Since the lock down lifted, the amount of customers at my parents farm and the local farms has been much higher than anticipated. Not one person has shown up wearing a mask though, and not one has said yes to us wearing a mask while assisting them. Most clearly don't care about social distancing, and these aren't just locals either. Plenty of people from the big cities who are down enjoying the countryside, tasting at the local wineries, and staying at the local camp grounds. To top it off, for a little over a week now, it's supposed to be mandatory in our county to wear a mask at all times when in the presence of non family members, and yet nothing has changed. So much for new rules I guess.
The closest I came to someone who was a little concerned, was an elderly woman and her daughter, who hummed and haw'd, and when I went to reach for my mask, they both adamantly told me not to bother and that they would just keep their distance. An, "are you sure" didn't change their minds. I actually had a really old fella about two weekends ago, who asked me, "what do I look like to ya?", and followed that with, "what are ya, a wuss?". I got a good laugh out of it. While he didn't necessarily look it, he was a tough old boy and wasn't having anything to do with masks or distancing, considering he walked up to me and tapped my shoulder and said, "don't you worry about me, I've beaten worse."
Just the other day, a couple who were interested in purchasing the farm came to have a look, and the woman, who's a nurse, politely argued so she wouldn't have to wear a mask. She stated she get's tested regularly and has always been negative, and was adamant that she social distance's etc, but because one of my parents has a slightly weakened immune system at the moment, she eventually obliged, though apparently she didn't exactly do so happily. My parents found it odd and strange, as other than their initial encounter, the couple were really nice people and easy to get along with. Though my parents tend to be fairly cautious in general, one of them in particular, going way overboard is the norm unfortunately, and covid 19 has just turned that up to 11.
I was kinda surprised to hear this, since she was a nurse, but not all that surprised based on how the public has handled wearing masks when showing up at the farm. Plus, an ex gf of mine who's a paramedic, and a health conscious individual in general, clearly doesn't take covid 19 near as seriously as I'd be led to believe, based on what some my friends have told me when they've spent time with her.
All the other local farmers have basically told us likewise. Very very few people wear a mask unless they have to or grant your offer to wear one for their safety. It's one thing if the general public isn't following the rules for their own good, but when the professionals themselves aren't, what are you supposed to really believe?
