Cancelled or Closed

So here we are in sunny Florida really getting into the groove of the "active adult" lifestyle. We're going to shows. We're joining clubs. We're hanging out with our new friends - eating, drinking, playing dominoes. .

Then we got news of the corona virus. It was in far away Seattle and on cruise ships. Nothing to worry about here! But as suggested, we'll limit our gatherings to ten people and we'll bump elbows - no more handshakes and certainly no hugging.

We felt safe. The virus was far away. Even when cases were reported in Florida they were down around Miami and Fort Lauderdale - the busiest cruise ports. Plus this is a gated community - no security guard is going to let that virus in.

Then they closed Disney, which is relatively close to us. Not because there were any confirmed cases but as a preventive measure. It made sense. They do attract international travelers, like from China and Italy. But then they cancelled the car show. Which also made sense because the car show is open to the public and there's no need to invite the general public through our gates to endanger us. But then they cancelled Monday Night Trivia. Then they closed the restaurants except for carry out. Then they cancelled the Vocal Trash music show and then the Mermaid party and the big three-day ladies golf tournament. All dances and club meetings have been cancelled. The Farmers Market and Seafood truck that came every Monday have been cancelled. All fitness classes have been cancelled. Even the pools are closed. As near as I can tell, only the golf courses and racquet courts are open.

We've been in self-imposed isolation for nearly a week now. When they started closing schools and colleges, those kids and grandkids started showing up here to spend their extended spring breaks with their parents and/or grandparents. We decided to isolate ourselves because while we're pretty sure we haven't come into contact with anyone who might have the virus, I can't be sure about others. We go out walking and I overhear snippets of conversations about visits with grandkids. I'm sorry but toddlers are germ bags and will make you sick even when there isn't a pandemic. And unfortunately, as evidenced by my Facebook feed, there are plenty of people who choose to believe the whole COVID 19 thing is nothing more than a media frenzy and a hoax perpetrated by the Chinese, the Democrats, the Left, (choose your villain).

We also know that there are a handful of confirmed cases in Osceola and Polk counties. We believe that for every confirmed and reported case there are hundreds more unreported and unconfirmed. And my best guess is that some of those people don't even know they have it. Just another reason I don't want to go shopping or be in close contact with anyone right now. We both caught colds last November and while Mark was recovered in two weeks, it took me nearly a month and three courses of antibiotics to get over it. I'm not willing to risk getting this virus. The fact that just about everything is closed or cancelled right now just makes it easier.