Who would like to hang out next week?

[liv]

I haven't really taken holiday yet in 2020, mostly because I didn't want to make any kind of plans during a pandemic. Now it's technically legal to travel and meet up with people in physical space with breathing, but I still don't feel safe doing so. But it's got to the point where I need a break, so I'm off work next week even though I have nowhere to go.

I would like to spend time with people while I'm not constrained by needing to be available to work 9-5. I have commitments this evening (Friday), Saturday morning 25th, Tuesday evening 28th, and Thursday 30th is a fast day. Otherwise I'm mostly available.

Stuff that might be fun:

• Conversations. I can do basically any medium; video calls in Zoom, Jitsi, Skype, Google Hangouts, probably I can install other software if something else works better for you. I also enjoy voice calls using traditional phones or VoIP or whatever. And I enjoy instant messenger type conversations, again, I can use most reasonable software.
  
  
• Playing online versions of board games. I am excited about the official version of Codenames. But I also play a lot on Yucata and I'm happy to try other sites if you prefer those. And I have a small collection of converted games on Steam.
  
  
• Potentially, playing online video games. I haven't tried this much but it could be fun. Obvious platforms are Steam, standalone PC games, browser games, and Switch.
  
  
• Watching shows together. I have Netflix and Disney+, I'm generally happy to do pay per view on Amazon or Google or YouTube or something else. Potentially could watch some theatre / musical / opera / ballet etc cinecasts rather than a made-for-streaming series or conventional films. The best way I've found to do this socially is to have a text channel open at the same time while watching something in different houses.
  
  
• Virtually having a meal together. I know some people hate this but in other cases it works quite well, we arrange a time and bring a laptop to the meal table.
  
  
• Learning Jewish texts, chevruta style.
  
  
• Meeting up distanced and outdoors within Cambridge. Including in my garden if you like – we have a decent amount of space if you don't mind that it's a bit overgrown and messy, and you can get to the garden via a side-gate without going through the house.
  
  
• Anything else you're finding a reasonable socializing substitute

Let me know if you're interested in arranging a time. Email or PM works if you don't want to put personal logistics in the comments. I am hoping for a week like the beginning of lockdown when online socializing was a novelty. Though I realize that not everybody else is off work so it's only going to be socially intense from my POV.

Comments

[rmc28]

*waves* you have mail

[seekingferret]

I have some NPL cryptic crosswords to do.

[liv]

Cool, I had fun doing crosswords with you earlier in lockdown. I think Tuesday evening is likely to be plausible. You're going to work in person now, right? What time do you get in in the evening?

[seekingferret]

Yeah. I'm working in person now. I'm home around 6PM EDT, so I think 11PM for you if that's not too late.

[liv]

OK, let's do 6 pm EDT on Tuesday. Yay puzzles!

[seekingferret]

Awesome!

[hatam_soferet]

Ooh. Can we do food and maybe also study something? I reliably have btw 10-4.30 my time free of daycare, weekdays

[liv]

That sounds perfect and glorious! How about Monday? If we met at midday your time and 5 mine, that would be a reasonable time for lunch and supper. I have to teach virtual cheder at 7:15 but that should give us plenty of time.

[hatam_soferet]

YES! I'm putting it into the calendar right now.

[zhelana]

I'm interested in either conversation or game playing or jewish text learning.

[liv]

Awesome, that sounds brilliant. I'm always excited for more text learning. I'm not sure what times you're likely to be awake. Are you in EDT? Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon would be most likely to work for me, before 8 pm which would be 3 pm for you.

[zhelana]

Tuesday around 2 my time (EDT yes) then? It'll mean waking up a little early for me, but I think I can manage. :)

[zhelana]

yoohoo did you get my reply to this? Should I plan on getting up early today? :)

[liv]

Oh gosh, sorry. I thought we'd already agreed. Yes, let's meet at 2 pm today, I'm excited for learning. What system do you like for online conversations? (If you're not awake no worries - we can reschedule for tomorrow perhaps.)

[zhelana]

Zoom or Discord usually works for me. I've used google hangouts a few times but uncertain how to start one.