Some thoughts on the current situation

[catherineldf]

Okay, I'm not recovered from it either, but we aren't going to get a lot of recovery time, so here's a few thinky thoughts about the situation we are entering/will be enduring for the next while, however long that may be: I shall borrow a phrase from my friend, writer Cindy Potts: "Be hard to kill." I like, it covers a lot of ground and is very succinct. What follows are some of my own thoughts as an old eighties queer on how to go about doing that.

• Identify your friends and allies. Try to stick with folks you're reasonably sure of, people who you've been able to trust in the past. If you have an option to avoid people in your life who think last week's events are a swell idea for any reason, do so. If not, protect yourself as much as you can. That can be through skipping holiday visits, being temporarily closeted or just not confiding in people who clearly do not have your best interests at heart.
• Is there an offline mutual aid organization in your area? I like Buy Nothing, but it's entirely dependent on Facebook so I will want to look at other options: food banks, skill shares, maker's studios, fix-it clinics, etc. I'm going to want to do what I can to support them through donations, etc. now while I'm working.
• Skills and resources assessment - what do you have and know how to do that you can share and trade with others in your community? That can be anything from sewing skills to food preservation to living space, carpentry and beyond. Build up or join existing local networks if possible. Barter and analog are useful things.
• Needs assessment - what do you need? What would you need if, say, you were sick or out of work for a time or had to make a significant life change of some sort (location, job, etc.)? Your planning is not going to cover everything (honestly, nothing does), but give it some thought and start working on as much of a list as you can handle. I've spent a lot of my working life working temporary or fancy temporary (contract) gigs and have been through a number of "economic downturns" so I'm accustomed to things ending abruptly sometimes or changing a lot. Whenever things look uncertain, I stockpile nonperishables and start prepping: canned and dried food, nuts, soup mixes, rice, tea, soap, furnace filters, toothpaste, etc. Get your vaccines and address whatever health care needs you can now. Get a first aid kit. Take care of whatever you can attend to that might be an issue if, say, car parts or electronics, are difficult to find or very expensive to replace.
• Money - cash on hand is very useful, emergency savings are very useful and reduced debt makes you less vulnerable. Plan for what you can, but be realistic. Unless you normally have months of living expenses saved, you're not going to be able to come up with it in the next month and change. But if you can manage to get a holiday side gig for some extra cash, this might be the year to do it.
• If you can spare money to help local organizations and people in your life at the moment, do it now. The stronger our communities are, the more likely we are to make it through this. Donate, volunteer, etc. as you are able.
• Do not beat yourself up for what you can't do. None of this is easy or simple. This is where the networks and skill sharing comes in handy.  Find joy whenever and wherever you can and help others to the extent that you can - this is what helps keep you and your loved ones going.

I know, not a particularly cheerful post, but hopefully a somewhat useful one. Now I'm going to go write for a bit and veg out before bed. Also, if you're local to me, I'm hosting a Swedish Death Cleaning sale/giveaway/open house on 11/30; let me know if you want to come and need details. Hugs all around.