Cornered

After 15 months of no friends, no culture, no nights out, the thing that completely gives me a physical anxiety reaction and dread, is the upcoming wildfire smoke blanketing the lower mainland. I walk, run and bike for self-soothing. Forcing me indoors …. In a tiny condo….. and unable to open a window due to poor air quality….. I’m stressed. I don’t want to enter any gym right now. Would skipping inside an air conditioned library be bad form? I hope that this will not be 10-14 days of smoky occlusive skies. All I ever want is to be outside, living. To not be able to do it safely, is a physical crushing pain.

8 Comments

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It would...

Jul 30, 2021 at 8:53am

... certainly be eccentric to skip in a library. Whether prohibits or not, ask the librarian. You'd probably have the best luck in a corner at the central branch.

Another place that is _very_ nice climate wise is the VAG, but I think they are doing timed tickets, tho I think that might just be for admission, so you could book a time in the morning and leave when they close, if you found somewhere to sit.

4 2Rating: +2

Last time it got smokey hellish in Vancouver

Jul 30, 2021 at 11:12am

I made a filter out of an inexpensive 20x20 box fan with an electrostatic furnace filter taped onto the intake side. Worked great. There's lots of info online about them including cautions not to overheat the fan.

6 2Rating: +4

Cat

Jul 30, 2021 at 11:40am

I fear the smokey skies as well because I also walk and bike to help with anxiety and depression.It is a horrible reality we must face and it is incredibly oppressive to live in a city blanketed by smoke.I'm not sure you'd be allowed to skip in a library but you could ask. And the health effects from breathing in smoke is very dangerous.While we've always had wildfires, climate change is making them more intense.The truly sad thing is it still won't be enough for people/governments to change.We say "how horrible" but we continue to live lives that contribute to climate change.And it's going to get worse,not better .Perhaps you could go to a gym during off hours when it's not so busy.We have been cooped up for so long and now this.

7 3Rating: +4

Will

Jul 30, 2021 at 3:50pm

Exaggerate much?
You're not prevented from having friends, experiencing cultural events, going out at night, nor are you confined to your condo.
If you are, you're doing it to yourself!

Bigger problem

Jul 31, 2021 at 9:13am

Is the reality of this new normal. I’m more concerned about what the never-ending fire season signals for the human race and the future of our ability to go on living on this planet than whether I’m permitted to skip in the library.

11 3Rating: +8

I...

Jul 31, 2021 at 12:14pm

Just want to be outside too. I totally sympathize with you.

3 2Rating: +1

Ri

Jul 31, 2021 at 8:51pm

I have health conditions and I ventured out today. It wasn't so bad in the evening. I run an air purifier at home. Masks help but in this heat are hard to wear and unless it actually filters particulate matter may not actually prevent symptoms of allergies or asthma. However, for myself even just a cloth mask was tremendously helpful in the past. Keep your spirits up. You're not alone in feeling this way!

4 3Rating: +1

Please be considerate

Aug 1, 2021 at 6:00pm

Don’t skip inside a library.
You’re not alone in the feeling this way, but all of us should remain respectful of what other people are going through. So many people visit the library for a quiet space.
You’re not prohibited from visiting a gym, you’re just choosing not to, and I’m not sure why turning a library into a your own personal gym would be safe for yourself or anyone else.

2 2Rating: 0

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