Gimme Shelter: Staying Inside and Ideas of Social Distance

Isolation is an odd thing. When we’re too busy, we crave downtime. We talk about taking time out for ourselves. Today we call it self-care, though how well we actually take care of ourselves is open to debate. Decades ago, we called it vegging out. Exercise, music, sports, video games, reading or just sitting on a couch and watching shows or movies.

Forced isolation is another thing. Anyone whose been through a Northeast winter before the Internet (or a Midwest or mountain winter) knows how forced isolation feels. Snowed in. Stuck. Books, games, music, talking on the phone, watching TV and movies…and waiting for the faintest hint of Spring.

Social distancing is what we’ve collectively been practicing by insulating ourselves to the point where most of it is subconscious.

Marc Maron’s latest Netflix comedy special End Times Fun was taped last fall, but its arrival with the corona-virus couldn’t be more timely. In the special, Maron riffs on…