Coronavirus in Massachusetts (Boston, Fall River, Wilbraham: expenses, hurricane, staffing)

[porterhouse]

I stopped by Mahoney’s Garden Center in Winchester this afternoon and drove right back out. Their (huge) parking lot was FULL and the place was a zoo. It is mostly outdoors but was just too crowded for me to deal with, not really even COVID related. People are busting out!

[AtkinsonDan]

Originally Posted by Bridge781

I love not having to commute in. I don’t miss the train, traffic or being around hundreds of people at all

I get the sense that people who like working remotely are looked at as lazier than the people who want to be in the office. That is part of the problem. Just because someone is working from home doesn’t mean they’re doing less work but because they haven’t used any effort to go to the office and home it’s like they’re doing less than someone who does trek in. That mindset is so silly and needs to go.

Originally Posted by massnative71

Back when I commuted into Boston, I'm sure my response would have been much different. Don't miss those days at all.

My ideal work situation would be a reverse commute or a local commute of less than 10 miles with one work from home day. If I had to choose between a drive towards Boston commute and work from home completely, I'd choose the WFH option.

[Bridge781]

Originally Posted by AtkinsonDan

My ideal work situation would be a reverse commute or a local commute of less than 10 miles with one work from home day. If I had to choose between a drive towards Boston commute and work from home completely, I'd choose the WFH option.

I agree. It’s one thing to have to go to work everyday but a messy commute makes it worse. Sure if I had a reverse commute that took 10 min that would be better but I don’t know many people who have that if they work in Boston. Even going from Dorchester to downtown Boston is painful.

[sawyer2]

Originally Posted by Bridge781

I’m surprised by all the people saying they miss the office. They just have very easy commutes or hate being in the house.

There may be other reasons other than the two you mentioned

[htfdcolt]

Originally Posted by porterhouse

I stopped by Mahoney’s Garden Center in Winchester this afternoon and drove right back out. Their (huge) parking lot was FULL and the place was a zoo. It is mostly outdoors but was just too crowded for me to deal with, not really even COVID related. People are busting out!

I live just down the street from there, and the place has been fairly busy for a while, including this past weekend.

[Toxic Waltz]

Originally Posted by Bridge781

Im enjoying the work from home. I commuted for years. I’m surprised by all the people saying they miss the office. They just have very easy commutes or hate being in the house.

Yeah I feel the same way. Some c-level type up thread threatened to take jobs away from locals and give them to people in lower COL areas if they get too comfortable and efficient working from home. Heck I see that as an opportunity. One thing that keeps people from moving to those areas is the lack of jobs and now employers are threatening to take that disincentive away from people. That would open up a lot more of the country to working professionals that are anchored to employment hubs.

[charolastra00]

Originally Posted by sawyer2

There may be other reasons other than the two you mentioned

Yup. I have an atrocious commute and am far from bored at home, but I live alone and have had 0 physical contact and next to no face-to-face contact in 70 days. I would practically give my arm to be able to see even some of my least favorite coworkers in person.



A lot of introverts, especially introverts who live alone, get a lot of our social contact from work. I had no idea how much. With that gone, it's a mental health nightmare for many of the people I know who are completely isolated right now.

[Bridge781]

If the office were easier to get to I’d be ok with going in. However it isn’t easy to get to so the convenience of skipping a commuter train ride, then an orange line ride wins. I like my co workers but not that much.

I’m really hoping my kids have camp in July.

Anyone have plans for Memorial Day weekend? We normally go to the cape. It’s my son’s 6th bday and my 7th wedding anniversary. I think we will still go to the cape at some point but won’t be there all weekend and no big family cookout.

[BostonMike7]

My Memorial Day plans pretty much center around demoing a wall and framing in a 12-foot sliding door on our three-season porch.

Other than that, just hang with kids in yard and do some family BBQ. Might have some family stop by and chat with each other from 20 feet away outside.

[Bridge781]

I’ve been seeing my parents on a weekly basis. My aunt stopped by last week but she stayed in the yard and wore a mask. My mom also wears a mask when she comes by.