May has come to an end, and it seems like the quarantine orders are slowly being lifted in my province.
Staying at home for three months was not easy, nor fun, but knowing that a) there’s less chance of contamination and b) planning for the future to come has kept me sane these last couple of months. For a while, everything seemed so bleak and uncertain and planning helped me feel less overwhelmed and gave me something positive to focus on.
Since my province is slowly opening up and it seems quarantine might end by early July, I thought why not write a post the plans I have after quarantine ends.
My Plans for When Quarantine is Over.
Visit new (and old) places in my city
One thing I’ve realized while being at home is that I do not know my city that well, and I’ve lived here for almost three years already. I’ve only been to a part of Old Montreal but not to other touristy areas like the Olympic Stadium and others. My after quarantine goal is to visit all of the popular (and lesser-known) areas, essentially become a tourist in my own city!
I’ve probably mentioned it before but I love (I mean LOVE) museums. History is one of my true loves and my city has countless museums, but unfortunately, I’ve only been to two so my goal to go to all of the museums once the order is lifted.
In January I went to Montreal’s Fine Arts Museum to see the Ancient Egyptian exhibition and would love to go back. The McCord Museum will be having a Dior exhibition (with original dresses!!) in September and I cannot wait to see it.
Go to all of the vintage and thrift stores
There’s something about going to a vintage store and seeing items that have a long history and were owned by people who lived 60-70 years ago. I love buying antiques or vintage items, and sometimes I’ll find things that are impossible to get in department stores like cute reversible skirts!
On my Why I was gone for February post I shared some of the great finds I’ve gotten at the thrift store. Thrifting is also a great way to live green, you never know what you’ll find and it will save it from going to the landfill.
related post: how to stay mentally healthy during a crisis
Get together with friends
It’s been so long since I’ve seen anyone that’s not my family (whom I live with), that once we are able to, I’d love to just get together and chat about everything and nothing that has happened in our lives.
Have a meal, party or just go out for coffee, it doesn’t matter as long as I can get together with people I don’t live with and have fun.
Keep doing what I love
If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram then you know that I’ve planted a vegetable garden, did some sewing, and did some DIYs. This “free” time, was a period in which I was able to take care of myself (physically and mentally) by doing what I love.
Obviously, I’ll keep on gardening and sewing, but I hope to do it more often than before quarantine and also to just do what makes me happy, not just because I have to (within reason of course). I used this time to focus on my self-care and I would like to keep focusing on that afterwards.
Travel
It matters not where I travel as long as it is outside of my city. Last year I went to Ottawa for Canada Day and would love to go back to see Parlament Hill and go to the Difenbake Bunker museum. You’ve probably seen on Instagram, that I fell in LOVE with Quebec City and all of its 300+ year-old history.
Once the quarantine is over and it is safe to travel again, getting in my car and driving wherever the wind takes me will be one of the first things to do.
related post: Barbie Expo | travel Montreal
Be more aware of others
Due to this pandemic, most of the nation realized how badly patients are treated in public senior and long-term care facilities. In my region, over 80% of deaths were of people who were over 70 years old and who lived in care facilities that were under hired and overworked.
This raised questions as to why seniors were dying alone and hungry and how the owner of these facilities refused to give PPE to the workers, ignored government directives, and much more horrible things.
This opened my eyes to others who live in the fringes of society and it made me realize that I can do something about it such as writing a letter to my MP or visiting the vulnerable or volunteering in facilities.
Afterthoughts
At the end of the day, my plans rely on my community being healthy and safe. It seems it may take a long while before everything is fully open and all of this passes but for now, the planning of my post-quarantine future is keeping me happy and hopeful.
Do you have any plans for after quarantine is over? How is your city/country doing?
Sounds like fun things to do! I want to go to the library again also go to thrift stories.
astorydetective.blogspot.com
All of these sound great. Thrift stores are on my list too.
Those sound like some solid plans. I think this quarantine period has really opened our eyes to what's really important in life. I look forward to getting to know my city better too.
Wow, I love the note at the end! Now is definitely a time to think of others. This is such a positive post! I hope you get to do all of these things very soon x
sigh. I'm planning to go shopping :))) I miss buying things from a store or not even buying I just want to browse. that's ok, too! :))
I can't wait to see my family, shop and go to the beach when this is all over!
Your plans are awesome. I really hope you achieve all of them. I tatally agree with you, it doesn't matter where you travel as long as it is somewhere new. during quarantine I explored places in my area and city I didn't know excisted and it helped me stay sane. My plans for June are to be able to travel and explore more in the place I live in. Thanks for sharing
Darina from daramiblog
Love this, especially the part of discovering your own city more. There are treasures to be found for sure! Also, the point about waking up to our own privilege and how there are loads of people who aren't as privileged during tough times has been a welcome occurrence. The systems we live in trod on the poor in the expense of those who don't need any assistance because they're rich enough, and that system needs to change.
Teresa Maria | Outlandish Blog
The library is one of those places I dearly miss!
Aren't thrift stores great! Thanks for coming by, Skye.
So true, Rowena. This pandemic has helped us in realizing that.
This pandemic period helped me realize that there are people who have no one or are vulnarable.
Thank you, Fizz, I hope to do them as soon as my province fully opens up.
Yes! Browsing at the stores (or window shopping) is so much fun. Hope you get to shop soon, Irem.
Hope your region opens up soon, so that you can do all of these things!
Your city looks really beautiful!
I love Quebec! I have only ever been through Montreal on the VIA rail train but what I saw (Old Montreal I believe) was beautiful. I have walked all through Quebec City though and absolutely loved it. Getting out and traveling is something I want to do more when quarentine is over. Locally at first. Like you say there is so much around us that most people don't even realise is in thier own backyards so to speak. My province (Nova Scotia) is starting to open back up as well. We have had 71 deaths 64 of which were in one seniors facility in Halifax. It's horrible the situations in these places and something needs to be done!
Kadie ♥ The Great Canadian Housewife | A Story About A Girl
I will go for a holiday in sea beach.
http://swarnaz.com/
I literally can't wait to get travelling and see the coast again!
Katie | katieemmabeauty.com
I cannot wait to be able to do things again. Visiting old places is a great one, I am excited to visit my favourite places again. Going on holiday and travelling and seeing family and friends is what I am the most excited about, I cannot wait to hug people! x