I know, it sounds bad. Trust me, though, I have a good reason.
In March, when this whole pandemic started, my girlfriend caught COVID-19. She is a nurse, so she was exposed early on. Since we live together, I caught it not long after. It was pretty easy for both of us, as we are young and relatively healthy. One of the benefits of getting the disease right off the bat is that we had immunity early on. This meant that we didn’t have to worry very much about being out and about.
Local Ordinances Have Been Soft
In Orange County, CA, COVID regulations have been more lax than the rest of the state. Bars and restaurants have more opportunity to stay open, and for the most part, our local law enforcement doesn’t really enforce many of the hardcore lockdown measures our governor has tried to create. This has worked out well for us, as it means we can take full advantage of our COVID immunity.
One thing I want to make extremely clear: we don’t just go out because we want to.
The Duty to Spend
I could not be more serious when I say that if you have immunity to COVID, whether through getting the disease or getting the vaccine, your local businesses need you. This is only my opinion, but my girlfriend and I have been doing everything we can to patronize local bars, eateries, and grocery stores since we have extra cash.
If you don’t have a lot of extra money, this isn’t aimed toward you. It is important to make sure you and your family are as financially secure as possible.
If you’re lucky enough to still have an income and some money to spend, now would be the time to use it. every dollar that we have to blow goes straight to a small local business. It has been a joy and a privilege to be able to help keep our local spots afloat, and I don’t think that part of this pandemic gets proper coverage.
Once Vaccinated, Spend What You Can
This may be an unpopular opinion, but the only way your favorite local businesses can stay alive is if they are visited in force once people are immune to the disease. Hope is on the way, and you can pay that hope forward by using any newfound security from the virus to benefit the places you love to eat and shop at.
I know this topic can get political, and I am by no means trying to tell others how to live their life. I just wanted to get my thought process out there, because not enough people are saying this. The vaccine can mean a serious turnaround from this pandemic. It can only mean that if people use it as a reason to lift up those around them. So, once you are immune, go crazy if you have the means to. This is the one time you have an excuse to go a little overboard for the sake of your fellow man!
Trey LaRocca is a freelance writer, financial sales worker, and tech guy. When he isn’t out and about or at work, he’s usually at home enjoying some video games and a beer. Currently residing in Newport Beach, this California Kid can be found at the beach on any given weekend. Trey has years of experience in day/swing trading, financial analytics, and sales.
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