In a world where the list of things we can’t do is getting longer every day (and for good reason!), let’s provide our community with a list of safe things we can do. Specifically, use the comments to describe some positive and compliant things you’ve done that others might be interested in.
Ground rules: all activities must be fully in line with current public health recommendations, government-dictated restrictions, and common sense. I do not want the comments to devolve into a debate about what’s OK and what isn’t. So, stray far to the side of caution. Include any age recommendations or safety caveats, but try to stick to inclusive and foolproof activities when possible. Stay positive. There are plenty of other threads for policy and health discussions.
I’ll start. On Saturday, the family went to the deCordova sculpture park in Lincoln, now run by The Trustees of Reservations. The museum is closed but the sculpture park is free. Kids and adults had a great time running around, taking pictures, and observing the “do not touch” rules. Keeping social distance is perhaps easier for kids when you’re in a different town and don’t know anyone else. That said, there were lots of people enjoying the day. I’m grateful to the Trustees for opening it up to all, for free. Note that there are no open restrooms we could find, even if that was advisable.
On Sunday, our same crew went for a walk in Lexington’s conservation lands. Lexington has a great trail network that connects open space with parks called ACROSS. On the town’s web site you can grab one of two maps. We parked at Diamond Middle School (map A-J) and took a path through the woods (5) to Chiesa Farm (8) open space. We then walked past Fiske Elementary School where the kids avoided the really nice playground, but commented somewhat unfavorably regarding the classroom layout they could see through the window. Exiting the school parking lot onto Colony Road, we walked through the quiet neighborhood to the right and returned to the farm and our car via Woodland. We passed many people doing the same kind of walk. It was truly lovely. Newton needs this kind of connected open space plan to knit us all together.
Now, it’s your turn! What’s your activity in the new reality?
The YMCA has put some free exercise videos on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOGt_IpceP_xQhhCMCrut_A
Watched Ford vs. Ferrari on Amazon Prime last night. Highly recommend it. Way better than I was expecting.
I’ve been a gym junkie for decades. Have always worked out 5-6 nights a week. The gym seems like a risky place all of a sudden. Wondering what others will be doing to stay fit?
My friend Steve told me that this past weekend they were scheduled to have a few friends over for dinner. As the week wore on and the situation darkened they switched gears.
Everybody ate dinner in their own houses and then they hung out with their friends and played a trivia game via Skype. I loved that one.
I am having my 13 year write LETTERS to her friends, and then walk to the post office to MAIL the letters (writing and exercise).
This is a good time of year to visit our local vernal pools! Look for turtles, muskrats, and more. Visit regularly to observe the changes throughout the spring.
Gardening and yard work. It’s a bit cold today, but when it warms up, and assuming we’re still more or less quarantined, it would be a perfect time to clean up the yard, prune, and plant seeds inside.
Saturday my husband and I took a walk (at his pace) to Castle Island and Pleasure bay causeway: beautiful. Yesterday I wanted more exercice so I improvised a course down and up sand traps on the Braeburn golf course. The 9-hole course is open but the rest is still closed, with plenty of small and big hills (3-bunkers for those who know).
One hour after I got back, I noticed my silver necklace was missing. Figured it got caught when I took off my choker as I was getting too hot; but where did I do that? My husband and I went back retracing my steps and looked for at least 30 minutes. Every shiny leaf made our hopes soar. Nothing. Then as I was retracing exactly my run down and up a sand trap, exactly in my tracks, right on the top, in the grass was my necklace!
Livestream doodling
https://www.washingtonian.com/2020/03/16/mo-willems-is-hosting-a-livestream-doodle-starting-today/
Lots of folks were cycling out in the western suburbs this weekend — I saw more casual cycling alone or with the family.
As it warms up, it’s also a good time to catch up on gardening. Maybe people don’t want to go to the store for garden supplies, but there’s plenty that can be done with an existing yard.
On Sunday we cleaned up an elderly neighbors’ yard for Spring.
Go fly a kite!
Buy a kite (they usually come with string), find an open field and you are in business.
As a Newton high school teacher, I would take my classes at the very end of the year and give them a kite. I’d ask them to assemble the kite ($1/each at the dollar store) and fly it.
Surprisingly, about sixty percent of the students said “I’ve never flown a kite before!”
I’d respond “Give it a try and tomorrow we are going fishing.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wu1UXCdyNo0
Fishing!! That’s the ticket! Where do I get a license?
Online fishing licenses:
https://www.mass.gov/how-to/buy-your-freshwater-fishing-license
Kids under 15 don’t need a license.
@NewtonMom I love that idea!
Try Travel and Leisure’s link to this week’s free virtual performances from the Metropolitan Opera!
https://www.travelandleisure.com/culture-design/music/metropolitan-opera-offering-free-virtual-shows?did=502110-20200316&utm_campaign=just-in_newsletter&utm_source=travelandleisure.com&utm_medium=email&utm_content=031620&cid=502110&mid=30962046664