Different people have different risk tolerances. That was true before covid and no reason that will change. Variants are originating in different parts of the globe. So having anything under control in one area today won’t necessarily mean anything going forward. But its all a matter of risk/benefit and different people will come out in different places on that scale.
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Vietnam gets some kudos from me. The dude lied and didn’t isolate when he traveled as he was supposed to:
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@showmom858 I saw your comment on the Photos thread but decided to reply here rather than there since it is more travel related. We didn’t visit Anza Borrego itself - will save that trip for when her boyfriend is here or DH is with me since it is best with 4WD and so remote but it was cool to see from above as we drove toward Julian.
Was it you who suggested Volcan Mountain? We did hike part of the Five Oaks Trail adjacent to the Volcan Trail but turned around before we made it the whole way due to the heat. I would have pressed on since I’m acclimated to heat but it was too much for D and her dog. Anyway, thanks for that tip b/c we will go back another time in cooler weather.
After that we stopped in Julian for pie - got the caramel apple crunch with cinnamon ice cream at the Julian Pie Company several of you suggested. It was a delicious treat. Due to the holiday it was busy with lots of visitors so we did not stay and walk around. Sadly on our way home we came across an accident on the curvy mountain roads - it was either a motorcyclist or hiker, not sure but road was blocked. Fortunately it looked like a leg injury and she was awake and alert with paramedics as we passed.
All in all, it was a nice little day trip and such interesting landscape compared to the coast.
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@4kids4us so glad you liked Julian. I was the one that suggested Volcan Mountain. We have done the hike in the late fall and early spring. When you do go to Borrego make sure that you take a drive through all of the sculptures.
Have you done the hikes at Torrey Pines before? It is always a nice place to hike early in the day at this time of year. It is also one of the places that I feel safe just hiking/walking by myself if I don’t have someone to go with.
The only place we will travel is to visit the kids/grandkids. While one is only an 8 hour drive away, we chose to fly this past June. The other child is not within driving distance for a short trip, so I flew there in March, with another flight scheduled in October. Like @MADad I will do this while I can; who knows what tomorrow might bring.
When we visit the kids, unfortunately we don’t go anywhere other than the park for the kids, and maybe an outside dining. Dinner with the kids is at 5:30, so not many other people around! Our visits are centered around visiting with them, so not a tourist trip. When we fly, we wear KN95 mask, and have worn face shields. Neither of us will eat or drink while in the airport or plane; we can survive without food for the 2 hour flight and time in the airport! I try to distance myself from the crowds when able, although through security that isn’t always possible at my home airport.
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True. But I feel that we’ve gotten to travel a lot in the past and we’ll probably get to travel for many more years in the future. My parents and H’s parents travelled well into their 70’s, 80’s and even 90’s…
Sure, H and I have lost some years of travel and sure there is a chance we might not be healthy when all this passes, but I personally feel it’s not worth worrying about since it’s such a small chance anyway and I know people who have chronic illnesses who still travel quite a bit. For me, I’d have to be pretty unhealthy and elderly to not travel. I get lots of people feel differently, but that’s just me.
Hospitals are a significant factor for our travel now. Areas that are at capacity would not be able to take a “normal” emergency that could happen while traveling. We are very reluctant to go to those places but are still traveling where it seems safer.
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If we used that as a criteria we couldn’t stay home. I’ll admit it’s a little worrisome to know that even a “typical” emergency (car accident) is too much for local hospitals at the moment. We’re rural, so there aren’t a lot of ICU beds and what’s there is close to or at the filling point most days according to the NYT database.
I understand this. We were sidelined from travel in 2019 due to health issues for my H, so I’m feeling especially antsy to take advantage of his current remission.
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My job is doing a team meeting in Chicago in a few weeks. I am on the fence. Honestly, I feel that this is so uncomfortable to do while Covid is raging again. Does anyone know how things are over in Chicago? I travel a lot for work and for personal fun but I have been grounded most of the time since March 2020.
After we got vaccinated, we did go to SC in March 21 and that was ok. Then, Florida in May 21 and that was stressful. The planes were packed again. Since then, we have limited ourselves to local road trips and avoid large crowded places. However, we would like to try something exotic like Jamaica or Baha Mar in the Bahamas for my husband’s birthday in November, but only if cases are down again and we would just stay in the resort for some beach time, which I am craving so much.
So, I don’t know if I want to say yes or no to our meeting in Chicago that would involve flying, meetings in a conference room, and dinners with the team. it is not the same as a personal trip where you manage your time and choose what you want to do and just spending time with one person as opposed to 15 other people that you don’t know where they have been.
Chicago is doing ok at the moment. There is an indoor mask mandate which for the most part I find people comply with and our state case positivity rate is around 5% . Our hospitals are not overwhelmed like in other states. I think a little over 50% of eligible people are vaccinated.
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Thank you for sharing this information. It does make me feel a little better.
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I’ve been following Chicago since July 1st. Numbers aren’t high now, compared to most of the U.S. It hasn’t peaked, so be sure to check it closer to your meeting date.
How bout the jersey Shore…now?
You can check the numbers for any location here Covid Act Now
My county (Monmouth) is not good: Covid Act Now
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We’re keeping an eye on Chicago for late October - we got a great price on Southwest tickets a while back. We moved away six years ago and this would be an anniversary trip. But we’re not going unless we can accomplish objectives like museums and restaurants. If COVID data is concerning, eating indoors is iffy (we’re spoiled in San Diego and only dine outdoors), attraction hours are limited, etc., we’ll postpone. Not making plans yet!
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I don’t travel unless I absolutely have to, which is never. Texas is a sane place to be in, and that’s where I’ll be staying.
Just saw that Jamaica was put on the ‘don’t go there’ list yesterday because of the high covid levels. I don’t know how long destinations stay on the list before they decide it is okay to travel there again but Nov might be too soon.
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I saw that about Jamaica and it has me worried. DH and I are supposed to be going in November with other members of his family. I’m not keen on going if Covid cases continue to be high there.
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