New Normal, Old Normal or Abnormal?

There seems to be a surprisingly (to me) large proportion of people saying "I hope we DON'T go back to the old normal." But what does that really mean? Does it depend upon how old you are, how good your memory is, how many historical, scientific, technological or sociopolitical trends you've seen come and go? Or in some cases, come and stay?

For myself, I'd like to see a lot of things go back to the old normal, though certainly with a fresh perspective on things, a realization that we shouldn't throw out the baby with the bathwater.

For example: I still think that after the pandemic, in-person should be the default mode of interaction for most aspects of day to day life. It feels a little odd to be saying this, since I've always thought of myself as an introvert and I've never been the demonstrative touchy-feely sort of a person. I definitely value my personal space - I guess I just want to be able to determine the boundaries for myself (while of course still respecting the preferences of others) rather than having it dictated from on high.

So I'm not about to throw away my telephone or computer or TV or radio. Post-pandemic, I'll still use an ATM to withdraw cash from my bank account or a self-checkout station to check out library books. But I still want the option of USING cash with a real live human cashier or teller, or having a real live staff member to approach in the library. I still watch TV and listen to the radio and play records and CDs. I still check my e-mail a couple of times a day and visit Internet sites and sometimes (though probably not as often as most people) watch online videos or listen to podcasts. I'll continue to shop online for some things. But I want to be able to once again browse in a real-life store, meet with friends, dine out, visit venues like museums, galleries, concert venues and such. I want to be free to travel and see the world.

I'd like to see home delivery - of just about everything - continue after this is over. For me, that's definitely part of the old normal - milkmen, mail and newspaper carriers, Sears catalogue delivery people - but if you're younger and have always lived in a car-dependent suburb, maybe you don't view it that way. Ageing in place (aside from the travel I just mentioned) is definitely how I'd like to live out my days, especially when I see the heart-rending toll this virus has taken on long-term care and retirement homes and their residents and staff.

That's not to say that everything was good in the "good old days". COVID-19 has highlighted - or perhaps lowlighted - the need for health care reform, particularly as it relates to long-term care and home care. It has made even the staunchest Conservatives a little more kindly disposed towards the idea of progressive social programs. In some ways too it has been a great equalizer in that the wealthy still need to fear the virus, although they are clearly less vulnerable than, say, the homeless!

Assuming we eventually get a vaccine and other robust preventative measures, along with treatments to alleviate or mitigate symptoms, and - dare I say it - even a cure, that's still no guarantee that we'll have the wisdom to combine the best features of the old and new normals going forward.

Watch this space for my pandemic post-mortem on a date yet to be determined!