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hattie
Member
# Posted: 5 Apr 2020 00:21
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The citiots were here in our small village today. Roaring through town with their trucks pulling snowmobiles. Honking their horns. Wish they'd just stay away but they won't. An ambulance also went through town today. Not sure if it was for a local or a citiot. Our motel is closed right now and we put a sign on the door telling people visitors are not welcome. Someone was wandering around our property taking pictures. We keep the doors locked so no one wanders in.

paulz
Member
# Posted: 5 Apr 2020 08:33 - Edited by: paulz
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Citiots, that's a good one. I'll be using that..

Saw this posted on Nextdoor last night:

"We are almost a week into self isolation.

And its really upsetting me to witness my wife standing at the living room window gazing aimlessly into space and tears running down her cheeks.

It really breaks my heart to see her like this. I have thought very hard about how I can cheer her up!

I have even considered letting her come in, but rules are rules....."

Got me..

FishHog
Member
# Posted: 5 Apr 2020 09:06
Reply 


Quoting: hattie
The citiots were here in our small village today. Roaring through town with their trucks pulling snowmobiles. Honking their horns. Wish they'd just stay away but they won't. An ambulance also went through town today. Not sure if it was for a local or a citiot. Our motel is closed right now and we put a sign on the door telling people visitors are not welcome. Someone was wandering around our property taking pictures. We keep the doors locked so no one wanders in.


so much hate makes me sad

don't care where those people are from they just sound like plain idiots to me, and sadly they exist in both city's and small towns.

FishHog
Member
# Posted: 5 Apr 2020 09:15
Reply 


two differing sides to the story with a little less hate.
I realize it comes from fear, but I hope some of these small communities that have relied on the money influx from seasonal people for hundreds of years don't come to regret the hate they are portraying now.


The municipality of Kawartha Lakes has a population of 75,000 year-round residents and hosts 30,000 seasonal residents each summer.

Mayor Letham said he is understanding of people seeking a quieter and more remote location to self-isolate during the current crisis—especially as warmer weather approaches.

“Seasonal residents have always been a great big part of our local economy in our community. It’s their property, so I’m of the mindset, even though it may be different than most, that they’re welcome.”

He also noted that Kawartha Lakes is home to many senior residents who often fly south for the winter.


“We have a lot of people, specifically seniors, coming back from Florida as well, but you can’t tell them they can’t come back to their home for the summer,” he said. “We are following the guidelines the province has enacted and they have to self-isolate and take the same precautions. We’re trying to prevent the spread of this as best we can.”

Letham said there has been one death due to COVID-19 in the Kawartha Lakes region. He said there are currently about 20 confirmed coronavirus cases in the community as well as a potential outbreak at a local nursing home. They officially declared a state of emergency Tuesday.

While mayors Letham and Charbonneau had differing opinions on whether seasonal residents should be welcomed to their cottages during the crisis, one thing they did agree on was the rarity of a public health emergency situation like this.

“Asking people not to come here is not a message I ever thought I’d have to deliver—and I really don’t like saying it—but these are exceptional times and this is an emergency situation,” Charbonneau said.

“Hopefully soon this will all be over and we can go back to normal, and when the emergency is over, we want them back. We love them.”

paulz
Member
# Posted: 5 Apr 2020 09:37 - Edited by: paulz
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A friend sent me this video of the Wuhan wet market. Don't watch it if you don't want to see beautiful dogs getting BBQed, along with anything else that lives and breathes. I have read that these people might otherwise starve, don't really know. Point is, when it comes down to life or death, anything goes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a32r9Z_Hq3Y

silverwaterlady
Member
# Posted: 5 Apr 2020 12:06 - Edited by: silverwaterlady
Reply 


Well, I am one of those seasonal residents.
Yes, we spend quite a bit of money and have hired all local people since 2006 to build our cabin.

I am not offended in the least that the locals don’t want me there. I understand completely why.

A young longtime family friend has cancer. He just had his last treatment. Our relatives and neighbors up there are in their 80’s. I love these people.
I love everyone up there. They will do anything for you when you need help.
I am so afraid for them. If only people would listen.

We’ve had multiple tragedies happen in our family the last few years. I don’t know how we can handle much more.
CDC84E4DBB144C59B.jpeg
CDC84E4DBB144C59B.jpeg


Full Choke
Member
# Posted: 5 Apr 2020 13:12 - Edited by: Full Choke
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Taking this place off must travel too list! Thanks Paulz

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a32r9Z_Hq3Y

hattie
Member
# Posted: 5 Apr 2020 14:30
Reply 


Quoting: FishHog
I realize it comes from fear, but I hope some of these small communities that have relied on the money influx from seasonal people for hundreds of years don't come to regret the hate they are portraying now.


It isn't hate. It is asking people to respect the distancing and stay-at-home orders during this worldwide pandemic! My business is the tourism industry. I depend on these folk to come into town; however, EVERYONE must follow the stay-at-home orders that are in place. We must all work together to save ourselves and our neighbours. Our world must work TOGETHER and that means to please, please stay at home!

hattie
Member
# Posted: 5 Apr 2020 14:32 - Edited by: hattie
Reply 


silverwaterlady - that is a great post from Manitoulin. Thank you for posting it.

I'm sorry for all the tragedies in your family and I understand wondering how much more you can take. We have just had tragic news from my son. He and his wife have been trying In Vitro for two years. They were finally pregnant and due in November. Today they found out they lost the baby. With COVID-19 the In Vitro program is on hold. Who knows when they will be able to try again. Her biological clock is ticking so we don't know what the future will hold. We are all gutted and to make it worse, due to the COVID-19 orders, she isn't even able to be with her family for comfort during this tragedy.

FishHog
Member
# Posted: 5 Apr 2020 14:53
Reply 


Quoting: hattie
It isn't hate.


We can agree to disagree. But when I read things like "People from small towns DO NOT FORGET." and "The citiots were here in our small village today"

It comes across as Hate to me.

Personally I think its a terrible situation for some. I don't know if I could stay in a high rise apartment in Toronto where you can't even get on an elevator without being stuck with too many people way to close to you. If you put all your savings into a remote cottage because you can't afford a home in Toronto, would you stay there with your family in a high risk situation or go to the other place you own and pay taxes on where your family would be much safer.

Tough choice. I'm glad I live in a small town and don't have to make that choice, but I feel for those who do.

How are you supposed to stay safe on the 30th floor of an apartment with thousands of people living in it? Sooner or later you have to go out for food or to take the dog for a walk.

hattie
Member
# Posted: 5 Apr 2020 15:03
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FishHog....It isn't hate it is great anger. We will agree to disagree on this.

Yes, it will be difficult for those in apartments. We are all going through difficult times. But we must all follow the government directives if we want this horrible virus to end. If we love each other. If we love our neighbours. If we love our planet. We will sacrifice and do what must be done. This is a war against the entire human race. If everyone follows the rules and struggles through their personal sacrifices, the war will be won and fewer people will die.

silverwaterlady
Member
# Posted: 5 Apr 2020 16:13
Reply 


I’m sorry Hattie.
I understand, the same thing happened this summer.
I was so excited to finally become a Grandmother. This month would have been the due date.
They are also older and had tons of testing done. Now they have to wait.

Ontario lakeside
Member
# Posted: 5 Apr 2020 18:58
Reply 


Language matters. Your use of the word "citiots" is disrespectful and shows your bias. You don't know people's circumstances. You have no right to judge based off of rumors and stories you have heard. Stop the fear mongering and realize that the vast majority of people are doing the right thing.

Houska
Member
# Posted: 6 Apr 2020 09:27
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Local context and the nature of the "guidance" provided matters here.

In some areas, there are emergency rules in place specifying people must stay at their primary residence (except for specified purposes), or preventing non-local travel. When something is a rule in a situation like this, it needs to be obeyed, recognizing it may be frustrating or one may perceive it as unnecessary. So for instance, I have one set of neighbours whose home is in Ontario and whose cottage is in West Quebec. Nonessential travel between the 2 is not permitted, full stop. Ditto for people (in our region) subject to a 14 day quarantine for some reason.

Beyond that, I get the logic for the concern - limited local medical capacity, risk of transmission from out of region, constrained supply chains. A galumphing horde of cottagers, used to popping into local stores a couple of times per weekend in mid summer, and not experienced being self-sufficient, especially out-of-season, could easily do a lot of harm.

However, the above logic does not apply to those, like many on this board, whose cabins are well-isolated, and who are prepared to commit themselves to not make any demands on local communities: bring all needed supplies, don't go into town, are willing/able to go back to their city if they would need medical attention. Fortunately, that's the situation we're in, so after careful consideration, we continue to go up for a day or an overnight when we can. Our answer would likely be different if we lived further away (we're a 90 min drive) or had a different setup. And of course if the requests become regulations.

In addition, I also think we need to accept necessity as a reason. Not our situation, but we do have friends where he's a physician, staying in town, but has sent his family to the cottage to be isolated from *him*. I suspect they do occasionally need to go into town for groceries, but notwithstanding the legitimate concerns small towns have, I hope no-one will be churlish enough to make them feel unwelcome.

RiverCabin
Member
# Posted: 6 Apr 2020 13:40
Reply 


My main home is very rural. As such I'm not a "Citiot". My cabin, also very rural is only thirty minutes from my home.

That being said, my wife and I packed up the kids for a day at the cabin last week. Not because of the covid, we went to complete out yearly "get the cabin ready for spring" trip.

Now at my home I can go weeks with no one coming down my driveway. Yep, we are at the cabin for a few hours and some woman and her kid drive up in a utv to bs Someone I certainly didn't know and who did not have a cabin on the road. She was a hairdresser who was off work and bored. Thankfully she relayed this info from 20 feet away.

Although it may be disrespectful, I can understand Hattie's Citiot sentiment. Thanks to "Citiots", Missouri has now closed down many of their state parks. Shortly after the first "stay in oplace" orders were issued in St. Louis, the city folk overran the local state parks. Overran to the point that all parking spaces were filled and people were parking on the grass, on the side of the highway, or anywhere else they could. Thanks to that those same parks are now closed to everyone.

The Controversy complete with pictures of the parking:

https://dailyjournalonline.com/scaggs-asks-parson-to-close-state-parks/article_182e2f 98-a41d-5834-8bfc-4ddc8aecba65.html

The Aftermath:
https://dailyjournalonline.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/some-state-parks-to-close -modify-operations/article_6953bdf7-9b1e-59ac-8f9c-aa2d249d2f91.html

paulz
Member
# Posted: 6 Apr 2020 14:13
Reply 


Same deal here in Nor Cal a few weeks ago (we were the first to start getting the shelter orders). The outlying rural areas and beaches (where my cabin property is) were overrun by people from the SF Bay Area. And it was hard to see them coming, possibly to spread the virus. Shortly thereafter all the parks and beaches were closed.

The real irony was they then caught the Sonoma County Emergency Management Director and his family sunbathing on a closed Sonoma county beach, after the idiot posted photos on Facebook! Made the national news, you may have seen it. Talk about stupid!

https://californiaglobe.com/section-2/sonoma-county-emergency-management-director-und er-fire-for-family-visit-to-closed-beach/

I got a chuckle out of 'Citiot' and plan to use it on my city friends, since we have a habit of calling each other as derogatory a term as we can think of. But I can see how it is offensive in other contexts.

Everybody is a bit wound up these days, stuck at home worrying and on the computer too much (myself included). A bit of good news on the horizon today, although hard to know what to believe.

xtolekbananx
Member
# Posted: 6 Apr 2020 15:20
Reply 


I can understand if people are trying to go to small towns and rent and come unprepared. But for those that own their own cabins, houses or whatever you wanna call it it, it should not be some kind of restriction from locals. I always go and drive 3.5h from NYC prepared and 99% of time don't even visit town stores as I have my own supplies that would last me for weeks. And if locals want to tell me to stay in my main residence...well I pay the same taxes as them, school, EMS, fire and police. My tax money helps those communities and if something needs to be done I always use local businesses, so please do not call me citi idiot as I have the same right to be there as any local resident. I owe the land and pay my fair share.

KinAlberta
Member
# Posted: 6 Apr 2020 18:32 - Edited by: KinAlberta
Reply 


Quoting: RiverCabin
Missouri has now closed down many of their state parks. Shortly after the first "stay in oplace" orders were issued in St. Louis, the city folk overran the local state parks. Overran to the point that all parking spaces were filled and people were parking on the grass, on the side of the highway, or anywhere else they could. Thanks to that those same parks are now closed to everyone.



A while back I was suggesting to friends that stores should institute double spacing in their parking lots.

Require every car to leave an empty stall between it and the next car. Might provide a sort of visual “first line of defense” to limit people going into stores.

As an aside, our local grocery store finally put one-way tape on the aisles to better direct traffic flow through the store.

ICC
Member
# Posted: 6 Apr 2020 18:49
Reply 


Quoting: KinAlberta
A while back I was suggesting to friends that stores should institute double spacing in their parking lots.

Require every car to leave an empty stall between it and the next car. Might provide a sort of visual “first line of defense” to limit people going into stores.


I think the store would have to place barricades or orange barrels in alternate spots.

silverwaterlady
Member
# Posted: 7 Apr 2020 01:10
Reply 


I could have come on here and posted how upset I was that the full time residents don’t want me to stay at my cabin.

I could have moaned about the fact that I may not see my cabin until next summer.

I could moan about the fact that almost all our assets are in Canada and I’m an American. I cannot cross the border and I would not even if I could.

Instead I came on here and begged you all to stay home. According to one person that does not like to hear the truth I am a hateful person.

Both Hattie and I have husbands with health issues. Yes, we are angry and afraid.
My husband has a fib and Addison’s Disease, he survived prostate cancer, he is also almost 81 years old.

The problem with so many people especially the younger, they are not staying in place. Most figure they will survive, have a mild case.
They don’t think about the elderly. They just don’t care.
My husband has been in the house since the beginning of March.
I am trying so hard to make sure he doesn’t get this virus. Because if he does he will probably die.

So Fish hog call me hateful. I could care less your opinion of me.

The people on here with issues are the people that did not listen. You are the guilty ones. It amazes me and history is accurate in that the people that obey and do what they are supposed to do are the very same that get the wrath from the guilty.

silverwaterlady
Member
# Posted: 7 Apr 2020 01:20
Reply 


One last thing before I say bye bye. Take a look at this.
This could be Canada. This is what most of the USA is dealing with every day.
So go ahead. Go to your cabins. Travel. Spread your germs. Good luck. I’m done now.
BTW if this was my special place, 100% of the residents would have COVID-19.
7E8EB4816D2A4DB88.png
7E8EB4816D2A4DB88.png


FishHog
Member
# Posted: 7 Apr 2020 08:16
Reply 


Quoting: silverwaterlady
So Fish hog call me hateful. I could care less your opinion of me


I never said you were a hateful person, I said your comment came across as Hateful, and it still does. I also acknowledged that I understand that comes from fear.

I hope you and yours stay safe and I know I won't do anything that puts anyone at risk so don't imply I'm going around spreading my germs. We don't have to cower in our homes to stay safe in an awful lot of both of our countries

curious
Member
# Posted: 7 Apr 2020 12:43 - Edited by: curious
Reply 


How real social distancing can help

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/new-zealand-isnt-just-flattening-th e-curve-its-squashing-it/2020/04/07/6cab3a4a-7822-11ea-a311-adb1344719a9_story.html

ICC
Member
# Posted: 7 Apr 2020 23:02
Reply 


A friend on mine lives in Escalante, UT. As of Sunday just past, Griffin's, the only grocery store in town will only serve locals. Too many people traveling into the area and ignoring the stay-home orders is given as the reason.

Here's a news article on the local situation there.

xtolekbananx
Member
# Posted: 8 Apr 2020 02:50
Reply 


Quoting: silverwaterlady
The people on here with issues are the people that did not listen. You are the guilty ones.


Wow. Yes we are guilty. Lady I think you need to relax a bit. It's gonna be good...

Houska
Member
# Posted: 8 Apr 2020 07:28 - Edited by: Houska
Reply 


Inspired in part by this thread, and as a family home-schooling exercise in listening/reading between the lines, (attempted) conflict resolution, and writing, our family has come up with the following. Comments welcome.

Cabin/cottage visiting code during COVID


On the one hand, "escaping" to the cabin/cottage can be a super form of social isolation during COVID, and many who have invested $ and effort in their cabin over the years have done so precisely to "bug out" and escape the crazy outside world by going there. If not now, when?

On the other hand, it's our propensity to travel, combined with the virus' asymptomatic spread, that has gotten us all into this mess. And the small areas where cottages are have become justifiably worried what will happen to them if/when COVID hits them as badly as elsewhere.

With this in mind, come enjoy your cabin/cottage only if you can adhere to the following rules:

1. Follow regulations. If you're not supposed to leave town or cross regional boundaries, don't. (These rules differ by jurisdiction and may change over time.)

2. Assume you're infected and don't be a spreader. Chances are high the infection rate is higher in your urban area rather than in your cabin's rural area. People can be infected, have minimal symptoms, and yet act as transmission vectors. Even if you feel fine, how can you make gosh-darned sure you don't bring it in? If you don't have a good answer to this (most likely a strict 14+ day quarantine, or no-contact-with-other-humans rule you can stick to for short visits), now's not the time to come.

3. Make no demands on local resources and supply chains. During normal cottage season, it's great if you "buy local". Now, local stores and even gas stations may be struggling sourcing adequate supply for full-year residents, and they haven't planned for summer visitors yet. If you're going up, bring your own supplies, including food and gas. Don't go to the local store just because you forgot something, and definitely not just for a distraction.

4. Don't count on local health care facilities. They're often stretched at the best of times, likely last on the list for resources now, and quaking in fear who will bring them a Trojan Horse virus "gift". Unless you have a life-threatening accident, be prepared to come back home if you need *any* medical care, COVID-related or not. If you're not able to commit to that, don't come now.

5. Don't relax your guard. Social distancing rules need to continue to apply. You're at the cabin in times of COVID, not nostalgically returning to a pre-COVID world by escaping the city. In particular, if a gathering, event (or just guests) would not be OK at home, it's not OK just because you escaped to your cabin!

6. Don't forget the time of year / weather. Especially if you're used to a May-Aug cottaging season, be prepared for how different it is in (early?) spring. Are you prepared for bad weather? For discovering and dealing with critter damage? For heating, energy, water systems not working the way they should? Remember rule #3....

7. Multiply your impact by 100X. Getting through COVID requires collective action. If there's any element at all of your presence that you're justifying by saying *your individual* impact on your community will be tiny, think about what happens if 99 other summer residents/visitors like you do the same. Only come if 100 of cottagers behaving just like you could come and still not create a problem.

FishHog
Member
# Posted: 8 Apr 2020 08:57
Reply 


Bravo Houska. Couldn't agree more with a well thought out summary.

RiverCabin
Member
# Posted: 8 Apr 2020 09:49
Reply 


Just read this article regarding this discussion. I don't mean to fan the fires. I think the article dies a pretty good job showing both sides of the discussion.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/coronavirus-great-american-migration/2020/03/ 28/b59d4d44-6f6f-11ea-a3ec-70d7479d83f0_story.html

shingobeek
Member
# Posted: 8 Apr 2020 16:00
Reply 


Nice job Houska....I got to #7 and thought I would not own a cabin where there could be 100! Seriously, well thought out.....One could make a case that IF something happened unexpected and it required health care, it could strain the system, no matter where...appreciate the good thinking tho.

KinAlberta
Member
# Posted: 22 Apr 2020 21:02 - Edited by: KinAlberta
Reply 


Quoting: FishHog
Personally I think its a terrible situation for some. I don't know if I could stay in a high rise apartment in Toronto where you can't even get on an elevator without being stuck with too many people way to close to you. If you put all your savings into a remote cottage because you can't afford a home in Toronto, would you stay there with your family in a high risk situation or go to the other place you own and pay taxes on where your family would be much safer.

Tough choice. I'm glad I live in a small town and don't have to make that choice, but I feel for those who do.

How are you supposed to stay safe on the 30th floor of an apartment with thousands of people living in it? Sooner or later you have to go out for food or to take the dog for a walk.



Lesson from Coronavirus: Build Better Balconies - CityLab


For those of us in apartment buildings, every leg of the journey, from the apartment front door to the outside world, could increase our chances of catching the virus. The narrow hallways and small elevators could put us too close to our neighbors and their germs; door handles and buttons carry yet more risk.
...


https://www.citylab.com/life/2020/04/apartment-design-balcony-private-outdoor-space-z oning-laws/610162/




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