My neighbor, who was out of town at the time, got angry that I hadn't informed him immediately of my diganosis. He doesn't want to breathe my air -- from inside my house, through the screen, over the fence and into his house through the screen, where he or his wife could get sick, because he can't risk breathing my air even though it's coming from at least thirty feet away.
He outed me by name and address to at least two of our neighbors, which crossed a line. So far I don't think he's sorry for it. So right now we're not speaking.
Meanwhile, friends a few miles away are double-masking inside their house and not going anywhere beyond their yard. Are the vaccinated? I think so. I hope so. I don't honestly know. At least one of them filters health care through a very heavy lens of surviving childhood abuse and a great mistrust of western medicine, so who even knows where their head is at right now.
My doc followed up with a check-in by phone today, and glad to hear I was free of symptoms and feeling much better. I asked several questions, including:
-- Can I travel? Yes. Wear a mask anywhere they require you to. If you're distanced outside you don't need it but otherwise wear a mask.
-- Will I get Covid again? Not anytime soon. I'm good for at least a year, maybe longer. Don't rush out and get a booster right now or anything. Just be sensible, wash your hands and avoid massive crowds -- you're not passing anything, but it's just a good idea to avoid crowds for now.
I finally got my doc to admit that they only know what the CDC tells them, and frankly, we haven't had Delta around long enough for the CDC to know much yet.
What I DO know is that the fall and winter are going to be a massive cluster of mask and vaccine battles and I may well struggle to earn a living if we have to live with Covid another year or two because people can't get their shit together and reclaim the social compact.
I guess that after Sunday I can go bike riding again, though it will be short and local riding and nothing ambitious. Sadly, it will also be solitary; I don't want to wear a mask if I don't have to, so I'll ride alone.
And I'll start in on the Diamondback frame, which is going to be a nice bike when it's built up.