The pandemic took my "third place". My local coffee shop. My change of scenery. My escape.

The pandemic took my "third place". My local coffee shop. My change of scenery.

These socially needed third places are locations that are not the home, (the first place) nor work (the second place). And they are fading away.

These places give you room to breathe and enhance your quality of life. They strengthen our bonds to our community, we meet new people. Many researchers fear the long-term disappearance of third places could have a dramatic effect on where and how we gather when all the dust settles.

Apart from the economic impact, living without third places can have social consequences. We lose important social contact, something we all need that is not our home or work. From gyms to coffee shops to the local pub, these third places are an integral part of the fabric of society.

I miss them.

If you are curious about third spaces, there's a link in the comments to a fascinating read on third places by the well-known urban sociologist, Ray Oldenburg done back in ’08.