Week 1 of My Shelter in Place Travels

On March 17, San Francisco residents were asked to shelter in place to help slow the spread of coronavirus. My daughters were already home from school because SFUSD schools shut down for at least three weeks starting on March 16. I work from home and my husband is not working at the moment because of the shelter in place order, so basically, we are all home all the time.

In all honesty, I’d rather have us all home together at the moment. It’s better than going about business as usual while worrying that one of us will get sick or become a carrier.

But, staying home all the time does present some challenges. I’m naturally a homebody because I have anxiety issues, but there’s a big difference between choosing to be home and being told to stay home. In order to cope, I’ve created a schedule for the girls and I’ve incorporated some imaginary travel into my daily routine. Basically, I pick a destination and travel there with the help of my imagination and some Photoshop magic, then I post the picture on Instagram with a caption for the day.

Here’s where I’ve been on my imaginary #shelterinplacetravels so far:

On Day 1, I went to Egypt.

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Day 1 of shelter in place in San Francisco: As of today, San Francisco residents are to shelter in place to help slow and prevent the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19). I’m all for abiding by the rules, but my imagination is boundless. Hence, I will be using my imagination to “travel in place” so to speak. Today my imaginary travels take me to Egypt, where someone’s ear needed a little dusting. Wish you were here! #shelterinplacetravels

A post shared by Claudya Martinez (@byclaudya) on Mar 17, 2020 at 12:55pm PDT

On Day 2, I went to France.

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Day 2 of shelter in place in San Francisco: Today's imaginary travels take me to the Eiffel Tower in Paris where I have volunteered to spray it down with Lysol. As you may know, the Eiffel Tower is currently closed due to coronavirus (COVID-19). This isn't how I expected to see it for the first time, but we are living in crazy times so here I am traveling to it in my mind during a pandemic. Also, I expected it to be much larger. I look like a giant on it. ⠀ ⠀ If you missed my "travel in place" visit to Egypt yesterday, where I gave the Sphinx a good ear cleaning, visit my profile to check it out. Who knows where my imagination will take me tomorrow. ⠀ ⠀ I'm taking requests. Where would you like to see me travel while I shelter in place? Let me know in the comments and I'll see if I can make it happen. #shelterinplacetravels⠀ ⠀ Stay safe wherever you are.

A post shared by Claudya Martinez (@byclaudya) on Mar 18, 2020 at 1:30pm PDT

On Day 3, I went to England.

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Day 3 of shelter in place in San Francisco: Today's imaginary travels take me to Stonehenge in England. Stonehenge, like so many sites, is currently closed to help avoid the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). I decided to visit the prehistoric monument via my imagination and give it a good ol' fashioned scrub down to get rid of any pesky lingering germs. Some day when this pandemic is over, I hope to visit it in person. ⠀ ⠀ If you missed my "travel in place" visits to France and Egypt, visit my profile to check 'em out. And stay tuned for my daily imaginary travels while we cope with this pandemic and shelter in place. ⠀ ⠀ Also, I'm taking requests. Where would you like to see me travel while I shelter in place? Let me know in the comments and I'll see if I can make it happen. #shelterinplacetravels

A post shared by Claudya Martinez (@byclaudya) on Mar 19, 2020 at 1:56pm PDT

On Day 4, I went to Italy.

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Day 4 of shelter in place in San Francisco: Today's imaginary travels take me to the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy, where it has become incredibly obvious that Sheryl Sandberg did not come up with the "Lean In" concept on her own. This tower has been leaning in for a very long time. Let's use it as an example of how we all must lean in during this pandemic to help each other get through it. Italy has been hit hard by coronavirus (COVID-19), witnessing how they have come together even while distancing themselves socially is truly inspiring⠀ ⠀ If you missed my "travel in place" visits to England, France and Egypt, visit my profile to check 'em out. And stay tuned for my continuing imaginary travels while we all cope with this pandemic and shelter in place. ⠀ ⠀ Also, I'm taking requests. Where would you like to see me travel while I shelter in place? Let me know in the comments and I'll see if I can make it happen. #shelterinplacetravels

A post shared by Claudya Martinez (@byclaudya) on Mar 20, 2020 at 12:02pm PDT

On Day 5, I went to Mexico.

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Day 5 of shelter in place in San Francisco: Today's imaginary travels take me to Chichén Itzá in Mexico, where I demonstrate how NOT to greet someone with the help of one of the locals. As we all do our best to slow the progress of coronavirus (COVID-19), it's incredibly important that we stop doing things like kissing hello and goodbye. For some of us, it's just second nature to kiss as a greeting, it's how we were raised, but we were also raised to have good sense and good sense during a pandemic means you have to change habits that can cause others to get sick. So, if you are not already sheltering in place and come across someone you would like to show some love to, do it with words while keeping your physical distance. ⠀ ⠀ FYI, no actual serpents were kissed in the creation of this post. 🐍🐍🐍⠀ ⠀ If you missed my "travel in place" visits to Italy, England, France and Egypt, visit my profile to check 'em out. And stay tuned for my continuing imaginary travels while we all cope with this pandemic and shelter in place. ⠀ ⠀ Also, I'm taking requests. Where would you like to see me travel while I shelter in place? Let me know in the comments and I'll see if I can make it happen. #shelterinplacetravels

A post shared by Claudya Martinez (@byclaudya) on Mar 21, 2020 at 1:53pm PDT

I’ve really enjoyed my imaginary travels because they’re fun and they really do provide me with an escape. It’s an amazing thing that I can use the same brain that causes me so much anxiety at times to “get away.”

Wherever you happen to be in the world during this pandemic, I send you so much love and wish you wellness.

ALSO READ: Managing My Anxiety During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Shelter in Place Travels

San Francisco, CA

I showed you mine, now show me yours.

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