36: New Normal

Two weeks since my last post and what have I done with that time?

Each week, I make a list of things I want to accomplish so that I have some handy options to refer to if I start to feel like I’m wasting away. I have never yet completed an entire list in a week, but luckily, I can always just move things to the next week’s list! The lists are also handy to look back at in times like this when I am trying to remember how I have spent my days.

Based on what’s been crossed off, it looks like I mostly worked on the yard and deck, did a few hours of paid work to keep projects moving at my day job, and kept up with my new ‘normal’ activities of working on stained glass, doing living room yoga, writing and tending to various household chores. I’ve also spent an inordinate amount of time on hold or talking to various customer service agents at my cell phone and internet providers.

It’s been a bad couple of weeks for technology around here. My cell phone stopped sending and receiving texts and phone calls, so all I can use it for now is wifi-based apps. After weeks of frustration, my new phone should be here later today and (fingers crossed) I can just move my SIM card over and all will be well. It will, of course, involve at least one more discussion with a ‘care agent’, which I am not looking forward to.

Our internet has also been spotty and that is not fixed, but I’ve been assured that we have now tested all the possible ways that the problem could be coming from inside the house, and the next step will be to send someone out to look at what’s happening between our house and the main lines. I’m 100% sure that’s where the problem lies, so now it’s just a waiting game for the next time it goes out and then however long it takes to get a tech here.

Sorry, I know that is all very boring.

Other than those issues, I have been very content. My front yard is starting to bloom and it is bringing me great satisfaction. I haven’t run out of reading material yet, but I am still waiting for my skip rope to arrive. I could live like this for a long time.

As mentioned in a previous post, aside from the lack of social dancing and live music, this is pretty much the life I have been aiming for. Back during the pre-COVID days, I spent a lot of time thinking through what I wanted my ideal life to be like and what I needed to do to make it happen as soon as possible, so it’s not super surprising to me that I’m enjoying staying home all the time.

I feel confident I have been on the right track, and I’m more determined than ever to keep working towards making it a permanent lifestyle.

My income is taking a hit right now, but on the plus side, it looks like when things start to pick up again I will likely be able to continue working mostly from home. This probably means a reduction in paid hours because I won’t have any ‘admin’ time where I am stuck in the office twiddling my thumbs, but that part has always been one of the worst things about working for a living anyway, so good riddance.

I am pretty sure a great many people are looking ahead to what changes are in store for them in the future. I’ve been seeing more and more posts and articles discussing what the new ‘normal’ will be and what things need to change.

I think this quote by Dave Hollis, which I’ve seen shared quite a few times, sums it up nicely: “In the rush to return to normal, use this time to consider which parts of normal are worth rushing back to.”

I love the possibility that we might be in the middle of a great shift. I have no better idea than anyone how it will all turn out, but I am very optimistic about the future.