So, right when the coronavirus warnings were kicking off in Michigan, I found myself in line at a local market up north. We were lucky to have a good stock of toilet paper at home, considering the shelves were bare as a baby’s bottom. I managed to snag everything we needed, including a tasty corned beef for St. Paddy’s Day. It was just a typical grocery run for me, but the chatter at the checkout line was anything but typical. Everyone was talking about the virus, and how it seemed like the media was making a bigger deal out of it than necessary.
I got it, I mean, I was looking at nearly empty bread racks (though you could still find rye bread, even in a crisis). Then, the conversation took a turn. One of the customers, a woman who managed summer homes for Airbnb owners, mentioned that some of her clients had asked her to open up their cottages and crank up the heat. They were planning to come up for a few weeks – in March, of all times!
Now, Detroit and its surroundings are home to some huge offices and technical centers for the automotive industry. The Chrysler Tech Center and FCA headquarters in Auburn Hills alone have around 15,000 employees and visitors each day. The GM headquarters in downtown Detroit has over 6,000 workers, and an additional 4,000 work for other companies in the Renaissance Center Towers. Over in Dearborn, Ford Motor’s Henry Ford II World Center (or the Glass House, as locals call it) houses 3,000 employees. With the coronavirus situation, thousands of these office workers will be working from home for the next few weeks, maybe even longer.
So, could we see a surge in early cottage openings in northern Michigan as these remote workers seek a change of scenery? It’s a possibility. Many major Detroit companies, including GM, Ford, and Fiat Chrysler, have told their employees to start working from home from March 16. Not everyone can do that, of course, but it will help reduce the number of people in these large offices. Other workers, like teachers and childcare providers, have been sent home until at least the first week of April. Getting away from their suburban neighborhoods might just help some folks keep their sanity as they try to avoid the virus.
According to a 1995 study by Michigan State University, second homes are pretty common north of US-10, which is usually considered the “up north” line. North of this line, summer homes make up 16%-33% of houses in Huron and Sanilac counties in the Thumb, and as high as 34%-53% in Iosco and Alcona in Michigan’s northeast. The 2010 U.S. census reported that Michigan had over 235,000 homes classified as secondary, meaning they’re usually vacant except for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use.
Most of these cottages aren’t year-round homes. Owners usually turn off the power, drain the pipes, and shut off the heat during winter, then open them back up in spring. It’s a tradition that dates back to the early 1900s.
Now, whether or not Detroiters with summer homes and cottages will head north to ride out the coronavirus is still up in the air. Many of these northern towns are in winter mode until May, and many small grocery and party stores in cottage country are closed until spring. The stores that are open are stocked for local winter residents, not hundreds of summer people. If there’s a mass exodus from the city, adjustments will have to be made.
If you’re thinking about heading out from the city or suburbs to your place up north, keep a few things in mind:
– If you’re not feeling well, stay put. Opening up and stocking your summer cottage or cabin can be stressful enough without adding health issues to the mix. If you’re dealing with other health problems, opening your place during a coronavirus outbreak will only add to your stress. It’s best to stay where you’re comfortable.
– Bring your own provisions. Stores north of US-10, including Walmart and Dollar General, have been cleared out of essentials like toilet paper, bleach, hand sanitizers, bread, and milk. One local grocery store manager said it would be a week before they could restock, and they’re not even sure if they’ll get full orders of paper products and sanitary materials. So, bring your own provisions from home, just like you would when opening your place for the season.
– Have a plan in case you get sick. You could get sick from a number of things, not just the coronavirus. Allergies are starting to act up with the mild weather and lack of snow, and we’re still in flu season. Decide ahead of time whether you’ll stay put or head back, and make arrangements with a healthcare provider.
– Make sure you have internet service. Remote and rural Michigan often struggle to offer high-speed internet service. If you’re already streaming video from your second home, you might be okay. But if not, check with your local cable company to see how quickly they can provide internet service.
The 2020 Coronavirus Pandemic will definitely be one for the history books. For remote workers, it’ll also be a test of infrastructure that was built to offer one-way entertainment streaming services. It’s going to be a challenging few weeks or months as the epidemic passes through the Great Lake State.
If you have an existing health condition, please seek out the advice of your physician. That’s the best advice of all. If you’re planning to sit out the Michigan coronavirus pandemic at your summer home, cottage, or cabin, we’d love to hear about your experience. Contact us on our About page and share your thoughts and experiences.
In the midst of the Michigan coronavirus warnings, many are considering retreating to their summer homes to work remotely, causing a potential early surge in cottage openings. However, there are factors to consider such as health, provisions, and internet service. This unexpected situation will be a test of infrastructure and a unique challenge for remote workers. If you are considering this option, make sure to plan ahead and stay safe.
#MichiganCoronavirus #RemoteWork
See the original post at [Will Remote Workers Flock to Their Cottages to Sit Out the Michigan Coronavirus?](https://thumbwind.com/2020/03/15/michigan-coronavirus/)
