Who is in your bubble?
I’ve just started hearing this term: staying in your social bubble.
In this crazy time with COVID-19, it is referring to all of us being safer with family members or our squad if you will.
At a major American tourist attraction, the operators are trying to figure out how to physically distance patrons in theatre seating while still allowing people to sit beside their family, friends or travelling companions. So, they have asked people to send in the names of all those in their travel group.
Of course, with the thought of any bubble my mind wanders (as it is prone to do) back to the movie with John Travolta and The Boy in the Plastic Bubble. He played a real life boy with such a compromised immune system that to avoid all germs he was forced to exist in this giant plastic bubble. Nobody could touch him. It may not have been an award winner, but all these years later, I still remember it.
Anyway, though not an actual bubble, this idea is sort of the same idea. You will be safer from the virus if you stay with those you live with or socialize with than with the general population. You don’t have to social distance from your bubble mates, but you still keep your distance from anyone else.
As recently reported by BarrieToday, Simcoe-Muskoka’s medical officer of health, Dr. Charles Gardner, describes social bubbles like this: “The concept that I’m aware of is a social bubble where you extend from your household to the equivalent of another household, or the equivalent of ten people and now you’ve got that many people you can be close with and it’s mutual. They stick with you and you stick with them and there’s nobody else in that bubble.”
While we all look forward to the day when we can all congregate again and be physically closer, I got to thinking of what kinds of people I would want in my personal bubble.
Let’s assume you want to be with your immediate family because, like it or not, you are stuck with them.
So, we won’t consider partners or roommates. They are all there.
Now who else would you choose? We'll stick with five.
1. A good conversationalist. This lockdown has shown me how valuable a good chat is to mental health. Whether the connection comes from a sidewalk visit, text, phone call or Zoom meeting, it is vital. I need lots of talk in my bubble.
2. Someone funny. There must be a comedian in the group. It doesn’t have to be a professional, but someone who tickles my funny bone. I need to double over in hysterical and inappropriate giggles at least once a day to maintain good health.
3. A good cook. Anything cooked, mixed or baked by someone other than myself always tastes better. I would invite a chef-type into my space, or at least someone who knows what to do with yeast, oregano and truffles.
4. A musician. I know this is a stretch and not mandatory, but it should would be a treat. I believe music is medicine. If I have to be in isolation, I want to do with with some background music. Country, pop, rock, gospel ... anything but rap! My bubble, my taste!
5. A pet (or several). As many as you can fit in. Pets bring love, comfort, fun and companionship. In the case of my cat, I expect my bubble will be batted from here to next week and quite likely deflated by his razor-like fingernails. Still, without him there would be no joy in my bubble.
I invite you to picture your own social bubble. Who do you need in your personal space? Let us know below in the comments.
You may need fewer than you think.
You may find the need to rearrange.
Choose wisely!
Just don’t let anyone burst your bubble now or in the future.
