all.

 

[Beverley]

i just miss mrs beverley

 

[jivafox]

One of my best mates has cystic fibrosis and is stuck in his flat for 12 weeks. He isn’t even allowed visitors. He’s the most sociable person I know and hates even spending a weekend in alone, I dread to think how he’s going to end up by the end of this.

 

[Alla]

i just miss mrs beverley

I thought you were locked together