After two weeks of total isolation on the boat, it was time to venture out to the grocery store again. Another guy in the marina offered us his car and we headed up to stock up for what looks to be at least another two weeks as Puerto Rico tries to put a cap on the virus. At the grocery store the line was a couple dozen long at seven a.m. with everyone standing outside waiting their turn. A police officer was there handing out surgical gloves and taking temperatures, an employee was cleaning carts and handing them out, and only a few people at a time were allowed in the store. After about a twenty minute wait we had what can only be described as the greatest grocery shopping experience ever. No people, no lines. Aside from Clorox wipes, the entire store was packed full—almost overstocked, in fact. After seeing pictures of what was going on in the States, this was a welcome sight. Apparently Puerto Ricans don’t have the same bowel issues the Costco clan does up there.
On the boat it’s very much a “find a way to make your own fun” environment at this point. There just isn’t much to do.
We consider ourselves unschoolers, but like most unschoolers we eventually find the kids need a little help to get them over humps.
Another round of sugar cookies. Definitely perfecting these during quarantine.
I put a couple fresh coats of varnish on the transom, and started to clean up the lower railing. Trying to get motivated to get a couple boat projects off the list while we’re just sitting here.
There are only about 5 other people in the marina and one or two marina employees. It’s a ghost town. The parking lot was freshly paved right as we arrived, which makes for a nice skate park for the kids. The parking lot, unfortunately, is our only escape from the boat.
Ouest is a goofy footer on the skateboard, but these days is regular foot on the surfboard. I can’t figure that one out.
Digging pebbles out of knees is a family tradition. Me and my mom still laugh over the story of me taking my skateboard down the McKnight Road hill, after being expressly forbidden from doing so. I showed up at the door, tear-streaked, with so much rock embedded in my flesh she had to spend hours performing this type of gravel removal surgery on me. I lived, but my skateboarding days were numbered.
Quiet days continue here in Puerto Rico. The community seems to be taking the lockdown very seriously. The government moved the curfew to 7 pm, prohibited car travel on Sunday, and based on your license plate number you can only drive every other day. Police boats patrol the waters throughout the day, as well. Basically, there is very little reason for anyone to be out and about other than to get groceries or medicine. Puerto Rico, if it were a state, would be the oldest population in the U.S. and they all seem to recognize the risk inherent in that fact, and I’m sure also realize how quickly a major outbreak of the virus would overwhelm their slowly recovering infrastructure.
It’s frustrating, for sure. We had a plan for this season that was really coming along perfectly. We’d nailed our weather windows across the entire Caribbean, against the prevailing winds, to put ourselves in Puerto Rico even earlier than we had expected, leaving us plenty of time to explore the islands further south. Now we have zero idea if, or when, those islands might open up again. Hurricane season will slowly approach and that will require us to adjust. But there may not be any choices to be made. Right now boats can’t even move around the island. This marina is home for now, and for an unknown period into the future. There isn’t much to do about it. Technically, we could fly off to stay with family, but the last thing they need is for us to travel, and then show up at their door risking infecting them. Not to mention, as non-insured Americans, the idea of ending up in a hospital with the virus is also a financial nightmare I’m not interested in having, regardless of the promises being made. We know we’re lucky—we’re healthy, we don’t have to worry about our job, or money, or what would happen if we couldn’t pay rent or afford food. So, we stay 99% isolated here on the boat, and just do our best to get through this time.
24 Comments on “Isolation”
Our local Trader Joe’s here in Cali is allowing only 30 shoppers in at a time. Shopping at what is usually a very crowded store all the time was almost a relaxing Zen like experience.
That was our comment to each other too. Wow this is really nice. Music in the background, fully stocked shelves, everyone getting it done, without being rude to try and get around people. Very zen, if getting germs wasn’t a worry. 🙂
Well looks like your weathering this pretty well. Kids adapt to pretty much anything. I’ve been finding this to be very productive, I’m trying to learn to play the piano, reading everything I can get my hands on, taking 2 hr. Walks on the trail behind my house,
Painting and being crafty, but most of all kyaking, I have nothing to complain about, it’s a very strange time in our world, hoping to avoid getting this horrible virus and praying all my loved ones stay safe! Love you guys, wish I was there making cookies with you!
Stay safe and happy??☺
Love your updates. Sounds like you are weathering it just fine yourself. The piano! Awesome! Keep at it – as will we. Love you!
Aloha
The kids are similarly occupied here. I joke with them “Welcome to being aboard Bumfuzzle!” 🙂
They could be out alot more if they wanted, but have no desire as they’re very concerned about the virus.
Still pretty open here, you can go anywhere including the beach at any hour as long as it’s in very small groups and resembles exercise. No sitting on the beach or in parks, but walking, running, swimming, surfing is fine, enforced by cops on ATVs and they have been issuing citations. Penalties are stiff, up to $5K and other things. Over 50 have been issued, and if people don’t stop congregating, the Mayor has promised more draconian measures like you’re living under. I’m not seeing it, the vast majority are complying, but we’ll see next week.
Know you must be thinking a little about hurricane season. Is there a hole in Puerto Rico? Luperon maybe? Curious what thoughts you have if this thing lasts for awhile.
Stay healthy and good luck!! ???
Well since your post, things have caught up a bit in Maui with similar lockdown orders. Of course always thinking about hurricane season, but as of right now, we have no choice but to sit tight. Next month, we will have to have some ideas jotted down and see what pans out. Right now, here in PR at Puerto del Rey (if we are able to move, we will go here first, and wait to see if borders open, okay as a hurricane spot). If there is time left in the season, we will get moving towards Grenada – then hope to get an early start next season to actually stop and enjoy the islands. That is all we have right now. Two choices that might not even be an option.
Tell Chris and Byron to hang in there!
Here in Nevada very few are following the orders to stay home. We live outside of Carson City and yesterday I went to town for the first time in two weeks. Every store that was open, the parking lot looked like Black Friday. In the Grocery store, there were probably 200 people, many of them older, just milling around, walking every aisle like they were in a haze. The roads are so busy it looks like a holiday weekend with people just going to and fro. All the playgrounds are closed but the parks are still open. Every park had people all over it, keeping their distancing but still sharing tables without any sign of a disinfectant wipe. Kinda scary. Stay safe down there.
Yes, that is how we have pictured the States, with no clear orders to stay home and each State doing their own thing. Amazing really. Plus it seems that many Americans think this isn’t that big of deal. Ugh. Stay home and healthy, Will D.!
Hi
We are in much the same position as Mark Joiner
Don’t know about the toilet paper issue
I know carona can give you a head ache but didnt know about the runs
This is serious so take care and keep safe
Cheers
You too, Bruce Ellen. So happy that didn’t call it Pacifico – my favorite! 🙂
Some smart people have analyzed the toilet paper hoarding and concluded it isn’t that at all. Their view is that there are two “channels” of TP production – commercial and domestic. The TP manufactured for commercial purposes is more utilitarian and less luxurious, is made to fit more industrial dispensing methods and is consumed by the pallet. Domestic TP is designed to appeal to one’s sense of comfort and luxury, a single roll at a time and is available in small multi-roll packs, generally.
Only a few manufacturers produce for both demand streams, and there is no simple conversion of one stream into the other to meet fluxuating demand. The result is that people are no longer needing to use TP when they’re out and about at work, at school, shopping, all the usual things. Instead, they’re confined to their homes and the vast majority of TP demand is now placed on the domestic stream.
This isn’t actually a hoarding phenomenon, with people cramming closets and storage units full of multi-packs of domestic TP rolls. Nor are they using more TP than usual. Instead, they’re NOT using the abundant supply of commercial TP because they’re not in the usual places to need to do so.
Eventually, the production of TP for the domestic stream could ramp up to meet the demand, but manufacturers need to anticipate whether things will return to normal before that might happen. That would leave an over-supply for a diminished domestic demand just as people are back to consuming the TP in the commercial stream.
Supply and demand will always come into balace over time.
Taojones, That is profound! Really, I don’t know you but know that you comment on Pat and Ali often. I am really just being a smart a** with my comment but it struck me as funny. You are probably correct. I still think that people are being really greedy and dumb with their purchase of toilet paper. There are going to be a lot of kids tping houses after this is all over or a lot of rolls of toilet paper on sale at garage sales.
Good on you for using tweezers. My parents were always more in favor of using a scrub brush to remove gravel, and boy does that sting. I guess I can blame my dad’s navy corpsman training for that one.
Ouch! Wow! Ouch! My boy is tough but love when he comes in and tells me to get the tweezers.
I’m glad to see you’re in a good place, much better than the mainland USA but I suppose with a few advantages for American citizens.
After wintering in the kiteboard mecca of La Ventana BCS the last several years we partnered with some friends and bought a hectare of land in the hills above the town with a fantastic view of the Sea of Cortez and Isla Cerralvo below, parked out our parcels and set up cisterns and septic tanks, set up an RV pad. I thought it was brilliant last year but now it’s looking prophetic. Been here since Nov and were planning on leaving in May but we won’t be returning to crazytown USA anytime soon since they have closed RV sites across the west, even restricted dispersed camping on BLM which is our usual style.
Things are so quiet here in this rural town, there is only one road in and they have setup a roadblock to keep the Mexicanos out for Semana Santa this week. The beaches are officially closed although we were still kiteboarding last week with the locals. We have now shut that down out of respect for the people through the holy week period. The virus is barely happening in BCS so far, 26 confirmed cases at this point. People are taking this seriously with hygienic precautions and distancing but without a trace of hysteria, plenty of TP in the stores. You can go hike or bike or drive around pretty much all you want. I suspect that all this light and warmth is not conducive to the virus, hopefully PR will see the same situation.
Life continues at an off season pace here which is pretty much our entire mode of living anyway. Someone wise said ‘need little, want less, love more’ and along with my personal motto ‘make fitness your number one hobby’ that’s good advice for our times now.
Oh La Ventana! Great place to set up camp. A bit windy for me, but I guess I would have to learn to kiteboard then. Glad to hear that you are in a good place for this very crazy time. We definitely don’t want to head back to the USA, but trying to gauge this thing is a bit tricky. Not sure where we will spend our hurricane/off season…for now we wait.
Good motto! Hang in there and keep at it!
Glad you guys are doing well. We are isolating at our country place on 30 acres and so glad to be out of the city. We make our own power with solar (10 kw system) and have a well full of clean water and a freezer and pantry stuffed full. No hording but we always are well stocked here. My business is going to be fine and all my employees are working from home. My kids are spending some time every day on learning, have you tried Khan Academy website for your two? Some creative writing, Duolingo for French, creative writing where I throw them a story topic and give them 30 minutes to write me a story, etc. Then outside for fort building, tetherball, trampoline fun, hiking our trails and spring property clean up. Back inside for cooking and baking – kids are really into a no knead overnight bread that we cook in a dutch oven. My charcoal grill has never seen so much use since I now have time for smoking ribs, chicken etc.
Basically living my dream as I’ve been trying to talk the family into selling our city house and moving up here and now they are locked up with me and can’t leave!! 🙂
Just hoping my elderly parents stay healthy, all good so far and I don’t know a single person who has contracted the virus.
Stay healthy Bumfuzzles!!
Boyd family from Canada
Wow that does sound like a dream – what a set up. Would love if we had outdoor space for our kids to get creative with building, growing, hiking, etc. They love that stuff. Our only complaint right now – the limited opportunities to get them outside moving. Okay not only one – no freezer to make meal times a bit easier. 🙂
Yes our elderlies. I must admit I’m a bit grateful my grandma past last year as I think this would be really hard on her. All the news stories and not seeing family for weeks/months. I’m sure it would have been stressful for her.
Boyd family stay out there in the country! You are living a good life together and staying healthy too.
Good morning. I can imagine that it is tough to be “stuck” in one place. Especially since you can’t really get in the water.
In Michigan we are on “lockdown”. No congregating in groups, stay home, no weddings, meetings, event’s. Funerals are restricted to groups of 10. We recently lost our family patriarch (Uncle) and it was so hard to not be able to be there for the family. A memorial is in the planning for later this summer. Most businesses are closed if not deemed “essential”. Hubby and I are both automotive workers and both laid off. Some stores have lines and are letting in certain numbers at a time. (Costco for sure).
I went to Kroger this morning for the first time in two weeks. No waiting; just walked right in. About half of the customers were in masks. I wore one also; just because it was a new CDC recommendation. The store was fairly well stocked; Still low on pasta, bread and cleaning supplies. No TP at all. I waited a few minutes to self check out. Not bad at all. They had everything on my list.
We are staying busy. Hubby has been out to the marina; there is always a boat project list. Shrink wrap will come off in 2-3 weeks and then waxing will begin. There is some hesitation to uncover early. Our weather has been great and he would love to be getting ready to splash. BUT, the marina is “closed”; although we can access our boats. Launch may end up getting postponed. We hate to have the boat sitting in the parking lot for an extended length of time. It gets just filthy from the nearby road and we have no access to water where it sits.
I have stayed busy doing some crafty projects that I never seem to have time for while working. I made some face masks and just sent some off to my trucker brother. We are allowed to walk or bike. I managed 75 miles walking last month. I can’t even imagine trying to do that in a parking lot. My daughter and son in law are working from home. Their kids are at home. (7 & 5) It has been a challenge for them. They are coping. My daughter cut her son’s and husbands hair over the weekend. New mad skills.
We broke the social distancing policy last week to go and see my Mom. (81) She is lonely and really needed some company. We trimmed trees for her and had a couple beers.
Crazy times we are in. Take care.
Very crazy times indeed, Marie. Sounds like you are making the best of it. And so happy you went and visited your mom – some things are worth breaking the rules for and I’m sure she was thrilled you came over. The elderly and what they must think of all this – all the stress and worry. Like I said above, I’m glad my grandma (at 99) past last year before this stress and craziness. Keep at it, and hoping it will be a bit more normal at some point.
I had a little smile seeing Ali with the tweezers operating on Lowe. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree! ?
Stay safe!
lol. When he comes in and asks for me to get them – not crying and not wanting me to do it. So much easier!
That picture of Lowe doing his homework could have been our son at least once a week. Thanks for the memory!
Right?! Poor kids – our only struggle is the reading. Gosh are some English words hard. Why a silent L, in would, could, should? How to explain why the K is silent in KN words. Why you cannot sound out some words and just have to know them. When we did our New Year’s Resolutions in the Caymans – Lowe’s was to read (before he was always like “I will soon”) – so this downtime is making it our goal to get it done. And he is really doing it! So happy!