The last time I was seriously ill was in early 2019. I was emotionally and physically run down from caring for my wife until she passed away from lung cancer. Unfortunately, the flu was making its rounds through my area at the time and I caught it – undoubtedly from someone in the AA meetings I attended the time. These meetings were held in cramped, poorly ventilated spaces. People were always showing up sick – coughing, hacking, blowing their noses etc. Being around sick people during a virulent flu season in my rundown state made catching the flu inevitable.
The previous times I caught the flu were in 2008 and 2011. Those years, I worked at Citrix in a building that housed 1000s of employees. In both instances, I had attended sales conferences with 4000+ employees, customers and partners from around the world. These were breeding grounds for spreading the flu. I was one of the many employees who got it.
The only other times I got the flu or serious colds as an adult was when my step-kids were living with us. They were susceptible to strep throat infections and would get sick multiple ties a year. Inevitably, I would catch something from them.
Given my history, it’s clear, other people make me sick.
I haven’t gotten sick since 2019. I’ve been lucky when it comes to Covid. I suspect getting vaccinations & boosters helped. I suspect my social isolation & hermit-like lifestyle helps even more.
- I avoid kids like the plague – literally. They are always coughing and hacking. Whenever I stumble across some sick kid when I’m out, I get as far away from them as possible.
- I have’t flown anywhere since 2017. This is easy for me since I despise flying and travel.
What the Covid pandemic changed for me is my willingness to go anywhere that lots of people congregate. Now, whenever I consider visiting a restaurant, movie theater, museum or event, I think, “Is there anything going around? Is it peak flu or Covid season? Are people returning from travel and vacations where they were exposed to something I can catch?”
With few exceptions, I almost always decide to stay home. I’ll admit, my primary reason is because I prefer my own company. Avoiding sick people is just an added benefit.
I have family, friends and neighbors who all live more “normal” live than me. They go on dates, attend parties, go to the movies, go to concerts, work, school, etc.
They all get sick more than me. It’s the price of being actively engaged in society.
My study of historical plagues, diseases, flus and pandemics, shows this quite clearly. Civilization and people make other people sick. Society is literally a breeding ground for contagious disease.
It’s kind of nice to have dropped out of it.
