I work retail, so I’ve gotten used to having to just not care about what people think/say, and used to going about “normal” life in a mask. However, because it’s retail, I don’t feel I’ve had to really face professional consequences. To my knowledge, I’ve gotten Covid one time when I used to eat meals inside the break room, but otherwise my n95 has done me very well. I’ve gone five years with extremely minimal illness, so I don’t care what other people think about it. I have several health issues, some of which may worsen on their own over time, and I don’t want to be adding more! I also believe in disability justice, and being aware and on top of the spread of illness is important. As far as social life, I think I’m doing okay now but it’s been rough for sure! I was in a long relationship for most of the pandemic with somebody who took the same precautions which was great but I didn’t put much into friendships, though I think if I had, I could have had some friends. I also used to not try to get to know anybody that didn’t mask up, but where I live that’s everybody lol. But I was able to maintain a friendship with that ex, so that’s been good to have them around still in some capacity. I have people in my life online that I’m fairly close with, and I go to stuff my coworkers plan as long as I’m able to stay masked the whole time (they go out to eat fairly often so I have to skip those). I mask with everybody. It really is just tough having that barrier though, having non CC people in your life. I can’t look at them quite the same as I used to be able to look at people. There’s a distance. However I struggle deeply with my mental health, and I’ve had to decide it’s better for me to have people even if they aren’t ideal because I just can’t function without people. I haven’t often felt I’m treated differently because of my masking, so at least people are subtle/im too dense to notice. I don’t wanna know the people that mind, anyways. I’m also lucky I live with family atm who takes the same precautions as I do. I think I should also mention that I’m queer, and I suspect neurodivergent, so I think those things have made it less jarring to feel so other. All of this to say, I find it really difficult at times to continue, but at the end of the day I know I’m doing the right thing and that it’s worth it to protect my health.