I am envious of Vegas trips!!

You're not alone Joe, I feel the same way. I would have been to Vegas at least 3 times already this year, maybe more. I'm just hoping November is the magic time. I've been going to Vegas for Breeder's Cup since the early 90's and I don't want to sit home watching it this year as I did the Kentucky Derby. Just need those damn numbers to retreat a bit.

 

Many of us going through the same crappy year. I, too, can't see myself getting to Vegas until Spring 2021, possibly Summer 2021, at the soonest. I do find that my local casinos (AC) are very empty early in the mornings on weekdays and have made several trips there. I leave the house at 5:00am to arrive at 6:00am and I'm out of there by 11:00am at the latest. The crowd at that time is way lower than my local grocery store.

 

Good move. It's miserable in the Sierras and almost as bad here. Central coast is the getaway play right now.

 

I was watching the web cams for days on end and watching the PM numbers. Killed it off last week and it's only gotten worse. This NW wind we're having today has really churned up a lot of shit. The county's PM count just jumped in the matter of a few hours. Central Coast still has some PM issues but nothing like here in the valley or up in the Sierra.

 

Joe, many of us here have decided not to go since the pandemic began for a variety of reasons. I was very lucky to have gone in Feb and it was the best trip i've had to LV and i went solo. I was going to go again before my travel flight expired (i've rescheduled it a # of times now) but am deciding that even if NV's #s go down and I won't have to quarantine when i return home, i think its best not to go. The virus can be passed on w.out me having any symptoms to someone else who can die. I would not want that to happen. I'm not saying it will but i think its best to stay put. i can drive over to the local casino thats about 1/2 hr away and spend a day there and drive back home just as i did this past wknd. Many of us here feel the same way you do so know that you are not alone.

 

We are almost twinning, Joe! While I'm just a smidge younger - 50s - I hit 5 of the "high risk" categories and have been advised by all 6 of my doctors that casinos are a "no-go." I'm like you in that we go to Vegas or similar travel 10x or so per year. We just bought two new cars and both have sat for 7 months (we've filled up 2x and that was only because of the wildfires here in CA). I haven't been seen in real public since Feb. 28th. I've got flight credit up the wazoo and more comps than I could possible manage in a month! It's distressing, depressing and I find myself even getting a bit angry. Without restaurants and any entertainment venues that make me feel safe enough - even other types of travel won't work. We wanted to take a weekend hotel stay a couple of hours away but soon realized that there aren't really any restrooms available between here and our destination! I'm not sure how long mentally I can take this. Just when I'm about to pull that proverbial trigger and go to my local - my common sense kicks in and reminds me that I kind of want to live. It's simply just not worth the risk. Hang in there and come vent and rage and yell in here as much as you like. We - if no one else - understand whole-heartedly. Take care and also I believe your wife's extra care with the groceries isn't a bad thing. Of course, I do the same.

 

Restroom availability is something most people probably wont consider until it's too late. I tried to stop 2 or 3 different places on the way home from my last Biloxi trip, and none of them allowed people inside if they were open at all. It was limited primarily to rest areas and some gas stations. And we still have a couple rest areas in the Florida panhandle closed due to damage from hurricane Michael. Theres a point in my drive where I go 60 to 80 miles between rest areas with few places open for public restrooms in between. Good time for an RV, and a good business opportunity for an alternative I guess.

 

I love a good road trip. Sadly, my annual several-thousand-mile lap of the Pacific Northwest isn't happening this year.

 

Such a drag. I'm fortunate to be able to work from home, which I don't take for granted, and work has been really busy, and so far my family has stayed healthy. Some of my coworkers have not been as fortunate.

I have a vacation scheduled next month while my kids have a fall break, and I'm usually a big planner of such things, especially because I haven't taken off more than 2 days in over a year and I am exhausted. It's a month out and we have no plans at all. it would be so nice to go somewhere where we can just RELAX and do something fun. For us that usually means Vegas (if summer, since the kids like water slide parks) or occasionally a cruise ship, but those aren't happening this year. We have been doing more outdoor activities lately but it hasn't seemed to scratch the itch of sitting by the pool and going to our favorite restaurants, someplace where I can avoid reading the news in order to tune out politics which is going to suuuuuuuck come October. I also like betting on college football and Pac 12 in particular (since I follow it most closely) but that's canceled also.
I keep thinking to myself:
I'm ready for this to be over. Then I remind myself: you know who else is ready for this to be over? Everyone on planet earth.

 

We successfully skipped a month and are getting the itch again..
Probably going to improvise the safest plan we can and go in sometime this month.
I feel for all of you that are making the safer decision.
2020 is really getting old. I don't know anyone who isn't tired of it.

We just had record breaking heat in Los Angeles, (all time high of 121 in Woodland Hills) and I think Vegas is cooler than here.
That's ridiculous.

 

I have booked a mini early fall getaway to Mont Tremblant next week. It is located north of Montreal in the Laurentian mountains and a about a 6-7 hour drive from my place. It is mainly known as a ski resort but, they do have golf, restaurants and a small casino in a typical ski resort village. I only have two nights booked. Its more for the pardner than me as she has been more or less squirreled up at home for six months while I have at least been going to the office. We are both feeling a little stress right now for different reasons. She is stuck at home and I can't keep up with work. Part of me says I don't have time to go but, the other part of me says I have to go.

I know once the snow starts flying around here and going south isn't an option, its going to make people crazier than last winter/spring. I am/was a skier but, the pardner is not, so a even a ski vacation (which I would love) is out of the question. I do have some concern for the public's mental state this winter for those in winter climes of the US or north of the border. Across the pond, I have no idea what mental state everyone is in. What percentage of northern Europeans had to south of France, Spain, Italy each winter????

 

Few (working) people do that over here.
No place in Europe is really hot during winter. Some do go to North-Africa (Egypt for example) as they get nice weather but it really is a minority.

Most people go on winter holidays or stay home. It’s not that bad over here (Central Europe), mild freezing on a couple days but mostly just grey weather and lots of rain.

 

Totally understand Joe....lost 5 family members in 2 months & seldom around others since I live alone now. After all the horrible things that has happened in our family, I felt if I didn't get away - back to some sort or normalcy.... my mental health was at risk...I am in my early 70's but very active....our situation since Jan is testing most of our limits. So, a small group of us went back to LV in late August....I did the mask thing constantly, would walk around the longest ways to avoid people, carried my clorox wipes at all times.....only a couple times did I feel that the casino / space was just too crowded....so went to my room....sometime in the early evening for the entire nite....tried to take no chances. This worked for me but know it is still not an environment where we can always relax & enjoy. Sure hope things improve & a proven vaccine is found soon so you & others can resume doing things you enjoy!

 

Second that thought; also glad to know there are others just as cautious as we are. Due to our age, and the wife needing a cane to get around, Vegas had become just about our only getaway the last 4-5 years. Now that's gone..2020 will be the first time in at least 35 years there will be no Vegas trips for us...and we usually average 26-28 nights a year.

 

We are going through the same situation as you. We are in our early 70s and have been no where and done nothing. Last time we went out to eat was early March. Everything gets delivered either through target Walmart samsclub or Instacart. We haven’t been in a store since mid April.
My car is a year old and I hardly drive it now except to go to the library ( curb side service only) or the vet ( again curbside.) we were invited to a retirement gathering for a friend and declined ( too many people and buffet food)
I read about what others are doing and like you get remorseful. We had several concerts scheduled this year all postponed or cancelled. And if we could magically transport ourselves to Vegas ( we won’t fly now) it wouldn’t be the same as many of the restaurants we like are closed. Just read the rodeo is not happening in Vegas so another disappointment for Vegas fans .
Thank goodness for netflik Hulu and amazon prime. And been saving lots of as only Major expenses have been Food. Stay safe .

 

I've got the itch bad, man. I returned from Vegas March 1 of this year and the virus was heating up. This is the longest stretch without a Vegas trip in years. Even when my Dad passed in 2018, I was back the next month for a quick trip. When Katrina took everything I owned in 2005, I was back in 2 months. I'll be in Vegas on the 17th and headed out there to see the Saints whip the LV Raiders, but no fans will be in attendance. Maybe I can sweet talk my way into the new stadium. I feel your pain, Joe!

 

just try the $20 trick...

 

So true on restrooms. We had to go out of town for my husband MRI ( two hours away) I packed baggies for disposable masks, tons of sanitizer and sandwiches for lunch. I found a park nearby and we ate in the car. Waited till the restroom was empty to venture in. Then practically bathed in the sanitizer upon exiting. The doctors office had only one other person in it. Afterwards - in “ normal times”:we would go shopping Hit a coffee place and come home. Then out to dinner as it would be late. This time we hit the road and drove straight home. Clothes in the washer and took a second shower. I did home delivery for dinner as too tired to put something together .

 

We're in the same boat. On the plus side I've saved a ton of money by not
traveling, gambling, dining out or filling my tank up every 7 to 10 days.