As the proverbial dust begins to settle on our new way of life, it would be suitably cliche of me to post some thoughts about #stayathome. Additionally it gives me something else to occupy my time. Since finishing Tiger King and putting my shirt on upside down, I’m running out of things to do on weekends.
Despite the shutdown of every sporting league around the globe, I’m for once in the fortunate position of not having actual employment. This means I’m not subject to severe pay cuts or forced to take unpaid leave. Instead my student life is a pay cut and thus, work will endure. As a matter of fact, my research project is enacting vengeance for my previous neglect and has exasperatedly piled on deadlines knowing there is no footy to excuse me anymore. I know deep down this is good and I’m quite grateful to have my business hours occupied. The story is contradictory for the construction industry though. Ash will endure a dark winter this year, the ominous gloom of potential shutdown hanging around her head-space and obscuring the normal view of a stable income. However, we remain calm and positive as, at this point in time, we both still have jobs which is much more than many others during this difficult season.
We therefore, continue to work in a virtual fashion. Imprisonment inside our homes has become a way of life. Zooming in and out of colleagues living rooms, giggling at muted mics and sighing in despair at slow internet. Our bodies are disgruntled from excessive couch time and whenever I do go out for a run, I spend more time dodging hordes of daytime zombie walkers than getting some exercise. It’s interesting that since a state of emergency was declared it’s become increasingly popular to duck out for a spot of fresh air. I haven’t laid eyes upon our car in over a week. I miss lifting weights and drinking tap beer. I miss greeting with a handshake — my arms require purpose when I say hello or else I’m a T-rex with an awkward grin. Nevertheless, creativity is born from constraint and all around the world we are discovering new ways to connect and continue to enjoy community from a distance.
In the digital age, when everything and everyone is only a few clicks away, it’s curious to see why humans still get itchy and restless in their own homes. With every face-time call or Zoom meeting, it’s becoming increasingly apparent to me that nothing can quite beat the unpixelated experience of real life. There are reasons why hundreds of thousands of people still buy tickets to see their favourite artist play live. Why we scorned at the idea that footy could be played without spectators and why we choose to meet our friends out at a pub, when food and beverages could be delivered right to our door. Pure, physical presence is a raw, unfiltered element which we are still unable to replicate with technology. Touch is a sense which human beings haven’t forgotten and atmosphere will only ever be single dimensional when delivered through a screen… no matter how large the screen is or how quick your NBN.
Furthermore, I’m learning that physical location plays a pivotal role in managing our psyche. We need real and physical places to attribute to the different components of our life. This helps us compartmentalise our life into bite-sized pieces. How important that 10 minute commute is for managing your work-life balance, or the hour at the gym to clear your head-space. Squeezing your whole life into one place is like smooshing the leftover spaghetti into the last Tupperware container in the cupboard. Adapting to life cramped in one location is unordinary and uncomfortable. Each day in isolation the house walls close in a little more and the relentless cacophony of Tik-Toks grow louder as they maniacally spill from your spouses phone.
In some ways I’ve enjoyed learning to adapt our life and our routine to suit a global pandemic. What’s even better is it’s now socially acceptable for my Saturday night to consist of one low-carb beer and 6 hours* of a Lord of the Rings marathon. My restless wife has itchier feet than I but it won’t be long before I too see the balcony ledge beneath us as an opportunity for parkour rather than a crime of trespassing. “Puppy” has become our top google search and take-away coffee is no more of a caffeine hit than a daily escape from a sterile reality. Our friends keep us in check, as we do them. It’s nice to have people to rely on when you’re alone.
After all that is said and done, this too shall pass. Not soon but soonish. And I look forward to shaking some hands when that day comes.
*FYI 6 hours is approximately 50% of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy: Extended Edition (which is the only version appropriate for viewing).
