I told you a few years ago about the vacation rental business my youngest brother started up in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico named CaboCondoVacations.com:
In November 2021, between Covid lockdowns, my family visited Cabo for another brother’s wedding. We had a marvelous time and were impressed by Dave’s obvious skills and vision for this business, even though he was supposed to be retired. This new adventure however is a huge pivot from his career in the high-tech industry. They say a change is as good as a rest!
This venture has expanded considerably since then, currently featuring several luxury condos, townhomes, and single-family homes (casas). Check out the current options available for your next vacation, there is something for everyone!
Available Services
Many other services are available to simplify your vacation, including transportation to and from the airport, grocery service, private chef, on-site massages, e-bikes, golf carts, pre-stocked (high-quality liquor) fridges, and more.
Introducing CaboYachtVacations.com
New to the CaboCondoVacations.com business is an absolutely gorgeous, 60-foot, 2022 model Schaefer 600 Yacht. An experienced captain and crew guarantee once-in-a-lifetime yachting adventures for couples, groups, or families. Whether you are looking to book a private or semi-private sunset dinner cruise or a day of swimming, snorkeling, jet-skiing, and whale-watching, you won’t be disappointed.
CaboYachtVacations.com
The yacht is named after Dave’s favourite NHL team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, a reflection of his Canadian heritage.
Believe it or not, there are a few pandemic takeaways to learn from.
Humans are Meant to Socialize
Mankind is meant to be sociable. Many experts believe social interaction is important for mental health, starting at a very early age. Just how sociable you (or your children) are is up to you of course, usually. Not so when forced to practice social distancing, isolation, or quarantine.
We were able to keep in touch with each other during the height of the pandemic through social media. Used exclusively to communicate though, social media can have a dark side. I saw lots of kind, considerate and compassionate stuff posted, but sadly lots of negativity and ugliness too.
The pandemic takeaway here is that we should strive to be kind instead of mean or judgmental. Looking after each other is especially crucial during hard times.
Staying Home When Sick
In a perfect world, everyone would stay home when they are sick, and keep their sick kids home too. However, with economies tanking and inflation rates increasing, more and more families rely on two salaries to survive. To compensate, employers would have to step up and agree to pay their employees to stay home when they or their kids are sick.
Working From Home
Working from home started out as non-negotiable for many early on during the pandemic. Almost two years in, working from home has gained momentum in both popularity and convenience. I know several people that are thriving while working from home, others not so much.
For some, the convenience and flexibility outweigh the lack of personal interaction with co-workers. For others though, social isolation is painful.
The pandemic takeaway? If the work from home option is still available, do whatever works best for you and your family.
Personal Hygiene
Like we learned way back in kindergarten, we need to wash our hands frequently. While hand sanitizer was worshipped early on in the pandemic, we know now that simple soap and water hand washing is sufficient to prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses.
If you didn’t before, one of the most crucial pandemic takeaways is that you should wash your hands after:
blowing your own nose or wiping a child’s nose
sneezing into a tissue
changing a diaper
returning home from a public place (stores, gas stations, restaurants etc)
Maintaining a Healthy Immune System
This pandemic takeaway is how important our immune systems are in the fight against disease, including the lingering Covid virus. Stress-free living, fresh air, sunshine, healthy eating, and frequent exercise top of the list of ways to keep our immune systems functioning well.
Discover Local Outdoor Activities
Early on in the pandemic, I found myself researching outdoor places to take my grandchildren to. I discovered that Ottawa has an amazingly large number of options. As the nation’s capital, we are fortunate to have the NCC (National Capital Commission) maintaining many parks and trails, both in winter and summer.
Mud Lake was a favourite place for my grandson and me to visit during the summer. Although we visited Shirley’s Bay in the summer too, we have since discovered the ice fishing opportunity there this winter.
“ice fishing is more fun than sun fishing”
Me, a Hair Stylist?
It has been almost two years now since my husband or I have been to a hair stylist to get our hair cut. I have been cutting (some might say hacking at) both of our hair. Hubby’s hair is pin straight, so very unforgiving, and he is much more particular than I am. As a result, his takes much longer to cut. Mine is slightly wavy; much easier to hide the mistakes. The cuts may not look professional, but who cares? I don’t.
I have also given up colouring my hair. I actually made that decision prior to the pandemic onset, with no regrets. The white colour may make me look older but I love the freedom. Not to mention the lack of white roots that would crop up a mere one week after colouring my hair.
Summary of Pandemic Takeaways
Many of these are my personal takes. Hopefully, you have some pandemic takeaways of your own. Learn from and maintain the positive ones; move on from or fix the negative ones.
There are many lessons to be learned these days, especially for those enthralled with social media. Some people are learning the hard way, but (hopefully) learning nonetheless. Covid-19 and the systemic racism that has reared its ugly head are making 2020 a year to remember, and it’s only half over!
These are just a few examples of lessons we (should) have learned….
Social Media Comments Can Come Back to Bite You in the Butt!
Just ask the two guys fired from Vanderpump Rules. Racist comments made many years ago have cost them their jobs, at least on the popular TV show. It has not yet been determined if their jobs at the bar owned by Lisa Vanderpump are in jeopardy as well. Maybe they didn’t deserve to be fired from the show for comments made so long ago, (especially when they are only in their mid-twenties now and comments were made ten years ago) but perhaps TV stations are making an example of them.
Racist Jokes or Pranks are not Funny!
Another Vanderpump Rules pair (two of the original females) were fired for phoning the cops on a light-skinned, black co-worker because her tattoos and dark skin fit the description of someone the police were looking for. This was a recent (and immaturely stupid) discretion.
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Admedia/Sipa/Shutterstock (1713227af) Lisa Vanderpump-Todd and Andy Cohen Andy Cohen’s ‘Most Talkative: Stories From The Front Lines Of Pop Culture Book Release Party, Los Angeles, America – 14 May 2012
Just Because you are not a Racist does not Mean you are Anti-Racist
It’s not enough today to be non-racist. The Black Lives Matter movement is demanding we become anti-racist. If you have a platform, it is essential to speak up and put your moneywhere your mouth is.
White Privilege is Rampant, Especially on Social Media
White privilege is a fact that many of us are not (at least we were not) aware of. An example of it in the news (at least one of them) featured Jessica Mulroney, the host of CTV’s I Do, Redo. For some reason, she believed her projects were more important and pressing than someone else’s. Perhaps because she is a Canadian socialite, married to the son of a former prime minister, and/or BFFs with Megan Markle. I don’t believe that her comments, although aimed at a black woman, were racist. Just insensitive and egotistical, coming from a lifestyle of white privilege.
photo credit to Us Magazine
Who knows if firing these TV personalities was the right thing to do, but perhaps it’s the only way to get the right message out there. Hopefully, the standard will be raised.
Positive Changes
Along with the tough lessons learned from the issues in the news, some people have taken learning to a whole new level. Activities they never had time for before COVID forced them to stay home are now hobbies that may just last a lifetime.
Gardening
I had to laugh with a garden center employee when she told me someone informed her they wanted to grow tomatoes, then quickly asked “what does a tomato look like?” All of a sudden gardening is everyone’s new hobby. This was evident as all plants at the nurseries were quickly picked over the very weekend they were permitted to open. Grrrrrr.
I can understand the discovery that gardening is relaxing and very rewarding, no new revelation for me. I started a gardening business eight years ago now, and still love every minute of it. This newfound hobby many have taken on has affected my business though as many of my clients are now able and willing to look after their own gardens.
Online Shopping and Banking
Several of my elderly clients have now learned how to e-transfer funds. This may sound trivial to many of you younger folk, but the older generation is more prone to mistrust computers and cell phones, especially for anything financially related. To them this is huge!
Of course, online shopping has been around for years, but during this COVID pandemic, it is more popular than ever. Delivery services are saying they are busier now than during the Christmas holiday season. Amazon released a statement recently saying they are prioritizing their orders, so if you ordered something they deem non-essential, you won’t be receiving it anytime soon.
I learned this the hard way when I ordered Mother’s Day gifts for my daughter in laws. Even though I placed the orders in late March in anticipation of the holiday in mid-May, the gifts did not arrive until mid-June.
Quality Time with Family
My two eldest sons have both learned they are enjoying the COVID restrictions as it is allowing them to spend more quality time with their children. It is a well-known fact that children thrive from spending quality time with their parents. Unfortunately, our pre-COVID lives were so complicated and busy that quality time was slipping through the cracks. Simple things (after all, that’s all we are allowed to do) like going for a walk, movie nights, homeschooling, crafts and more are becoming the new normal. Your children are probably loving all the attention.
We may just have a baby boom next winter as couples spend more quality time together too. On the flip side though, the divorce rate may already be increasing as some couples are struggling with being cooped up with their significant others.
Supporting Local Businesses
As small businesses struggle with the tanking economy caused by the pandemic, it is more important than ever to support them. Without money coming in from customers, business owners are struggling to pay their rent. Many have also been forced to lay off employees due to the huge loss in revenue.
The big chain stores/businesses will probably survive, but the mom-and-pop restaurants, bars, gift shops, novelty stores etc. may not. Research local small businesses offering curbside pickups and take-out food or purchase their gift cards to use when these stores reopen. Many have switched to an online process, ensuring touchless payment. Some even offer free delivery through Skip the Dishes, Uber Eats, or their own delivery service.
Losing the Judgement
We must all learn to be less judgmental of others, on social media and elsewhere, especially when living in such trying times. Everyone’s situation is different, so people should concentrate on their own, without worrying and complaining about the actions of others.
