Here in Santa Cruz County, we’re sheltering in place as of midnight last night, though it’s not what you might imagine. The county supervisor sent us a note with about six hours notice saying, Everyone has to stay indoors for three weeks starting at midnight, details here, the last word being a link to the official proclamation. I had just gotten home for work and was exhausted, worried about not being able to work, furious about rotting in my house with the ocean so nearby, and flummoxed by how we could acquire three weeks of supplies by midnight.

My husband and I immediately walked to the ocean, commandeered a bench, and called our son in San Francisco to tell us what it was like. He said it was not so bad; he could go grocery shopping and exercise outside. So we went home and clicked on the link, after which I felt much better.

For starters, all healthcare providers are allowed to stay open, so I can work as long as my chiro can get patients to come in. This being California, the definition of healthcare provider is broad, including acupuncturists and energy healers, really any provider for whom patients express need, as well as veterinarians. Grocery stores and drug stores are open, and we are allowed to visit them, though we are supposed to do so infrequently. We can walk our dogs and exercise outside so long as we maintain social distance. Restaurants are open for takeout and delivery.

Worried about home repair? Plumbers, electricians, and handymen can work.  Don’t have a car? Public transportation will operate. Trash won’t pile up, because sanitation workers are on the job, and of course policemen and firemen will not have a rest.

Today I walked around to assess. Fewer people were on the streets, though certainly far from zero. Gyms are closed, as are hairdressers, some restaurants, and some specialty stores, but not all. A sign informed me that the bike store was providing limited services for patrons who would be so kind as to go around to the back door and ring. Many businesses have limited hours. Schools are the biggest category of closure, since everyone’s kids are home, but I didn’t see any kids. Maybe they were all home-schooling.

There is no perceivable change in the number of people surfing.