Saturday, 28 March 2020
A cold, windy, and rainy day.
After a week of seeking for the answer about whether or not we can work during the stay at home order, I finally got the word from state authorities:
“Thank you for your inquiry. Landscaping is allowed, but only to the extent necessary to prevent imminent damage or spoliation of hardscape or greenery. Routine maintenance is not permitted.
Please know that we take this decision very seriously. Nonetheless, we believe that the best way to control the spread of COVID-19 is to temporarily limit interaction as much as possible. This is not an indictment on the importance of your business, nor is it permanent.
Please also know that you may continue to perform minimum basic operations to a) maintain the value of your inventory, b) preserve the condition of your premises and equipment, c) ensure security, d) process payroll and employee benefits, e) facilitate employees of the business being able to continue to work remotely from their residences, and f) conduct related functions. Any minimum basic operation must still adhere to the guidelines around social distancing and sanitation referenced in Proclamation 20-25 or any subsequent proclamation related to essential businesses.
Thank you, and please remember to practice social distancing in all of your lnteractions.
Disclaimer
This response is intended only to provide guidance on Proclamation 20-25 and does not grant any other license, certification, or privilege.
Proclamation 20-25 does not require anyone to carry documentation or certification proving that they are in compliance. Similarly, no state or local agency will be providing special certification that an activity is essential.”
Meanwhile, in Oregon, it is perfectly fine to do landscape maintenance:
Even though it bothers me greatly to think of Long Beach being full of tatty looking dead narcissi and probably weeds, I am not going to worry about it now. In another week, I may let myself worry. While we can get by well enough to pay our bills, I know Washington state gardeners who won’t be able to get by while losing work at this time; all of them folks are who are self employed and so cannot get unemployment.
This was to be the last year before I reached full social security age, the year that seemed an important work year, as the estimated amount report always said something like “you’ll get x amount if you continue to work the same amount until full retirement age.” I wonder if a year of minimal income will mean that my monthly sort-of-pension (that I can’t afford to collect till age 70, when it reaches its highest level) will be reduced for the rest of my elder years. No point in worrying about it, can’t do a darn thing about it right now.
The thought crosses my mind to take an allowed exercise walk along Howerton Avenue by the Port and casually deadhead narcissi on the way. I might, when I have more weeding done here and when the weather allows. The port gardens will continue to be a job that won’t wrack my nerves, but I think that Long Beach will require a complete alteration in our habits so that we can do the job early before people appear on the narrow sidewalks. That’s a worry for later on.
The question is, when does “spoliation” begin? Lawns must be mowed to keep houses looking inhabited. Eventually, planters and parks would be spoiled by weeds infesting good plants to the point of no return. Must save this worry for later! Our state governor wisely says that our stay at home order will probably go longer than two weeks. As it should. Worry about work later!!
Might have to go back to private gardening….but I am too spoiled by us getting to do what we want to do in the port and city gardens….not sure I can adjust to being told what to do…WORRY LATER! We did used to have those perfect private gardens where we got to do just what we wanted to do, like at Laurie’s garden and Marilyn’s garden. Could we find more like those?
Some reading
Last week, I read Lindy West’s second book, The Witches are Coming and saved many a passage that I liked, most of which don’t fit into a blog like this one. Here is my favourite, though.
Today, I read a large and pretty flower arranging book.
I followed it with the first half of Uncanny Valley, about life in the tech industry.
My favorite bit so far:
An “ask” instead of a “question” just baffles me.
I thought I would finish the book, and yet did not get even halfway through because of the impossibility of pure concentration.
Allan made brownies from scratch…
…as comfort food is a necessity now. Never mind the past healthy year of delicious grapes for dinner and hardly any refined sugar. That’s another thing I’m not going to worry about today.
Comfort food is an absolute necessity right now. Those brownies look utterly delicious. So very sorry about work and your social security pension. Sigh. This virus is quite the disrupter. Hugs from Maine, all across the country, to you and your husband.
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Thank you. Last trip to the store was 15 days ago and I bought Oreos that have not yet been opened. :-).
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Something to look forward to!
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I have enjoyed this read: we cannot afford to worry at this stage; just to keep healthily busy and hope that all will turn out okay in the end – whenever that will be. You are at least allowed out: in South Africa we are expected to confine ourselves to our homes for three weeks (except for buying food or medicine) and so I am very, very grateful to have a garden!
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I think every day how lucky I am to have a garden. We are self confining with enough food for two months, although being without fresh produce while I wait for a salad to grow is tiresome. I was a bit of a germophobe and perhaps agoraphobe before this so that has been kicked into high gear!
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No point in worrying about things, Skyler. The worry will eat at you as much as the virus, and in more insidious ways. If anything, when the beds start to look tattered, people may realize just how valuable you and Allan are.
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Thank you, that is a helpful thought. I just hope they don’t put an intern to work on the planters who won’t know what’s what. But I can’t worry about that.
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It’s so sad that you can’t take care of the community spaces (except on those casual walks about town . . .), but at least you have your garden!
The last time I grew food outside, it was nibbled to the ground by some unknown creature. Now I have an indoor garden going, using scraps of food: celery & romaine stubs are actually producing leaves! Plus, microgreens. We do what we can in these times.
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That is a great idea!
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I see that your guidance is much like ours, leaving considerable grey areas.
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You almost certainly qualify for this program:
https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/paycheck-protection-program-ppp
It’s called a loan because it’s administered using an existing loan procedure, but you don’t have to pay it back so it’s really a grant.
The funding for it is first come first serve so don’t wait. The form is only a couple of pages.
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Thanks, I was thinking the last thing I need is a loan debt, but this looks very promising.
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https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/03/business/sba-loans-coronavirus.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share. Sad situation. Doesn’t really apply to us because it’s just us two and we don’t even do a formal payroll.
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Skyler, I retired early and was concerned about what my social security would be. I believe it is calculated on an average of the 35 years you earned the most income. You can go here, http://www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount, and use their calculator. Also, it’s possible to claim your former spouse’s income if it was more. I’m uncertain what your status with Allan is (and don’t need to know), but if you were legally married for more than 10 years to your former spouse even if he remarried, I believe you can use his income if it amounts to more than yours. I’m not saying this is absolutely for certain, but I’m counting on using my deceased spouse’s SS money since he made significantly more than I did. Finally, the Social Security office people make mistakes so when you finally do retire look over everything carefully. Since you have the time now, you could do some research and see what you come up with. I wish you the best!!!
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Thank you so much, that’s lots of valuable info!
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I’m glad you are staying home safe. Taking walks is a great idea. You have a nice, walkable neighborhood. Oh, those brownies! I finally caved and made comfort food yesterday–I baked banana bread from scratch (and I seldom bake). On a rainy, cold day, it was perfect with a cup of tea.
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Sounds delicious. Allan says he’s low on brown sugar but he’ll have to figure something out (white sugar? Why not? I don’t cook!) cuz the freezing bananas experiment seems to have been a bust.
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