what do you do with your days?

I seem to run into that question quite a bit these days.
Sure, people are curious, as they know I am a social butterfly -
a retired social butterfly, at that.
That means my time for attending events is not limited to evenings or weekends.
So, with all of these daylight hours available, how do I pass the time?
Well, for starters, I have my groove thing going on, as I've mentioned before.
Those are the routine elements that mark a day's passage, now as it was pre-pandemic.
My leisurely brunch, now as then, is served with coffee and sometimes dessert.
Now as it was then, I dine while reading or I watch a game show.
Now, I am usually reading the Smithsonian or a book; then, I would have read one of Savannah's two entertainment weeklies.
After breakfast, now as then my groove is flexible.
Sometimes I watch a movie or do puzzles or blog; other times I run errands or check email; plus there are times I write cards or notes or ready birthday gifts for mailing; and occasionally I have luncheons or special meals out.
Trust me, the time passes rather quickly during the day, now as it did then.
What types of errands do I accomplish during daytime hours?
The same ones are done now as were done then, meaning weekly trips for the grocery shopping, picking up oddities at the drugstore, miscellaneous doctor visits, mowing the yards, and doing the laundry.
True, that last one isn't weekly, nor is the penultimate item, though it's every other week and may be more often if the rainy evenings persist.
And, of course, the doctor visits aren't weekly or even monthly, though the timing meant I had my regular check-up, the optometrist appointment, and my first visit to the new dermatologist all within the last two months. All were with the local VA center, too, and only the visit to my primary care physician was virtual.
As for the trips out to stores, I make those into mini-adventures!
First I like to have a long drive, to feel the breeze on my arm and in my hair as I ride with the car window wide open!
Then, I do my shopping guerilla-style, getting in, getting what I need, and getting out!
The long drive is usually enough to cause me to feel the need to pee, so that helps move me along in the store, as strange bathrooms are danger zones for contagion to occur.
That time in the car is precious to me, as I continue to - mostly - shelter at home.
Honestly, the time I most feel the strain is in the evening.
Then, in the idyllic pre-COVID world, I was out most of those.
Movies and dinners with friends (including Tina Tuesdays), volunteer work at the Lucas, artist talks and receptions at the Jepson, improv shows with Odd Lot, the latest artistic endeavors from the theatre troupes and painters and musicians -
honestly, the nights were as full as I could pack them!
And how has all of that changed?
Now, I still have movies with friends, although we are at our homes.
Now, I still have improv shows with Odd Lot (virtually, through fb)...
and those are 'with' my first niece, making them actually an improved situation, as I have weekly - or more - time with her!
Now, I still have access to artist talks at the Jepson, via their website...
not that I've been to any.
That's just "more tv time" in my mind and I already have plenty of that, right?
Between time spent blogging, time spent on social media, time spent "Quantum Leap"-ing with Sam and Al on weekday evenings, and time spent watching movies with PFS or those On Demand on regular channels or via premium networks... well, it gets to be a bit much, especially on the computer.
Ever since I discovered loss adjustment living, I prefer doing all of my voyeuristic activities Element-style, not via Lenovo.
(smile!)

So, just what had started me on this tear about 'what I do'?
Well, remember the MENSA group that I sometimes had dinner with or Christmas parties?
I had contacted mi amiga Barbara, who still declines to be on fb, with news of a mutual friend, Ron, of MENSA.
He has been in the hospital recently and was very ill, with not even Susan allowed in.
When his wife posted that he was out, I let Boo know.
I even passed on that Susan had him snapping beans, as he insisted on being 'useful'.

her: "Ron has always been active, building furniture, growing vegetables, etc. As he becomes more infirm it's going to be tough on him. I spend way too much time playing games on my phone and watching tv as I've already experienced periods where I could spend little time on my feet. Getting old is inevitable but so restrictive and Covid has certainly made it worse. My only outings are grocery, doctor, yoga and walking my neighborhood after dark. Not very exciting. What have you found to do?"

me: "I take long drives, at least once every week, as part of my shopping excursion. Wednesday, I drove to Tybee, hitting the CVS on 80 on my way back to home. :-)"

her: "Sounds nice :-)"

me: "It was wonderful! I really look forward to these drives. :-) Other than those, I blog, watch game shows and Big Bang Theory, movies, and cooking shows."
"I make sure to do something different every couple of days, to break the routine, but also some regular things, like Quantum Leap every weekday evening."

her: "Yeah Quantum Leap is an excellent way to pass the time. My hair stylist sent me a photo from the Bananas' game. Social distancing but not a lot of masks. I have a hard time just wearing one indoors. He claimed of course to be wearing his but he wasn't in the photo. I looked for Lynn and Lauri but didn't see them. Feeling a nap coming on. I'm gathering data this summer to prove to my doctor I'm on the correct dose of benzos. Halving one and never getting more than four to six hours sleep since school let out. I need a minimum of 7.5 hours to function, 8+ to function well. But I'm playing the game and will have the proof. I'll go back on my previously successful full dose as school nears. Really not sure how I feel about school. Kinda hoping we go back to virtual although I despise spending hours sitting in front of a computer."

me: "I have my first - and maybe last - Bananas game on Monday. Lynn and Lauri have not gone to a Bananas game for three years. They didn't like the circus there."

So, now she knows what I do.
(smile!)