I am really late coming to this discussion but I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and has started the New Year with hope and joy.

As I mentioned, I had Covid at the beginning of the year. I tested positive on December 29th and was finally negative on January 18th. So my year didn't start out great but my symptoms are all gone so I am fine now and totally back to normal.

I always wear a mask whenever I am inside stores, even if they don't seem crowded, or if I am at a crowded outdoor gathering. I try to be reasonable though. A year after my transplant I had Legionairre's disease in December (2017). When the doctor came into my room on the day I was being discharged I asked him if I should avoid holiday gatherings. He crouched down next to me and said that they didn't get me a new liver so I could stay home and look at four walls, to go out and enjoy myself, being careful when I do and obviously staying away from anyone who was coughing or might possibly have any type of germs. Of course things are a bit riskier now with Covid and both RSV and the flu around but I think the same advice applies. The "tripleldemic" has really waned now though.
It had especially high numbers in the Northeast which is where I live but now we can breathe easier. We do have to live our lives being conscious of limitations. I really don't care if I am the only person in a store with a mask on. It's what's best for me.
JK