From counting penguins to sipping wine, a SLO guide to not going bonkers during COVID crisis
.JPG "Feeling antsy? Try a walk on the beach. Just be sure to maintain that social distance.")
Here we are, entering Week 4 of the stay-at-home order, and with the exception of some covidiots out there (a topic for another day) we’re doing a darn good job at staring down this coronavirus menace here in SLO County.
Sure, being cooped up at home during a pandemic has its challenges, but there’s never been a better time in history to be living under quarantine.
Unlike those poor folks from the Middle Ages, we have Amazon!
We can also text, tweet, video conference, post stupid memes and binge on Netflix. When that gets old, there’s a whole world of other stuff to do.
For example, now is a great time to finish knitting that sweater you started when your college-age son was 2 years old.
To memorize the periodic table of the elements.
To write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. (Yes, that is a shameless plug for The Tribune.)
Need more suggestions?
Here’s a SLO-themed list of a dozen mostly fun things to do while you’re hiding out from the coronavirus.
Attend the SLO Film Festival ... in your own living room
The 2020 SLO Film Festival was canceled on account of the coronavirus, but you can catch student submissions that won the Filmmakers of Tomorrow contest. The seven short films come from near and far: China, the U.K., Poland, Iran ... and San Luis Obispo.
Young SLO filmmakers Kai Monge, Ella Bates and Sophia Bates won the Best Film Made in Middle School for their entry, “Bad Babysitter.” Congrats! To see the films, go to slofilmfestival.org/2020-filmmakers-of-tomorrow-winners/.
Yoga it up
San Luis Obispo County has a whole lot of yoga studios, and most are offering online classes, both live-streamed and on demand. Many are free, or charge just a small fee.
Here are a few:
SLO Yoga Center is live-streaming classes through Zoom, complimentary for members and starting at $5 for nonmembers. There also are videos of classes up online that you can try out anytime.
The Yoga Standard, also in SLO, is offering free online classes, including one at noon on Wednesdays advertised as an antidote to quarantine.
Yoga Shine in Nipomo is offering free online classes via Zoom.
At Dharma Yoga Loft in Paso Robles you can choose from more than 30 live, online classes for a $10 drop-in fee. Or, take unlimited online classes for one month for $49.
This is just a partial list; do some digging online and you’ll find many more. And if yoga’s not your thing, exercise studios also are offering lots of online classes.
Fill out that census form
This one is boring, but if you haven’t already done it, might as well get it over with now. You don’t want San Luis Obispo County to miss out on any government funding opportunities because its population has been under-counted, now do you?
Get reacquainted with some SLO County classics
Binge-watch some made-in-SLO County movies, such as “Arachnophobia,” “Little Giants,” “My Blue Heaven,” “Murder by Numbers” and “We Were Soldiers,” all available on Amazon Prime for a $2.99 rental fee. (“Little Giants” is free with ads.) Try to figure out which scenes were shot in SLO County — and exactly where they are. Need help? Check out this Trib story.
Or how about a good local read?
If you’re more into reading than watching, pick up some SLO-grown authors, like Catherine Ryan Hyde (“Pay It Forward”) of Cambria; Christopher Moore (“Practical Demonkeeping”) formerly of Cambria; and Jodi Compton (“Hailey’s War”), a former SLO resident and Tribune staffer who probably visited Cambria from time to time.
You can also check the SLO County Library website for recommendations, and if you have a library card in good standing, you can borrow digital books for free.
Train for City to Sea half-marathon
The race, which starts in downtown SLO and ends in Pismo Beach, is scheduled for Sept. 13, so fingers crossed that the stay-home order will be lifted by then and the race can go on as scheduled. If a 13.1-mile run sounds too daunting, there’s also a Seaside 5K (3.1 miles).
Never raced before? There are lots of online training programs, including the famous “Couch to 5K” plan. So lace up your shoes. Just remember to keep that social distancing.
Try ‘Takeout Tuesday’
Show your support for local restaurants by ordering a to-go meal. It doesn’t have to be on a Tuesday, but “Takeout Tuesday” has kind of a nice ring to it and it’s a way to make Tuesdays — which were ho-hum even in pre-corona days — a little special.
How to figure out which restaurants are open? The city of SLO has a map that shows all the open eateries; the South County, Atascadero and Paso Robles chambers of commerce all have lists of restaurants that are open for takeout. You can also check The Tribune.
Wondering what to do about Easter dinner? Check out these restaurants that will make it for you.
Volunteer — while sitting on your couch
If you’re in a high-risk category and unable to volunteer in person right now, there are still opportunities to do good. All it takes is internet access.
Missing Maps (missingmaps.org) uses an army of volunteers to map vulnerable places in the developing world, so that first responders can reach people in need in the event of a disaster. Don’t know much about mapping? Don’t worry. There’s a tutorial.
The Smithsonian is looking for digital volunteers to transcribe diaries, ledgers, field notes and other documents. For example, a recent project on the life of astronaut Sally Ride involved transcribing correspondence, meeting minutes, reports and papers, notes, speeches, etc. Interested? Go to https://transcription.si.edu/.
Be My Eyes (bemyeyes.com) pairs sighted people with blind and low-vision people who need help with things like reading instructions, checking expiration dates and distinguishing colors.
Feeling sciency? Check out Zooniverse (https://www.zooniverse.org/), which relies on volunteers to do things like count penguins. Not your thing? There’s also a project that involves transcribing historic records of criminals in Australia and another on the correspondence of anti-slavery activists of the 19th century.
Adopt a dog or cat
Pet ownership is a big deal, so don’t go into this lightly. But if you’ve been thinking about adopting, now’s a great time to do it for a couple of reasons: 1. You’re around a lot to give the new addition to your family plenty of love, attention and training. 2. It’s a tough time for animal service organizations.
Woods Humane Society welcomes serious adopters to call for an appointment to meet “a potential new best friend.” There are a limited number of animals available there, so don’t delay.
San Luis Obispo County Animal Services also has a a handful of animals in need of a “forever home.”
The Cal Poly cat program, catprogram.calpoly.edu, is scheduling appointments for adoptions; applications should be filled out online in advance.
The Feline Network of the Central Coast has no kittens available now but says they are coming soon; there are a few adult cats available, according to its website.
Ride a bike/take a hike
You’ve been wanting to hop back on a bike for a while now, right? If you’re in good health and willing to social distance, now is a good time to do it, since traffic is minimal.
If your bike needs repair or you’re in the market for a new model, there are plenty of SLO County cycle shops still open (they fall under the essential business category) though they may have reduced their hours and/or restricted the number of clients they can accommodate at a time, so be sure to check first.
Some popular hiking spots, such as Pismo Preserve, have been closed, and SLO County just announced it’s limiting the number of vehicles allowed at Lopez Lake. The city of San Luis Obispo has several trails still open; check this list. Plus, there’s always the beach; some parking lots are closed, but you can still find street parking. Just please, please, don’t gather in groups! Open spaces are our refuge at this time; don’t blow it by disregarding social distancing rules.
Throw a dance party
“Throwing a party” is a mere figure of speech in this time of social distancing. But isn’t there a saying that goes, “Dance like nobody’s watching?”
Seriously, there’s never been a better excuse to dance alone in your living room, so why not play some tunes by artists with local connections like Social Distortion or Jade Jackson or even Lady Gaga (remember her Hearst Castle video?). Or go way, way back to surf music roots and crank up the Revels, because if they can’t get you on your feet, nobody can.
Go wine tasting
Sure, tasting rooms have shut down, but like restaurants, many wineries are still open for pickup, and you can always order online.
Some are even live-streaming virtual tastings. You sip at home, while the winemaker tells you all about the wine you’re tasting. Check the websites of your favorite wineries for information.
This story was originally published April 10, 2020 at 8:02 AM.
