Stir Crazy (updated)

stir-cra·zy /ˈstər ˌkrāzē/adjective
psychologically disturbed, especially as a result of being confined or imprisoned. “she’d be in danger of going stir-crazy if she had to look at the same four walls any longer”

It’s been about four months since the beginning of the COVID-19 lock-down. Add the three months of medical leave I had post-heart surgery, I’ve been stuck at home for about seven of the last eight months. I was already looking for dialysis-friendly travel options but now things are even worse since mass transportation seems to be out of the question for now. My sister and family are taking off today for a week trip to Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks. I’m a bit envious but even with no pandemic, I couldn’t go that long without access to a dialysis clinic.

So what are my options now, if any? I guess the only option are short road trips to secluded areas to minimize social distancing risks. Since I drive an older Tesla Model S with only 240 miles of range, it takes even more planning to make sure a charger is always readily available. Like all the fantasy trips I was planning before, I’m limited to departing Saturday afternoon and returning by Monday night since that’s the longest gap between dialysis sessions. However, with the spike in cases in California, it’s probably still too risky to travel anywhere, especially if I take my elderly parents along too.

Unfortunately, we’re probably going to be stuck at home for the rest of 2020.

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Update: 7/19/2020

After looking at a few maps, I think the only areas within two days driving round-trip is Santa Barbara, Las Vegas, or San Diego. San Francisco and Monterey/Carmel is cool but a bit too far to drive. If I leave right after dialysis Saturday, I could get to the Bay Area by 10:00 pm. That would leave only Sunday to do stuff since I would have to leave from home by noon Monday.

For the closer destinations, I could get there by dinner time Saturday, then have one night, all day Sunday, and probably most of the day Monday before returning home. Cambria looks like a nice place to visit. I can also stop by Santa Barbara, Solvang, Santa Maria, and Pismo Beach on the say there. The problem is finding something to see or do that’s not crowded with other visitors looking to escape “confinement” as well.