Hiatus Report
After a brief, two-week hiatus, part of which was spent travelling through several southern states and spending time in Florida, I'm now settled back in at the Watch Post. However, even while I was away I continued my duties as a faithful Watch Post lookout. Here are some of my observations.
The southern states of Arkansas, Mississippi & Louisiana have been contending with unseasonably cooler temperatures and heavy rainfall. Though the Mississippi River at Vicksburg was not as flooded as the last time I passed over her muddy waters (2019), the very air there felt heavy with moisture and the sky was gray. The stops I made in all three states revealed that the most people were still wearing coronavirus masks, even though the CDC had already indicated that they were no longer needed for those who have been vaccinated. This begs the question - were the people I encountered not vaccinated or simply too afraid to shed an old habit that they'd become accustomed to over the past 14 or so months?
Driving further south through Alabama, I found the gulf waters much browner than I recall in years prior. Construction crews have made significant progress on a replacement bridge over the ocean in that area, but parts of the old structure have yet to be removed. Dilapidated looking concrete support beams stick out of the water here and there like rotten teeth. It was jolting to see how this form of infrastructure can erode away so thoroughly after time has taken its toll.
Crossing the Florida state line was, quite literally, like driving back into the past. Though the sky was partly cloudy, sunshine was able to make its way through the cottony barrier and I instantly felt uplifted. The traffic was horrible, as usual, from Pensacola to Santa Rosa Beach and beyond to Panama City. I noticed a large number of RVs on the road, and remembered the dealer I purchased mine from in March mentioning that sales had been skyrocketing this year.
The five or so days in which I lingered in Florida were like nothing I've experienced in the past year and a half. I'm not certain what dining capacity restrictions may or may not have been in place, but restaurant parking lots were full. The same was true for the variety of retail outlets along the highways. Masks were basically non-existent until I entered a couple of Walmart stores. I'd say about a third of the people shopping were masked.
The parts of Florida I visited are common tourist destinations, and the economy appears to be thriving in those locations. I did notice a few "Now Hiring" signs, but nowhere near as many as I saw in the other states. I also noted the lack of boarded up/closed businesses. While some American downtown districts are reminiscent of the Great Depression era right now, this did not seem to be the case in Florida.
All things considered, Florida is definitely open for business. The state depends on tourist dollars, and travelers are still filling that need. After only a day there I felt like I was living in 2019 again, like there was no "new normal" to contend with. The actions Governor Ron DeSantis has taken there are proving beneficial for the livelihood of his constituents, and that is highly commendable considering other parts of the country.
The deep contrast between Florida and the other states I visited recently leave me wondering. How long will the rest of America suffer post pandemic depression? Will the drastic differences in quality of life between states like California and Florida continue to drive the nation further apart? We already know the exodus has begun in places like California and Illinois. Will the radical policies of liberal-led states end up causing enough of a divide that we actually do become two or more independent nations?
Time will surely tell.
What kind of things are you experiencing post pandemic in the place where you live? The Watch Post would love to know. Leave a comment below!
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