Will we be able to travel the world again?…Personal responsibility…

Note: To all of our readers visiting our site via a smartphone, please click the “View web version” tab under the word “Home” at the bottom of the page to access the web version enabling you to access all of our archives on the right side of the page. We’ll be updating our site in a few months, making these extra steps unnecessary. Thank you.
Please click here for those who may have missed the post with SW News Media’s article on our story.

As much as we’ve treasured the opportunity to travel the world during the past 7½ years, there are times that it was difficult, exhausting, and frustrating. But, our joy has always superseded any negative aspects coupled with our continuing strong desire to stay free, homeless, and unencumbered for as long as we can.

Although Tom and I haven’t discussed this at length, hopeful that travel may go back to normal (or a new normal) at some time in the future, no doubt it enters our minds.

Macro photo of tiny wildflowers, as small as a bean, found while walking in the neighborhood in Princeville, Kauai. See our post from this date five years ago here.

We have acknowledged to one another that if travel requires social distancing, excess hand washing, and wearing face masks, we can handle that extra layer of precaution and remain determined to visit many more parts of the world in years to come. Good health and God willing, of course.

As I wrote this today, I posed the question to Tom, and his answer was as follows, “I don’t like wearing a mask since it fogs up my glasses, but I’ll do it in public places. We already social distance, most of the time, when living in countries where we don’t know people.”

This is a view easily found in many backyards of homes in Princeville.

The only times we are in crowded places are airports, restaurants, and some sightseeing venues, at which times, in the future, we can utilize masks, hand washing and, social distancing.

 

In South Africa, it might be a little tricky when lockdown ends when so much of our daily routine includes socializing with our select group of friends and when dining at Jabula. 

 

I guess in that scenario. It will be a case of “watch and see” how things roll out in Marloth Park, where currently there are no known cases. A month ago, there was one case, but the patient was moved from the area, and no other cases have been reported.

Spotting these yellow-tipped stamen on these Anthuriums was a first for us.

The biggest concern will be people coming in from other countries, occupying holiday homes, and visiting their own holiday homes, exposing our friends and local workers to the virus.

But this risk is no more or less than any of you will experience once the lockdown is unleashed in every country. It’s hard to imagine, at this point, what that will look like and how well we’ll all function in that scenario. 

 

Also, each country’s statistics on COVID-19 will surely be a factor in the population, determining what path to follow for their safety. 

Unusual buds were blooming on a shrub.

On today’s news, a group of doctors claimed, “Let everyone out of the lockdown to let the chips fall where they may. The masses will become infected and become immune. In the future, this will reduce the ongoing spread of the virus.” 

Well, if we think it’s terrible now, we can’t even imagine how many people would die under these conditions. But, there’s no easy answer with economies failing worldwide with billions of people needing to get back to work to feed their families.

Down the road from us, the St. Regis Hotel in Princeville doesn’t seem to mind when tourists stop by for photos as we’ve done here.

I don’t envy our leaders worldwide. Any of us can criticize what our own country’s leaders (and other countries’ leaders) are recommending and requiring, but they are also faced with this same dilemma.

It’s easy for us to criticize, but in reality, what would any of us do if we were in charge? We think we know the answer, but there is no easy answer, the complexity of managing millions of people in our own countries and almost eight billion people worldwide.

This may be a Fishtail Palm Tree.

All we can do as individuals is to take it upon ourselves to ask our conscience one question: “What can I best do to protect my family, my relatives, my friends, my community, and my country from the ravages of this dreadful virus?”

Therein lies the answer for each of us. Let us all use our hearts (compassion) and minds (logic) to do the right thing.

Photo from one year ago today, April 17, 2019:

Lazy day for this female lion in Kruger National Park. For more photos, please click here.