What have I learned from 2020?

 First of all, much of what I have learned deals with politics and wondering why people react in the way they do, and I will not go into that at all. Discussion closed.

But what have I learned is a lot about myself. The main thing seems to be a realization of how little I actually need, in any way. And so much of what I need, I already have.

Most importantly, I have a loving, close family. Norbert and I celebrated our 29^th anniversary in February. Yes, it has been an adjustment having him home all the time now, but we have not had any trouble coping with it, and are enjoying the time together. Our son Lucas and his girlfriend live nearby and we have close contact with them, and frequent visits. And I still have close contact with my brother in the US – thanks to email and messaging and FaceTime. Not to mention having spent time with him on vacation in January.

These relationships are the main sources of happiness and satisfaction in my life.

I have learned that I enjoy my work in pro cycling. I have loved working for the Israel Start-Up Nation team in this bizarre sports year, writing about everything from a visit to the Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem to our first appearance in an Arab land race, to winning races, to staff delivering groceries during the Italian lockdown to previews for the long-delayed Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana. 

This work gives me something to do – because I am most certainly not doing it to get rich! – and I know that my writing is appreciated. I have gotten to know many interesting new people, and even taxed my brain trying to think of ways to preview a Grand Tour stage other than “flat stage, boring, mass sprint”. :-)

What else? Less is more. 

I love clothes. I love to look at clothes and I love to buy clothes. I have bought very few clothes this year, virtually none. Yes, partially because the stores have been closed so often, and I do not like to buy clothes online. But also because I realized that I don't need any more clothes. In fact, I have done major culls on my wardrobe. My lifestyle is such that leggings and jeans and casual tops are appropriate 99.9% of the time. I do not have a minimalist wardrobe, I see no point in going through life with two pair of jeans and six t-shirts, or whatever. But I certainly do not have clothes exploding out the wardrobe when I open the doors.

This philosophy has also extended to our furnishings and other belongings. A lot of knick knacks have disappeared. Those which remain do so because they have a deep personal meaning to us, as opposed to “just being decorative”. Our Christmas decorating consists of a few candles, an Advents wreath and the decorated tree. The days of decorating every available surface are long gone.

Part of this, I suspect, is due to our age. Time to cut back, to simplify, to shed ourselves of unnecessary “burdens”.

Grocery shopping has becoming interesting (quite apart from the distancing, masks, etc, aspects). Can we go to the store only once a week? (Rarely, unfortunately.) Which store do we go to? The very large supermarket with the best prices and selection and the most customers, or the smaller store where we don't feel so pressured by others in the aisles?

And what to buy and how much to buy. How long will a package of 10 toilet paper rolls last? How much toilet paper does one need? How much do we actually need to use at a time? And so on, with shampoo, soap, laundry detergent, flour, sugar, you name it.

Then there is the question of “hamstering”. Better buy 3 or 4 packages of TP, before it is unavailable! No, thanks. Yes, we do already have 2 packages in the basement, I always keep a supply of such things on hand. Two are enough, I don't need to pack my shopping cart full. And I do not stock up on things out of fear that they will be out of stock in the stores when I need them, but to try to limit the number of times I have to go to the store.

Then there's traveling and vacation. We love to do both. We love to vacation in the US. However, we will not get on an airplane to go anywhere and especially not the US, until we feel it is safe concerning COVID. I very much hope to get over for my high school reunion next September.

We were in the US for two weeks in January, and spent five days in the Netherlands the end of September. That's it for 2020. I do miss the vacations and the planning but nearly as much as I had thought I would.

I realize that we are fortunate enough to live off our savings and not suffer from not having income. That we have all remained healthy, both physically and mentally. And that we have everything we need and want. Perhaps coming to these realizations is the only good thing to come out of 2020.