Quarantine has been fine here -- in part that's just because we've been blessed with good health and steady employment. Leaving aside those major factors, here's how it's been shaking out here:
Benefits:
I am relatively introverted, and have enjoyed working from home. I think my optimal situation would be two days in office, two days from home. (Right, and a three day weekend). Potentially achievable over time. I hadn't been working from home because the setup wasn't right but I made some improvements there. Also, in the beginning I was distracted but I've gotten used to it and I'm fine now.
Our expenses are down and we've been doing a great job just cooking and made some good food. We've been slowly cooking more and eating out less and our eating out budget was really low in January and February anyways, and so this has been a great way to just kick it into high gear. I personally would be fine just eating out for group celebrations once a month or so.
Lots of time with kids and family. DW has gotten more into the vegetable garden this year and we had time to do things like get grow lights, etc. DD is getting better at reading.
Work is steady. Down just enough to be a bit of a breather, but still consistently occupied from at least 9-5.
Regular and enhanced savings hopefully going into the market at a time when it's reasonably low. Typically, those that can just "hang on" and keep working and saving during a recession come out great on the other side. Fingers crossed.
Cons:
24/7 with three little kids is challenging, especially on DW who is a SAHM but previously we had 1.5 kids in school. I also used to take the kids away to give her days off, but there's not really anywhere I can take them or she can go so her "break" is like a short walk around the neighborhood. I hate to list this as a negative because we love our family and the time we have with them now while they are little, but breaks like school and grandparent visits are really healthy for everyone.
Net worth decline (will come back, but this is basically a lost year/two for world economy).
Some higher prices on groceries, bought some extra health supplies that might not have been necessary.
Not getting to see friends and go to networking events.
Not getting to take kids to big parks and out camping (had two trips planned, with dad and a friend). (Camping is pretty socially distant, and so I would have kept state parks open).
Lots of worry and stress in the beginning, but I've gotten used to it and it looks like total CFR is going to be around 0.5-1.0 (previously were higher estimates such as 3-5 in a hospital collapse scenario). I do still have some worry for my parents and for elderly in my community, but I think for folks under 50 once the first wave is passed we should just engage in healthy, safe practices (eat well, wash hands) and live our lives.
Still paying for kid preschool and parochial school kindergarten even though kids aren't going. Teachers need to eat too so haven't complained but it sucks.
Frustrated with the high costs and taxes of my area. We live a relatively modest lifestyle that in other areas would cost 1/2 as much as it does where we live (just outside a very expensive city). I don't spend money on most of the fancy things (Hamilton tickets, etc.) anyways, and with three little kids and a budget we weren't out in the hip bars and restaurants very often anyways. So I was mostly here for career and family reasons anyways, but now I'm just working remotely and can't see my family. I literally sit inside my split level house and rarely buy anything other than groceries and it's costing me easily 2x the privilege of most other people with the same lifestyle. I get paid a bit more for that, but not 2x. My own personal choice on that but it's making me seriously consider moving in 5-10 years once we've saved a little more, unless we've found jobs or career networks that are just too good to walk away from (as opposed to just "fine.").