On Monday, MA Governor Charlie Baker announced Phase 1 of the re-opening of Massachusetts.
I won’t lie…his press conference didn’t really make much sense to me and sounded like a whole bunch of fluff.
If you’re still trying to figure it all out, I’ve put together a quick little nutshell summary for you below of when certain businesses will be re-opening in Phase 1:
I think everyone has their own ideas on how people should or shouldn’t be handling the re-opening of their towns/states/countries, and I think that’s okay! This pandemic is so unprecedented and none of us were really prepared for the major and drastic ways it would impact our lives, so I’m not convinced that there is any one, one-size-fits-all method to approach re-opening.
That being said, here is what I will (or will not) be doing.
Will I wear a mask in public?
Yes and no.
As long as it is required in Massachusetts, I will continue wearing my mask…in most cases.
What are the places I will or won’t wear a mask?
I will wear a mask any time I enter a store or enclosed space.
However, I won’t wear the the mask when I’m doing something outside. The only exception is that I will wear a mask while golfing if the people I am golfing with will feel more comfortable.
But, just because I won’t wear a mask while doing things outside, it doesn’t mean that I won’t have a mask with me at all times. If for whatever reason I’m in a crowd, with someone at risk, or someone around me feels uncomfortable, the mask will go on.
How quickly will I start going back to places like breweries and restaurants?
Honestly…ASAP. (As of right now, restaurants are scheduled to begin re-opening their dining spaces in Phase 2 of the re-opening and “bars”, which I think would include most breweries, are scheduled to open in Phase 3.)
I’ve heard a little bit about what restaurant re-openings will entail, though I’m really not versed in it enough to speak in detail to it here just yet. As time gets closer and more information becomes available I will do another summary post at that time.
Mark and I are desperate to get back to some of our favorite local haunts (and continue crossing off places from our ever-growing list of places we want to try). We miss seeing our favorite bartenders and eating the food straight from the kitchen rather than after its trip from the restaurant to our house.
That being said, I have every intention of booking a reservation at every establishment we plan on visiting for the foreseeable future and following all the applicable protocols.
In terms of breweries in particular…I don’t imagine they’ll be taking reservations because that seems a little strange and out of character. When more information about how breweries specifically will be re-opening is announced, I’m sure I’ll have some pretty strong thoughts on how to proceed.
And the most important question…
When will I be getting on a plane and “really” traveling again?
The short answer is…I have absolutely no idea, but definitely sooner rather than later.
As of right now, TravelCon is still set to happen in September, I’m supposed to be heading to Turks & Caicos for a retreat in October, and then off to Austin, TX for a wedding in November.
If those events all still happen, I fully plan on attending. Depending on the status of various border openings, I am also hoping to get back to Europe at some point between now and the end of the year.
As I did leading up to our decision to cancel Italy, I will be closely monitoring the current COVID-19 status in the various places I plan on visiting, as well as staying on top of the status of things here in Mass.
I want to make clear that none of these decisions will be made lightly.
Boston is a “hot spot” in the US, and as long as it is still considered an active hot spot I probably won’t be going anywhere, at least not out of the country.
But, part of my role as a travel blogger is to help keep you all informed. How can I keep you informed about the post-pandemic changes in travel if I am not getting out there myself? What kind of person would I be if I told you all to get out there and go for it if I’m still sheltering in place at home?
I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous. I fear that rather than coming home feeling fulfilled I will feel broken-hearted instead. The thought of sitting on an 8 hour flight with a mask on sounds absolutely awful, and while empty streets around popular tourist spots would mean I can sleep in a lot more, I would still be devastated thinking about all the money people that rely on tourists are losing.
There are so many changes that I think we can all expect to see on our next trips, and I know a lot of people will be hesitant to travel for the next year or so. I want to be able to tell you what to expect and give you my honest opinion on whether or not I think travel is actually a good idea right now (“right now” being whenever it’s actually allowed again). As always, I will keep you up to date on the status of my travels when and if they happen.