A year ago, I wrote an article about things I was looking forward to, as we came out of the COVID pandemic. However, one year on, there are some elements of the pandemic I look back fondly on. I never thought I’d say it, but here are some things I miss from the COVID era:

Full-Time Work from Home

The company I work for has this insane idea that people actually want to come into work. That doesn’t jive with the opinions of anyone I’ve ever spoken to on the subject, so I’m curious as to who they’re polling to come to this result. We worked from home for close to two years straight, without issues, and all of a sudden we’re required to be back in the office. Even if it’s only a couple times a week, it seems asinine that this is the thought process.

Empty Roads and Easy Drives

I’m sure I’m not the only one to notice the roads getting busier and busier the further we get removed from COVID. Long gone are the days where you felt you were living in a post-apocalyptic world, roaming the streets and sidewalks feeling like you were among the last people alive. I’m glad things are returning to a level of normalcy, but it was nice to not deal with rush hour and traffic clogs for a time.

Not Having to Go Out All the Time

Mrs. Sip – and her like-minded friends – strive to fill every waking moment of our lives. During COVID, though, that power was taken away from Mrs. Sip and her cronies, and us gents appreciated the downtime. Meeting for drinks and a chat online had its issues too, but at least no one had to worry about being a designated driver or trying to find a place to crash if they indulged too much.

Empty Attractions

As much as I enjoyed not having to be out all the time, with young kids, we couldn’t just hunker down at home and shun the outside world. For their physical and social benefit, as well as our own mental health, we had to step out on occasion. It was nice that kid’s entertainment facilities and theme parks, for example, were practically vacated, as many people seemed hesitant to go out.

Reservations Required

Mrs. Sip and I definitely enjoyed that some places that normally wouldn’t take reservations (restaurants, attractions, etc.), now were forced to accept them, so they could work within health guidelines. This was so much better than not knowing how long it would take to get into a place, especially with kids who are easily frustrated with waits. Hell, who isn’t annoyed with an unexpected or even expected wait.

Cheap Hotels

It’s hard to believe there was a time where hotels were desperate for visitors and prices were reasonable as a result, along with other perks, such as free parking. Now, hotel prices have skyrocketed across the board, as places look to recoup money lost during the pandemic. If you can get a decent rate, you’re likely dealing with no cleaning service during the duration of your stay, as places cheap out under the guise of not contaminating your room.

Pandemic Punch

• 5 oz White Wine
• Top with Lemonade
• Splash of Lemon-Lime Soda
• Lemon Slices and Frozen Berries

Now, some would argue we’re still in the pandemic, perhaps falsely secure in the eye of the storm, but I’d say we have to start moving on sometime. While I miss the items listed above, of course I don’t wish to return to such uncertain times and health concerns caused by the pandemic.