Originally Posted by northinsouth

I've got to say, so much of this back and forth comes down to where in the country one spends most of their time. My wife and I live in AL, and for the most part, the masks have come off save for percentage of the cautious, immuno-compromised, elderly, etc. It's just like it's not a thing people think about much here, and this has even permeated to people who had not been anti-mask or vax, but ordinary people of all political stripes. People here are just much more lax.

My step-kid lives in Chicago and my MIL in the UWS in NYC. The masks are used in enclosed spaces and they are still unwilling to eat indoors, go to basketball game, etc. I think in these bigger cities in the NE and a few Midwest, more people are less willing to do away with masks.

Honestly, the difference is breathtaking, and one where I think it almost feels like different countries. Whenever we travel to them or they to us, I *feel* the caution is so peculiar because it doesn't jibe with my daily life. But then I realize that my daily life must appear reckless to them. Not taking sides here, but many times I've just been struck by the different realities.