At the end of the pandemic, maybe a new start?

[JournalInTime]

I hope you and your partner are doing alright, JiT!

Thank you!

My partner is experiencing one of the few upsides to her MS: Her immune system is a fortress. She hasn't had an infectious disease since I've known her, and she continues to have negative tests and no symptoms whatsoever. I'm driving her crazy, but that's another matter.

As for me, people I know have faced everything from "a little cold," through "two months in hospital," to "dead." There was a night last week when I was on the floor, unable to stand, rocking a fever that triggered the second, higher-pitched alarm on my thermometer, and staring at the 9-1-1 button on my cellphone; I might've hit 3-4 out of 10 on the sickness scale. Today I'm at "a little cold, but the damned thing won't go away after almost two weeks." The worst thing about it is "no tango" . . . that's driving me crazy, but that's also another matter.

 

[Brummbaer]

Most milonga venues in my experience have poor air circulation and get too hot and humid just from the dancing, even in winter

I expect price increases soon due to energy and cost-of-living, so we're more careful about what we spend and where. It has to be worthwhile.

My wife's also had a run of respiratory illnesses recently (non-Covid) and then, following a Covid booster, Covid itself. I may have had Covid as well, but some time after my booster, and nothing detectable. Fortunately we're now both up-to-date with Covid and flu boosters. Covid infections were, for the first time recently, reported as decreasing.

Can't beat a good hall with proper ventilation - especially given the increasing number of respiratory illnesses, but we're approaching the season of 'cold women'. I'd prefer cooler, ventilated, and wearing something warmer.

Milongas are certainly more sparsely attended, but seeing some new faces in classes, and some returning.

 

[JournalInTime]

I'd prefer cooler, ventilated, and wearing something warmer.

Same.

I have friends who love to dress in next to nothing and dance in summer when it's hot. They talk about how heat and summer clothing and all the rest inspires them to move, to dance. They head to festivals in warm climates in winter. They even dance on the beach, under the blazing sun.

I love the idea of dancing outdoors in a vest and jacket when it's near winter, with a little roof to keep the snow off. Nothing inspires me more than feeling adequately refrigerated – I joke that my nervous system must be superconducting. In summer, I dream about the time when I was in southern Brazil and it was cooler than home.

I guess everybody has their preferences!

 

[TTanguero]

I don't think I have ever experienced being too cold in a milonga! Too hot, however, is a frequent experience, even in winter.

 

[JournalInTime]

I don't think I have ever experienced being too cold in a milonga!

Me, neither. I guess it happens – and I suppose it's more of an issue for those with bare legs in skirts – but it's so utterly outside my experience that I have trouble understanding it. I remember tending bar where I used to work, slipping out onto the back balcony for the winter cold, . . . and remarking that the door was wide open, yet people inside were complaining about heat. I also remember dancing next to the river in late October, when I could see my breath, and finding it "adequately cool, but it could be better."

Too hot, however, is a frequent experience, even in winter.

Especially in winter here, as most milongas are in commercial buildings where heat is controlled centrally. The temperature people sat at desks and behind cash registers find "warm enough" is like a blazing inferno for dancers.

 

[opendoor]

.. little desire to sit in barely heated milongas as to dance outside..

Dancing on the frozen Alster (artificial lake in the centre of my hometown) some years ago really was fun.

 

[LadyLeader]

Here a mix from Stockholm!
They are dancing AT steps but the song is in Finnish!



I also met my first teachers on a winter street! They had been shopping for Christmas and could not resist when a street musician played an AT tango but put all their bags aside and danced the song!

 

[Brummbaer]

Me, neither. I guess it happens – and I suppose it's more of an issue for those with bare legs in skirts – but it's so utterly outside my experience that I have trouble understanding it.

I take it as a female 'thing'. Some are always 'cold' or it's chilly, or draughty, or... Feet are like having a couple of frozen chickens. I get complimented on being 'warm' (thermally rather than 'hot').

 

[itwillhappen]

Most milonga venues in my experience have poor air circulation and get too hot and humid just from the dancing, even in winter

I just read a message from one of the most successful and traditional tango schools in Europe that electricity prices had risen by 72% and gas by 43% ... and that it is going to get difficult.
I had no idea that after 28 years in this building, the owner still hadn't noticed that he could even heat the neighboring houses with the waste heat from his guests.

 

[Brummbaer]

I just read a message from one of the most successful and traditional tango schools in Europe that electricity prices had risen by 72% and gas by 43% ... and that it is going to get difficult.

I don't think the cost impact has hit fully yet. Most halls will be subject to commercial pricing rather than domestic (so much for paying for running 'warm hubs'). And I believe Germany has so far achieved a 20% reduction in energy, but it's been warmer so far. Maybe a milonga is the answer.

 

[ArbeeNYC]

Most milonga venues in my experience have poor air circulation and get too hot and humid just from the dancing, even in winter

You should come down here, where some places open the door in the winter. Some people are sitting around in their coats. Personally, I don't like chilly venues.

 

[ArbeeNYC]

This doesn't matter for me right now . . . I tested positive for COVID-19 on November 3 and still test positive today, November 15.

I do hope you recover soon.

 

[ArbeeNYC]

Thank you!

My partner is experiencing one of the few upsides to her MS: Her immune system is a fortress. She hasn't had an infectious disease since I've known her, and she continues to have negative tests and no symptoms whatsoever. I'm driving her crazy, but that's another matter.

As for me, people I know have faced everything from "a little cold," through "two months in hospital," to "dead." There was a night last week when I was on the floor, unable to stand, rocking a fever that triggered the second, higher-pitched alarm on my thermometer, and staring at the 9-1-1 button on my cellphone; I might've hit 3-4 out of 10 on the sickness scale. Today I'm at "a little cold, but the damned thing won't go away after almost two weeks." The worst thing about it is "no tango" . . . that's driving me crazy, but that's also another matter.

Interesting. One of my sisters has MS. Not a fun thing to have. Get well soon though.

 

[ArbeeNYC]

I take it as a female 'thing'. Some are always 'cold' or it's chilly, or draughty, or... Feet are like having a couple of frozen chickens. I get complimented on being 'warm' (thermally rather than 'hot').

I'm just the opposite. Most everyone is warmer than I am at a milonga. It takes a LOT for me to sweat. As a result, I'm almost always cold because the AC is on even in winter, or a door is open.

 

[Tangogal]

I take it as a female 'thing'. Some are always 'cold' or it's chilly, or draughty, or... Feet are like having a couple of frozen chickens. I get complimented on being 'warm' (thermally rather than 'hot').

Yup this is me! I run a little colder than most. I find that it’s hard to get my woollen socks into my tango heels and my scarf just gets in the way of dancing