OLIVER: Even free time has taken a detour in this time of stress and pandemic

One fascinating aspect of this pandemic has been to see how people have adjusted their concept of recreation. The biggest changes came, of course, for those who were accustomed to going out and doing things, such as going to restaurants, bars and concerts.

Those of us who are naturally more inclined to stay home even in the best of times perhaps didn’t experience anything quite so drastic, but it meant changes for us, too.

After all, as a sports fan, there were a few months there when I had to resort to watching old games in whatever sport happened to be on TV. Perhaps that’s why the Bulls documentary about those championships in the 1990s got such high viewership. Sports fans were desperate for new material – even if, technically, it was old material.

Since then, sports have returned, and that’s filled a void, even if all of the cancellations from COVID-19 outbreaks make it harder than ever to keep track of who is on when. The NFL, I’m looking at you. Good thing I’m not that big of a college football fan because it’s even worse there.

Probably the biggest shift for me wouldn’t be one that anyone would expect. Instead of finding it easier to keep up with my reading, I’ve actually found I hit a wall when it comes to reading books in my spare time.

Remember those 40 books I managed to read one year? Ha, if only. This year, despite setting a fairly ambitious goal of 25, I’ll be lucky if I finish the year with … five.

I ran into a similar wall right around the time my mother died. The stress of the situation and the aftermath just made it difficult to get back on track.

This pandemic, with all its stress, has felt a lot like that. So I’m just going to blame the pandemic and try again next year. I have a feeling a lot of us will just need to shrug and move on.

Most of my evenings have been spent trying to find TV shows to keep my beloved Tony occupied.

At first, we binge-watched every season of “Pitbulls and Parolees.” Well, as many as we could get without having to subscribe to another streaming service. The new season begins in January, so you know what we’ll be watching.

In the meantime, I’ve found a new “binge” show: “Life Below Zero,” on the National Geographic channels.

Those who know me might shake their heads at this. I’m not one who does well when the thermometer gets below 60 degrees above zero. And no one exactly would mistake me for someone who would want to be living in the middle of nowhere.

However, the show is set in Alaska, and the views are breathtaking. Perhaps the fact that the folks who are featured are doing a great job of isolating and social distancing may be helping me cope in these crazy times. And I’m drawn to the forests, mountains and rivers.

Still, if you aren’t much for hunting, fishing and having to MacGyver things while living in the wilderness, this probably isn’t the show for you. It’s interesting to note that COVID-19 has even affected those who live above the Arctic Circle, and the current season reflects that.

At the moment, I’m finding this show endlessly entertaining. Although, granted, there’s not much use here in suburbia for most of the skills I’m learning. Still, one never knows.

After all, a lot of us never thought we’d learn how to bake bread, knit or any of the many things we’ve taken up to fill our time during this pandemic.

Still, I’m sure we’re all more than ready to get back to “normal.” Whatever and whenever that is.

• Joan Oliver is the former Northwest Herald assistant news editor. She has been associated with the Northwest Herald since 1990. She can be reached at jolivercolumn@gmail.com.