Accessibility
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I've got a fair amount of tools to deal with it, so how much I can take is improving - sometimes. As far as getting a read on where I'm at, I can most of the time. Like, I know if going to the store will be too much for me. As far as how long, not so much. The thing is it's very situational. I was doing okay at the grocery store the other day through most of it, and then someone got in line behind me and my heart started racing. I didn't have a panic attack that time, but some days I would have.
Real programmers use butterflies
Do you have any grocery stores with self checkout where you live? For my wife physical workout helps, going running for 40 minutes every second day makes quite a difference. For me as well I might add. :laugh:
Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello
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Do you have any grocery stores with self checkout where you live? For my wife physical workout helps, going running for 40 minutes every second day makes quite a difference. For me as well I might add. :laugh:
Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello
They only open them when it gets busy. Apparently being union, they like to keep their cashiers employed. I can understand that, but at the same time, I'd just as soon not go in the store. Besides, those checkout areas get crowded anyway. Or at least too crowded for me.
Real programmers use butterflies
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Not having my husband here makes it very clear what kind of abilities I have and don't have. Trying to even go for groceries has left me with panic attacks, or sent me home with empty hands. I wanted to go to my local grocery store, but they don't do curb side pickup, they don't do delivery, and they don't organize with a 3rd party service to do so like instacart. This is an upscale grocery store catering to the granola eating types, just apparently not those with certain disabilities. I left them a 1 star yelp review. So I have to use instacart with a busy grocery store (too busy for me to do curbside pickup, i think - i can't afford to panic while driving) that's not even nearest to me, and a place I do not like to shop for how they treat their employees, some of whom are my friends. Is it really so hard to offer curbside pickup? I mean, you've got customers that have the money to pay for it. It's an "upscale" store as grocery stores go. I just need my man to come home. I can't even focus on work. But if I'm not shoeless, sitting in the parking lot rocking myself and sobbing "why do you hate me?" I'm doing okay right?
Real programmers use butterflies
Sorry to hear things aren't so great just now; hope you can find a solution and that your cupboards aren't too bare anyway! And hoping your hubbie's op goes well. Reading this from the UK is interesting, regarding shopping options. I've been using "home shopping" (online ordering, the store delivers to my home) since 2000 (TBH, I was contracting at that retailer at the time and they had a "staff" pilot scheme). But all through lockdown, we've had a regular slot either for delivery (a 1- or 2-hour timed slot), or "click+collect". I'm guessing this is similar to your "curbside pickup" (a term we don't use this side of the pond). In click+collect at grocery stores, we just order online for a 1-hour pickup slot; then drive to a designated parking area and they bring the shopping to the car. Depending on time-of-day, this is either free or between 25p and £1.50. In store, the number of staffed checkouts has fallen dramatically. Unless you've got a huge trolleyload, most people use self-checkout. This is either self-scanning on exit, or picking up a hand-scanner as you go in and scanning as you shop. Some stores also have phone apps so you use your phone to scan and pay. Since start of Covid I've very rarely shopped in store, and when I do, I use self-checkout. So apart from weaving around other customers, I barely meet or interact with anyone when shopping. In fact for a long while we had a regular 8:30am click+collect pickup, and though it was never ever busy (no queues) I met one or two other "regulars" loading their cars and they were about the only social interaction in the whole process... Also our big supermarkets (in the larger towns at least) are often open 24-hours a day; so if you're having panic attacks in social situations you could try doing the shopping at 3am. I've not been at that time but am pretty sure it will be self-checkout only then! Lastly, some of our big retailers are also pairing up with fast food delivery companies; so you can order goods from e.g. M+S (a higher-end food store) and Deliveroo will pick up what you want and deliver to you, often within the hour. (I guess that might be similar to your instacart?)