I am no social butterfly, but the gray of winter requires me to put some effort into my social calendar purely as a way to maintain my mental health anyway. COVID was worse than just "stay at home," it was fear and a dark loneliness imposed from outside. And yes, returning to normalcy has been an odd experience even for those of us who thought policy was an overreaction. It has to be worse for the true believers even now.

People imagine government jobs are cushy and lucrative, but certainly not for those of us at the bottom of the ladder. I have worked seasonal jobs, and the knowledge that a gap is inevitable is not a good feeling.

Good luck with the crowds and the prices!