My Pandemic Story welcoming yours so we can all learn from each other
First about me: I consider myself a prepared person. I have a self sustaining property for which I could isolate myself and never leave. My preparations include a lifetime supply of things I can't make (toilet paper) and a sustainable supply of food, water, and more. Being in a country with strict laws on guns I'm extremely fortunate to have adequate firearms and ammunition to defend all that I have. If I'm unable to defend it - I have a great bug out plan, bug out vehicle, and practically unlimited places to go. Life is good. Except one thing - I'm not home.
This corona / covid thing hit my awareness in mid January. It did so because I flew from my beloved home in Ireland to San Francisco where I am from and legally still a resident. Oddly enough I also have a residency in Texas (where I vote and have family but don't live). My trip to SF was largely business. I'm pretty well retired except for 5 wonderful people that I work for and manage their investments. 4 of those 5 live in SF and one lives in Oakland. I like working for them so much I made this trip. One of the five had a heart attack while I was in transit and I'm working with his family now and I feel a bit stuck, obligated and even trapped in SF still until he's home and on his own. I'm without my preparations. I'm also in a hell hole called San Francisco.
On the 19th of January I noticed a story. The US Government was screening people with passports indicating they were in China at international airports. I posted the story on @Minds. There were 75 cases reported in China. And the US Government was screening? WTF. YES my prepper alarm was ringing, and I wish that I had headed home (regret). Out of my dedication and even love for my clients I remained in SF and decided to get a little more prepared. Here is what I did that Sunday:
Amazon.com was the site I hit and hit hard: I ordered a reusable mask with disposable N99 filters, goggles, gloves (400), two different bulk hand sanitizers, some rubbing alcohol (ok 24 jugs of it), snack bars, nuts, beef jerky, and on ebay I ordered a couple of backpacks, pocket knives, and few other things. I probably expended about $200. I went to Costco that afternoon and bought about $100 of mostly food items, but yes a bundle of TP. I stay in a residence INN but who's to say they won't run out. In the next few days I did a couple of other "things" like order water filters and chemical treatments on Amazon. Then I traveled to the east bay since SF didn't have any guns stores. Yes I bought a CZ Rami 9mm one of my favorite firearms though I had to wait 10 days to pick it up, bought an extra magazine and 4 boxes of ammunition. I will leave them with a client because I can't take them home. But I have them now and feel far more secure.
In late January I believed the supply chain to Apple.com was in jeopardy. I'm a big investor in it and other stocks like it. I sold easily 35% of my holdings in these and later 10% more. My profits were welcome and I didn't mind having the cash in my accounts. On ebay I bought about 20 ounces of silver, a roll of silver quarters and a variety of first aid, food and other items one would put in a bug out bag. I had two bug out bags started. One would be with me the whole time the other in my residence Inn. Once I could get the Rami (after 10 horrible days of waiting for it) the bag with me carried it. That's not legal in parts of CA. I'd still rather have it with me.
When I shared regret about not going home to Ireland it should be noted my second dog died last week. Poor girl wasn't with me and I'm sad about it. She was with me 11 years and even made the sail with me from SF to Ireland. Its a regret that I didn't get home in time to see her.
The regret becomes even bigger when I recognize that to fly now is a huge risk for getting this disease. Yes I can glove up, mask up, and goggle up for a flight but to be on an International Flight right now scares me. I have few options. I could rent a car and drive to the East Coast, and buy a boat and sail from Maine to Ireland - yes I could. Its actually near the top of my list of options. The best time to make that sail is late summer early fall. I would not have to hurry or buy just any boat. It would likely be a boat I could sell in Ireland if I did this and to me it would be safe. It is, however, a six to seven month long effort if I go that route.
Being in my mid 50's I could decide to lock the Rami up with my client, get on that damn plane and stomach the flight to Dublin. Get to my property, isolate myself and wait and see if I got it. I can't leave until after March 15 so I have 8 days left. The flight is booked but can be cancelled. These are my Pandemic decisions to make.
What are your Pandemic Decisions to make?
#cornavirus #pandemic #decisions #outbreak