Coronavirus Lockdown Week 387:
It was about three weeks ago now that the marina closed. A security guard walks around, and a couple guys show up in the morning to do maintenance and deliver packages to the four boats with people on them, but otherwise they are closed. The housekeeping staff (there is a small hotel under construction) were laid off at the beginning of all of this, and with them, our only chance of a laundry machine. And so, as we slowly revert to pioneer living, Ali has taken control of the situation with a bucket. Daily.
When I get booted, or choose to boot myself, from the kitchen table, I sometimes set up shop in the kids room on this fancy desk.
There just isn’t much to do. One day blends into the next. In this picture you can see the entirety of our world for the past four weeks. The parking lot, and the dock to the boat. That’s it. Kids haven’t been outside the parking lot, and Ali and I have been shopping just two times. Puerto Rico has enacted tough lockdown measures, with curfews, driving restrictions, and a total shutdown of everything except grocery stores, pharmacies, and banks. Even if you wanted to, you wouldn’t be doing home renovations or rebuilding a car during the lockdown here. Of course we don’t have a car anyway, so there really is nowhere for us to go. All we can do is sit tight and hope that the world opens up again some day. For the past couple of weeks the water has been closed as well. No movement at all.
You don’t need no stinkin’ yoga mat.
Normally, me going in the water to change out zincs and give the waterline a cleaning wouldn’t draw a crowd, but since there are 4-5′ tarpon constantly hanging out around the boat the family all gathered certain they were about to watch me get eaten. I disappointed them.
Once convinced that tarpon were cool with us, and that I wasn’t going to require them to scrub the boat, they were gung-ho to get in too.
I thought for sure there was going to be a fight. Was a little disappointed that there wasn’t.
22 Comments on “Salinas Life”
Hahaha! Week 387 lockdown! Feels like it though.
Ugh I might even say it was higher. 🙂
One of my nephews is married to a woman who works for Lowe’s in Vegas, and they are open in case people need to replace major appliances, like refrigerators or hot water heaters. I suppose these things could be ordered, but going a few days or more without a fridge could be dangerous for a lot of people.
Another one of my nephews works in an Amazon warehouse, which is still open, of course. He took a week off at the beginning of the suggested lockdown bc he said employees weren’t following the rules about social distancing. For instance, the chairs in the break room had been placed six feet apart and the workers were pushing them all back together, the idiots. And my nephew didn’t want to take a chance that he’d be bringing the virus to his elderly father. But apparently the managers started taking things seriously, and even the employees must have finally seen the light. So he’s back at work, wearing masks and gloves.
My daughter moved back to the States from Mexico, to stay with her father in New Orleans, right after Mardi Gras. And though she was a fanatic about wiping everything down, wearing masks and gloves, she probably already had the virus before she knew all of that was really necessary. But even after smoking for a couple of decades, the docs say her lungs are still beautiful, and she’s starting to recover. While my other daughter in Vegas still has a little fluid in her lungs from a bout of pneumonia several weeks ago. Her immune system is shot, so I’m more worried about her now, than the one that actually got the virus.
I was staying with my sister in San Diego just as the city started shutting down. I didn’t want to go back to my daughter in Vegas, and I sure as hell wasn’t going to New Orleans, which is my other usual stop in the States bc I stay with friends there. So I had my sister drive me to the border, and I walked across to Tijuana, where I caught a flight to Mexico City. I’ve been here a week now, and I’ve never seen the streets so empty. Lots of people wearing masks, but also standing very close together in takeout lines. Lots more empty seats on the metro than the buses.
I always said that, if a wall went up, I’d rather be on this side of it. Same goes for closed borders. I plan to spend the summer in DF, where it’s not so hot at this altitude. I’m holed up in a safe, sunny studio in the southern part of the city, only going out for food & wearing one of the 3 colorful masks I bought from a woman on the street – 3 for 20 pesos. The dollar is weakening a bit, it had gotten up as high as 25+ pesos a dollar – which was amazing. It’s still up over 23 pesos, which is still pretty amazing, as I’ve never been here when it was over 20.
Anyway, sorry for hijacking your comments section, but I thought you might be interested to hear how different things are elsewhere, and I know Mexico is a great favorite for y’all. I hope all of you continue to stay well.
Lots going on in your family. Hope you all stay healthy. And we are with you with choosing Mexico. I would love to be wandering the streets taking photos during this time.
Hi you Guys!!!!
It must be getting a little crazy just stuck there but, things are going to change soon.
I go out and kyak everyday and walk on the trail behind my house.
Been planting alot, writing,reading and trying to learn the piano.
Two days a week I’m a caregiver for
A sweet little lady I’ve been taking care of for the last 3 years.
Luckily we’ve had alot of sunny days here in Seattle.
Yesterday I ventured out just to go to the bank, on my way back I rear ended a lady while I turned my head for a second when I saw a man relieving himself on a building, im hoping she doesn’t turn it into the insurance, she said she’d go home and ask her husband. I wanted to say ” Lady you know there’s no damage!!!!” But, she was a real B—- about it.
Anyways not to much excitement here either. Love you all, hope you’re on your way soon.???
Oh, Theresa, that sucks! It’s always something so stupid like watching a man pee. 🙂
Good luck, and keep us posted. Keep your zen going with your planting, reading and piano.
Our company is set to go down to Puerto Rico to do some dredging? It was scheduled to happen end of May or June. It’s still may happen we’re waiting to hear about Puerto Rico’s lockdown or subsequent reopening! Who knows our paths may cross…it would be a small world event!
Keep grow’n those young’uns! Goodonyas!
Wow, that would be a small world indeed. Where in Puerto Rico for the dredging? Keep us posted if your trip happens!
Are you bored? I’m bored.
Living in an unfurnished house of a friend and waiting out the virus. The highlight of the day is an afternoon walk along the coast of England looking out on the thin stretch of water that separates us from France. You can see it on a clear day.
It all kicked off for us in St Lucia where we were forced to leave the boat in the marina and fly home. That was two weeks ago and we’re still adjusting. The plan was to sail West and cruise the south coast of Puerto Rico on our way to being lifted in Panama in June.
A couple of days ago whilst out for our exercise on the coast we managed to stop for a quick picnic and a cup of tea. Then the Coastguard turned up in their vehicle and politely told us it was exercise only and implied enjoying ourselves wasn’t supposed to be on our agenda.
We will all get through this. It’s interesting to think that all four corners of the globe contain people as bored as us. We are the lucky ones. Stay safe.
Gerry
Yes, I’m soooo bored. More so with just the “schedule” we’ve got as there isn’t anything to look forward to at the moment.
Wow, Gerry, what an end to the cruising season. Will the boat be okay to leave in St. Lucia for hurricane season? We too have had our cruising/hurricane plans change EVERY year (besides when we were sailing the world, or just in the Sea of Cortez). This virus is something we didn’t plan for. Ugh.
Sorry about your picnic…it is stupid but they are doing it to keep others from doing the same thing – and then everyone is doing it. Then it is a gathering. Then it is not flattening the curve. Anyway it will get better. Maybe. 🙂
Back here in MN the only highlights are walks in the neighborhood and being able to get out on a local lake for a little fishing. During the normal “working” hours we are trying to work from home, and keep the kids busy and not rot their brains out with electronics.
I am curious if it would be worse for you and your family if you were out at sea and locked out of every marina or better to be locked in? Or would supplies eventually be an issue if you couldn’t dock or moor up somewhere?
Matt from MN.
Depends on where you are, I would guess. We could be out at anchor here in the harbor – but with using so much water for all the cooking and laundry – we wouldn’t be able to carry enough gas for the generator. And also with all the cooking we are doing – again the generator to run the stove/oven. Oh and all the electronics – yup more generator use. We aren’t allowed to go from island to island or anchorage to anchorage, even within Puerto Rico. No pleasure boating. So if we wanted to just sit out there – sure we could, but right now a marina is our savor. There really isn’t an “out at sea” to be had, you are either checked into a country or not – and to be anchored somewhere you would need to be checked in, and borders are closed.
Sounds like you all are handling things good for the time being. Did you like the snow on Sunday?!
Do you have satellite internet?
No. We have Google Fi, and T-Mobile locally here in Puerto Rico.
Hi
We are in the same lock down with lots of gaps between nothing.
At least you can chuck the kids over board for a bit of space distance.
How is the share business fairing during all this.
Like your top loading washer
Take care
Cheers from sunny QLD
Hang in there, Bruce Ellen! We are making the best of it, but getting anxious to get back at it. Oh and not doing laundry on the back of the boat again. Ha!
Reading your blog, I’m reminded of a saying of my mom’s, when I was whiney: “I thought I was bad off because I had no shoes, until I looked around & saw the man who had no feet.” Here I was all pouty puss because I’m stuck in a 25X6 ft travel trailer with my dear hubby, then read how you poor folks can’t go beyond the parking lot!!!!! At least here on the central coast of CA, we can still get out to hike trails & walk the beach. And it’s the first time I’ve seen your kids look remotely crabby too! Hopefully this passes sooner rather than later, for all our sakes. I did crack up laughing at your last post about Lowe learning to read and how English is far from phonetic! My husband didn’t speak English well when we met and I recalled him ‘sounding out’ a word to me: t-h-o-u-g-h-t. Try it yourself-impossible to figure out what he was reading?????? Especially with the G! When I looked at the page I told him the word, he was shocked. “What kind of stupid spelling is that? Why put the G in there at all?” Feeling for Lowe & all of you there! Keep smiling!
Thanks, Gail, we are trying to remember and share with the kids that we have it pretty good right now. We are in a U.S. territory – won’t get kicked out, like many other cruisers are having to deal with. Have plenty of food. Pat can continue to work – and focus more on it as there is nowhere to go, plus the market is so crazy that it is consuming him right now. And we are healthy and so are our families in the States. All good!
And yes poor Lowe – we are really hitting it hard now with not going anywhere. The stupid silent letters – kn, qu, t, in watch – it is a lot of memorizing which is what we keep telling him – sight words, lots and lots of sight words. Hoping it is just like Ouest, and it will just snap for him.
Living in a resort town on the coast in Central Florida there is much to entertain and the crowds have to stay home! Our roads are traffic free, our boat is in a slip so closing the boat ramps didn’t deter us from enjoying the water; we can also throw a kayak into the ICW and explore the mangroves. Meeting more neighbors as everyone is on foot, exercising but keeping their distances. Riding my bicycle more than I’m driving a car. It’s been a couple of weeks since I filled the tank. Gas prices are going down. Time spent learning new skills and reading books I’ve meant to read. Family is all safe. Drinking more wine! This may be the new normal as COVID isn’t going to disappear. Be safe. I hope you are able to travel soon.
You aren’t kidding – it isn’t going to disappear, this is the new normal, and more beer over here. 🙂
Sounds like are definitely making the best of things. Us as well, as nothing can be done about it. At least not right now.
Stay healthy, Betz!
I’m very happy you all are healthy and at least in a warm sunny spot. Sorry about the total lock down. My brother and his girlfriend are in the Bahamas stuck on his sailboat. They get 90 minutes a day to get off the boat and move around a bit, get groceries, etc. My brother is going to tough it out until he can get his boat hauled out for hurricane season. Then they’ll head home.
My dog and I were peacefully enjoying the Mojave desert till mid- March. Then California shut down and the grocery stores started getting bought out. So we got a good weather window and headed for our property in WA. Went from 70’s to snow. Getting nice now. My hope was to get my shop and living quarters built this year. But with house construction not considered essential everything is at a standstill. At least I’m blessed to have gotten water and electricity installed last fall before heading to AZ for the winter. At least I have five acres to enjoy so not complaining. Stay healthy and well. Safe travels as always.
Yes it will be interesting to see if they lift the lockdown next weekend. I’m sure they are going to start opening up things a bit more, but not sure how quickly we can get moving about. Thankful that we got so incredibly lucky at being in a U.S. territory.
Sounds like you should be just fine up there in WA. And I would think construction will get up and running in the coming weeks, maybe get a little more done…
Give Brock a scratch for me!