If the last year has taught me anything, it is that if you fall within a very narrow demographic slice of the population no one gives a shit about you. 50 year old, white collar professional in good health without kids? You might as well not even exist. You are not quite old enough to be considered "high risk" for COVID and therefore do not get to the front of the line for the vaccine but you are also not quite young enough to gamble that if you do get COVID, it won't kill you. If you earn a comfortable six figure salary, you earn too much money to get any government "stimulus" and without kids, you do not get the ancillary benefits layered on top. You are just expected to deal with it. Work from home full time, manage your mental health needs even though you are literally shut in for a year, take care of your home, your pets, and yourself, all while restricting your out-of-home activities to the grocery store or doctor's appointments, it is all on you. Literally, no one cares. But hey, if you smoke or got diabetes because your diet sucks and you never exercise, TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE. WE REWARD YOUR BAD BEHAVIOR!
I don't have family within 3 hours of me and those that I do, I do not talk to. I don't have close friends who could take care of my cats if I got really sick and was hospitalized. And even when I did become eligible for the COVID vaccine, it does not matter, The State of New Jersey is a shit show in terms of getting an appointment. The two options on offer are staying up half the night when CVS "drops" its appointments (because why?) which is impossible for me b/c I also work a full time job OR drive 200 miles (round trip) to Atlantic City, which appears to be the only mass vaccination location with actual appointments available b/c hey, I can just take 2 days off of work to drive 3+ hours for a stupid shot.
It is really maddening to go through this. I have followed the rules. I have been cautious. I have sheltered in my home for more than a year now and all I want is this stupid fucking vaccine and in the year of our lord 2021, the idiots who run my state cannot do the basic work to make that happen. It is fucking pathetic.
