There is talk of “reopening.” The word paints a picture that cannot possibly be.

This won’t be “over” any time soon — not until there is a vaccine. Think 2022, in the most optimistic possible scenario.

We won’t return to “normal” in a few weeks or months. What we will do is evolve into new ways of being in the world, more contingent and with rapid changes.

We will quickly learn new ways of doing most everything we used to do without much thought: dating, going to a bar or restaurant, working, commuting, learning. Having friends over for dinner.

For most of us this social distancing is getting old. But in a couple of months we may look back on it as a time of relative tranquility and stability.

For informed speculation on what the coming months might look like, see this piece in the Atlantic by Juliette Kayyem, and this blog post by science fiction writer Charlie Stross.