Love in the Time of Corona

We are in the middle of a worldwide pandemic. Corona Virus (Covid-19)..which currently has no vaccine and has hit the entire planet. Borders are closed, flights are strictly bringing people home from being abroad, people have been told to stay at home, businesses have been closed, people have been put out of work.

To say that the stress has been high is putting it mildly.  With strong emphasis on wiping everything down with Lysol wipes (lightswitches, door handles, handrails, anything anyone might have come into contact with… )I’ve even been wiping down my groceries outside before taking them into the house and then washing my reusable bags and clothes almost immediately.

Paired with handwashing, rigorous 20 second handwashing  and not touching your face and you ‘should be okay’. Have you ever tried to not touch your face?  I tell you, it’s hard.  Younger people are often asymptomatic and are considered carriers for the virus and passing it along to older people and people with autoimmune issues. Although the numbers are changing and we’re now seeing younger people being affected as well.

So now, seeing as I’m at home (as many other people), I’ve come to the horrendous conclusion that this will affect the dating world for sure. Deciding if you want to risk meeting someone new, risk the touch of someone new, risk kissing someone. All the while, possibly putting your health or your life on the line.. or theirs, or their family members.

So as someone who was just dipping my toes into the dating game again, what is one to do? I mean you aren’t supposed to go out and meet anyone and nothing is open for you to do, so online dating it is.

It’s now easier to weed out those who are more serious about meeting someone than those who aren’t because all they can do is talk to you.

If you can’t talk to me when you have THIS much free time, I’ve most likely already counted you out. People are on their phones all the time and if it takes you a week or more to contact me (after I was the last person to message you) while you are literally working in your home,or laid off in your home. I know you aren’t interested. Full stop. Nothing could convince me otherwise. In fact, you’ll be the first person I delete from my contacts once we can go out again. I’m fickle that way.

On the plus side, you might actually meet someone who is willing to get to know you, even talk on the phone or via Facetime (I know, I hate being on camera, but ideally you will want to see this person once it’s all over). Mini dates and conversations that lead to something real. But it won’t be easy. I suppose we should look to the old adage that says nothing worth having comes easy. Same goes for dating.