Adapting to the New Normal

[CruisinForABruisin 333]

The country isn't falling apart because I'm not booking an airbnb in some random part of the country...

[Dad2Cue 169]

@Mrs. Thomas I traveled extensively in Europe while in the Air Force.  I also managed to see a part of the Middle East.  I have even been to East Germany and the Soviet Union ... two countries that technically don't even exist anymore.  I experienced culture shock and reverse culture shock.  My own back yard seems best to me now.  If cruising isn't safe, I have only seen a few of our National Parks.  I have at least driven through most of our States but the southern States pull me the most.  The mountain States to my west are a close second.  To be honest, I can say I have liked everywhere that I have been.  I do miss cruising too.

[Dad2Cue 169]

1 hour ago, crisgold52 said:

Yup its supposed to be hot in my part of BC today. 32 degrees is a scorcher. Our daytime highs are normally 23 - 27 at this time of year. No one really likes temps in the 30's it's way too hot. The low 20's is cool.

You can keep the Canadian air in the winter but I don't mind it in the summer.  The opposite goes for the hot Gulf Coast air we get in the summer.  When those two air masses collide the weather becomes interesting but prone to violence.

[cruisellama 672]

On 7/23/2020 at 1:10 PM, PG Cruiser said:

Cruising has been my go-to vacation activity for years now.  These days, I have to face the sad reality that I won’t be confident enough to go on a cruise until a reliable vaccine is made available.  I have asthma and I’m in my mid-50s.

What other recreational activities can be done at a time like this?

Maybe an all inclusive Carribean resort?

[Mrs. Thomas 246]

1 hour ago, Dad2Cue said:

@Mrs. Thomas I traveled extensively in Europe while in the Air Force.  I also managed to see a part of the Middle East.  I have even been to East Germany and the Soviet Union ... two countries that technically don't even exist anymore.  I experienced culture shock and reverse culture shock.  My own back yard seems best to me now.  If cruising isn't safe, I have only seen a few of our National Parks.  I have at least driven through most of our States but the southern States pull me the most.  The mountain States to my west are a close second.  To be honest, I can say I have liked everywhere that I have been.  I do miss cruising too.

First, thank you for your service sir! I grew up broke (broke means no money, poor is a mindset) , so travel was always very limited. I was in high school when I got to start traveling more, because I worked for the money to go. I also went places with band class. In the past 10 years I have been able to go on my first cruise, go to Pennsylvania, DC (3 times), Texas, Niagara Falls, Tennessee and multiple times to the SC and NC coast. A couple of my trips were with 8 Days of Hope to help with damage from natural disasters. I miss cruising, but I also have a huge bucket list to see right around me. It's amazing the things you find in the little places. One day I want to go to different state fairs and local festivals around the country. There are a few in NC I still haven't been able to go to. We have an Old Soldier's Reunion festival that lasts a week here and it's been canceled this year for the first time in about 60 years.

[Dad2Cue 169]

On 7/30/2020 at 12:55 PM, Mrs. Thomas said:

I grew up broke (broke means no money, poor is a mindset)

I had just turned 18 and there was a reason for enlisting.  Suddenly, the whole world opened up to me.  I am very grateful for the experience I had.  

I was just in Pennsylvania a couple years ago. It was to visit the site of the Battle of Gettysburg.  I also visited the grave sites of my distant ancestors who immigrated from Ireland in the late 1700's.  They were buried in Pennsylvania in a farmer's field but there used to be a church there. .  It is amazing what you can see from google earth.  The whole trip was in conjunction with visiting friends in Virginia.  That visit was followed by a cruise from Cape Liberty to Bermuda.  Read about the "cruise ship" Sea Venture that ship wrecked in Bermuda.  It all ties into the Jamestown colony in Virginia. The cruise included a stop in Boston ... I'm a big Boston Celtic fan from the Larry Bird era. The current rendition of the Celtics are good too.  I shouldn't forget the excursion to Lexington and Concord.

Arguably, the best state fair is in Iowa. It is best when all the politicians come to Iowa before the Iowa Caucuses.  If you like bicycle riding, Iowa has an annual ride across the state that attracts an estimated 20,000 bicycle riders from all over. It is affectionately called the Tour de Corn but the real name is RAGBRAI.  There are some states that try to imitate.  Sorry, no state fair or bicycle ride this year during the end of July thru August.

[WAAAYTOOO 11,552]

Tour de corn. I love it !

[SteveinSC 1,210]

6 hours ago, HeWhoWaits said:

Yet the North Carolina counties including/surrounding Charlotte (Mecklenburg/Cabarrus/Gaston/Union) are among the worst in the state.

Well, yeah.....thats where all the people are. 

[Mrs. Thomas 246]

@Dad2Cue That sounds like a blast! I got to go to Gettysburg with my band class, but didn't see what all I wanted to. I want to go back in order to take more of it in. I've seen a documentary about state fairs and Iowa was definitely one that made the list of needing to go to. I haven't been able to travel much out west, so I would love to go. I'm all about family history so at some point I'm going to do some traveling for it as well.

[Mrs. Thomas 246]

15 hours ago, SteveinSC said:

Well, yeah.....thats where all the people are. 

Which is why I live in the country. LOL

[cruisellama 672]

Although we have a hurricane season every year, at least this year we don't have to experience cancellations, itinerary changes, and missed flight for that reason..  

[WAAAYTOOO 11,552]

59 minutes ago, cruisellama said:

Although we have a hurricane season every year, at least this year we don't have to experience cancellations, itinerary changes, and missed flight for that reason..  

Wonderful, positive outlook !!!

[SpeedNoodles 4,521]

4 hours ago, Mrs. Thomas said:

@Dad2Cue That sounds like a blast! I got to go to Gettysburg with my band class, but didn't see what all I wanted to. I want to go back in order to take more of it in. I've seen a documentary about state fairs and Iowa was definitely one that made the list of needing to go to. I haven't been able to travel much out west, so I would love to go. I'm all about family history so at some point I'm going to do some traveling for it as well.

If you enjoy state fairs, the Minnesota State Fair is consistently ranked in the top two in the country - come visit us (next year)!

https://www.insider.com/best-state-fairs-in-the-us-2018-5#1-the-minnesota-state-fair-17

[Mrs. Thomas 246]

1 hour ago, SpeedNoodles said:

If you enjoy state fairs, the Minnesota State Fair is consistently ranked in the top two in the country - come visit us (next year)!

https://www.insider.com/best-state-fairs-in-the-us-2018-5#1-the-minnesota-state-fair-17

That sounds good. We have to be careful in Minnesota (baby daddy issues), but I would love to take one or two in a year after all of this insanity is over.

[Mrs. Thomas 246]

4 hours ago, cruisellama said:

Although we have a hurricane season every year, at least this year we don't have to experience cancellations, itinerary changes, and missed flight for that reason..  

I was actually thinking the same thing the other day. Maybe canceling cruises to the end or near the end of hurricane season won't be a bad idea. I will say that if the islands are hit hard that they will need the tourism industry to come back pretty bad. Though, I don't wish that at all!

[MrB 35]

On 7/30/2020 at 12:22 PM, crisgold52 said:

Yup its supposed to be hot in my part of BC today. 32 degrees is a scorcher. Our daytime highs are normally 23 - 27 at this time of year. No one really likes temps in the 30's it's way too hot. The low 20's is cool.

I'm an American who thinks and uses metric (yes, we do exist.) Gimme those kilograms and meters. But...Farenheit FTW. It's perfect for describing human-based temperature vs water. Who cares about water?  0 degree to 100 degrees Farenheit really describes freakin' cold to freakin' hot pretty well. Also, if you have a 100 degree fever, that's where you start to be concerned. Great range for us.

For everything else? Metric absolutely.

[KWofPerth 333]

3 hours ago, MrB said:

I'm an American who thinks and uses metric (yes, we do exist.) Gimme those kilograms and meters. But...Farenheit FTW. It's perfect for describing human-based temperature vs water. Who cares about water?  0 degree to 100 degrees Farenheit really describes freakin' cold to freakin' hot pretty well. Also, if you have a 100 degree fever, that's where you start to be concerned. Great range for us.

For everything else? Metric absolutely.

I would argue you've got that wrong with respect to water. 0 degrees celsius is the freezing point of water, while 100 degrees celsius is the boiling point of water.

Unless I've missed your point in relation to 'describing human-based temperature.' Which I no doubt have

[JLMoran 6,785]

21 hours ago, MrB said:

I'm an American who thinks and uses metric (yes, we do exist.) Gimme those kilograms and meters. But...Farenheit FTW. It's perfect for describing human-based temperature vs water. Who cares about water?  0 degree to 100 degrees Farenheit really describes freakin' cold to freakin' hot pretty well. Also, if you have a 100 degree fever, that's where you start to be concerned. Great range for us.

For everything else? Metric absolutely.

17 hours ago, KWofPerth said:

I would argue you've got that wrong with respect to water. 0 degrees celsius is the freezing point of water, while 100 degrees celsius is the boiling point of water.

Unless I've missed your point in relation to 'describing human-based temperature.' Which I no doubt have

It's a point I've heard as well. Basically, Fahrenheit is the better temperature scale because the 0 and 100 degree points mark the temperature range that humans can decently survive at, and can even form settled societies at. It's also better for measuring body temperatures, where the range is so narrow between normal and life-threatening fever that Celsius just doesn't convey the potential severity nearly well enough.

[ellcee 1,507]

On 7/31/2020 at 9:00 AM, cruisellama said:

Although we have a hurricane season every year, at least this year we don't have to experience cancellations, itinerary changes, and missed flight for that reason..  

We just had a tropical storm (I think it's considered that, my power was out for over a day and I'm just catching up on the news) and that was one of my thoughts. No hurricane season to worry about this year...just the hurricane's themselves. (WHICH STILL SUCK BTW...lol, I'm still dealing with it clearly)