It’s interesting to read all of the different predictions being made by various experts about what life after the pandemic will look like. It’s all just guesses because there is really no way to know, but there are some assumptions that seem reasonable.
First, travel is likely to be affected for a long time. Even when borders begin to open, who will they open to? Will countries welcome foreigners with open arms, or will there be restrictions and quarantines? Suspicion of outsiders is likely to colour the way that visitors are treated. While tourism is a major economic force that is suffering greatly, it is difficult to envision that sector getting back to what it was anytime soon.
This affects most countries, but more so the poorer ones in the Caribbean, Latin America and South America. For one thing, tourists are unlikely to flock to areas where basic sanitation is suspect. For another, these countries won’t be able to deal with any more strain on their healthcare systems. It’s a dilemma.
Other predictions, such as more businesses relying on remote workers and the days of big office buildings with thousands of employees in one location a thing of the past, seem reasonable too. This will affect many things, including eliminating travel time to work, less reliance on cars and transit, and a desire to move away from big cities and congestion. Why live in a crowded apartment in a big city if you don’t need to be close to the office anymore?
Our food choices may be impacted, with an emphasis on eating items that are produced locally. Not a bad thing, but it will be an adjustment.
Online education is another possibility, but at the grade school levels it becomes more challenging because parents may need help with childcare in order to work. Universities and colleges could definitely go in this direction for some, but not all, avenues of study. It would be difficult to study to be a doctor, for example, by just learning things on a computer.
Whatever the future holds, the best we can do is accept that there are going to be changes. Resist the urge to label everything as good and bad and be as flexible as you can be. We are all going to need to be patient with whatever is to come.
When Flying Isn’t Fun – This is an interesting first-person account of flying in the world of a pandemic and the challenges it presents. Written by Mckay Coppins for The Atlantic, it chronicles his journey from dealing with a surly seat mate to negotiating store closures at airports. Read more here: Flying During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Thought of the Moment – The moon made its way into Sagittarius yesterday morning, and signals a more adventurous and active phase for us than the soul-searching and covert phase we encountered with Scorpio. It can be a restless time with a desire to get active and be outside. Honour this desire and put your plans into motion.