Almost a year without bars and restaurants

[M_Six]

The last time we ate out at a restaurant was early March, 2020. I met a friend at a local bar that had outside seating in May, 2020, but not since then. I'm so ready to go back to eating out and having a pint with friends. Just sayin'.

[DocL]

I just started going out to eat again. The precautions that most places are taking have taken away my fears. It also helps that I have both doses of the vaccine, but I'm still being cautious when I enter any business.

We have to start getting back to living "cautiously normal", otherwise we are going to become prisoners by no fault of our own.

I know how you feel.

[TXSTYLE]

I hear ya. And I have several friends who own bars and restaurants. And I'm a super socialite. But..... It's simply NOT worth the risk. We've dined out a handful of times. But absolutely no bars or close quarters social gathering for me since over a year. And my household has been Covid free. Sure it's a bummer and we miss our friends and partying. We're used to hosting 4 to 5 large parties a year. But if that's what it takes, so be it...

[lsturbointeg]

we haven't had that issue here in OH. some places were shutdown but most restaurants skipped every other table and if you had to get up you had to wear a mask.

[unluky]

we've been really lucky in MO. A few shutdowns for a week or 2 here and there, but mostly stayed open with restrictions.

I've never been too fearful of catching it (finally did) so I kept eating out and tipping big to keep my favorite places and staff going. we've see some closures, but not as bad as some.

Bad deal all around.

[damnitBobby]

Yeah I've gone occasionally to my local favorite spots in Houston just to give them support during these difficult times.

We don't have those outdoor seating requirements like some states. I think that's just stupid because people are still enclosed its just outside the restaurant. The whole point of being outside is to allow for fresh air. Just doesn't make any sense to me.

I do fully support mask wearing whenever we are inside in closed quarters.

[hooligan_G01]

Originally Posted by M_Six

The last time we ate out at a restaurant was early March, 2020. I met a friend at a local bar that had outside seating in May, 2020, but not since then. I'm so ready to go back to eating out and having a pint with friends. Just sayin'.

Same here.

I think the 1st week of March will be 12 full mos without going out to dinner or for drinks.

We've ordered takeout a bunch during that year, but we're both ready to get back to being able to "go out".

I'm hoping by late summer we'll feel comfortable enough.

[NeverL8]

Eating at a restaurant or drinking at the bar for 2 hours is just not worth the risk of potentially getting sick and feeling like crap for 2 weeks or worse. Most of the outdoor activities are free so that’s what I’ve been focusing more on AND saving crap load of money by not partying every weekend

[fiveohwblow]

I haven’t stopped. If businesses were open I lived life. I went this whole time, until 3 weeks ago and finally caught the bug. I hear it hits people different, and possibly my choices to intermittent fast, work out 3-4 days a week, avoid my allergens and not be overweight helped, perhaps.

[4Hockey4]

First couple months, but we've been eating out ever since. I've also gone to the office all of 2020, mask, social distancing...common sense, not selfish.

[ASAP]

I gotta be honest with you guys... I live in South Florida and you would not be able to tell there is a pandemic here. I eat inside and outside, have been to bars etc etc.

I definitely wear my mask everywhere and am always careful to sit far away from everyone else and only go to places where the servers have masks... Most transmission happens and still is in household settings or being exposed for an extended period of time to someone who is positive...

[zx10guy]

To add on to this, my daughter is in private school from when all of this started. The school has had 2 shutdowns out of precaution during that time. First was just before the Christmas break when two staffers reported they tested positive. No further spread was noted and the school opened back up as usual. Then a couple of weeks ago the school shutdown again due to one of the kids testing positive. No spread was also noted. This time I even got a call from the county contact tracer to get info and for me to report if I do develop symptoms. The school opened back up this past Wednesday. All of the shutdowns were just the school being extra careful and I suspect they could have just stayed open.

As to the restaurants, I've been to a few for indoors dining. Some of the restaurants where gathering info on us for contact purposes if anyone tests positive. With how story hungry the news media has been, I haven't heard of one instance of any spread in a restaurant nor any calls for me to go tested.

Same applies to the gym I've been going to. Been going since they opened back up. No issues there.

I find it funny with all this time having been elapsed that no discussion as to reducing risk factors that people have control over to reduce any poor outcomes from catching this thing.

[shimmy23]

We still do take out a lot. Dining in, no, but with two little kids dining out isn't always the funnest thing to do. 😂

I do miss taking my wife out to a nice restaurant but we've gotten creative on our date nights and I think she likes our "drive in" dates more?

[Kolyan2k]

I go to bars every week lol since they got open. In fact I try to go out almost everyday since March. Too bad I couldn't make it to Caribbeans, all my friends went with their family and kids. Was invited skiing tomorrow too, work so can't go

[4Hockey4]

good discussion, like hearing different perspectives on issues that impact us all.