Theres obviously a personal aspect to it, but in general I think we look back at how we did things at a previous point (not even related to the current apocalypse) and tend to remember a lot of the positives, and our mind (or mine at least) filters out the changes that have come in life since then, so unless you really focus on the reality of a given past event in the current situation, it just seems like "ah those were the days", and there's less often the thought of "welp, shit, that isn't gonna happen any more because <X>".
We're currently planning (as in, we've decided we have to do it, just haven't got a concrete date yet) to move from LOS back to Australia. The type of life we'll be living when we return compared to when we left there nearly 9 years ago (and likely close to if not more than 10 by the time we get it all organised) will be quite radically different, I'd say. Not necessarily worse or better, just different.
No, not quite.
"Welp, shit" is very much at the fore of my mind, too, - and I think that navigating, or shaping, the changed contours of our culture, lives, loves and world will present a considerable challenge - for I have never been one of those "those were the days" people, not least because I am a woman, and I am also someone who takes politics (as a means of achieving consensual and progressive political and socio-economic change) very seriously - who lives, eats, breathes, thinks politics - and who has always voted "progressive", I cannot not see the unfairness, inequalities, injustice, imperfections and flaws of our society, without wanting to engage in what sometimes seems like a constant battle to try to change them for the better.
As a woman (and I'm very much aware that as a white, middle class woman I have had - and enjoyed - advantages, opportunities, experiences and life chances denied to many, if not most others, on this planet of ours), I'd never want to see a return to the world of my - and perhaps this is just personal perspective - youth, teens or early adulthood.
Notwithstanding that, however, I think it is more that you remember the positives of the life you were privileged to live, (while not denying the rest), and may regret, or salute, its passing.
I've always loved travelling, and loved to see, and explore new countries, cultures, societies, and worlds, and, over the course of the past three decades, I have been privileged to work in three continents.
I regret that this - international travel (for personal and/or professional reasons) - is not possible at the moment, but I do have a well stocked memory bank, which I can visit at will.
However, I think that were I a young person, living and enduring in current Covid conditions, longing to see the world, alive with fascination, devoured by curiosity, hungering for knowledge, yet unable to travel, that I would find this to be both deeply depressing and profoundly frustrating.
I took 3 grams of Tylenol for 2 days for the second dose. Never taken this much in my life.
