Answers to today’s questions over at f.riday5.com

In sociology, the third place refers to the social surroundings separate from the two usual social environments of home (the first place) and the workplace (the second place). Examples of third places include churches, cafes, bars, clubs, libraries, gyms, bookstores, hackerspaces, stoops, parks, and theaters.

Interesting question! I didn’t know this term.

My first place is home and second place is my Mom’s home because that’s the other place I spend time at with any regularity that has meaning. I spend about 90% of my time at home. Because of my chronic pain, symptoms of the various illnesses and lack of energy, I’m not able to do much or for long periods (hours) at a time. My life has become very limited since getting ill in 2008.

1. What is your usual third place these days?

There are long stretches of time that I don’t actually have a third place. When I do, the last 7-8 years it has been something to do with some kind of rehabilitation activity or rehabilitation exploration possibilities.

The providers vary, but it’s always my GP who writes the doctors recommendations that opens those doors to me, and often TE-toimisto (the unemployment office) also uses their connections (link officers to KELA or a written statement) to help open those doors, depending on what I’m applying for. Sometimes it’s been kuntouttava työtoiminta (rehabilitation activity) where my goal has been mostly to try out “working” – not a job, but an activity outside home for 4-5 hours (6-8 hours with commute which in my case a few providers say must be accounted in) and for 1-2 days a week in my case. With very light tasks to do there or even just things like painting or making bracelets for kids using wooden and plastic pearls. So nothing like real work. In my case, it’s been to test how my health in general and migraine in particular handles it when there’s a day that’s more than just being home, doing things at my own pace. Emotionally and mentally it’s always been nice and refreshing but physically exhausting and migraine inducing every day I’ve been there.

The other thing it’s been are various types of rehabilitation explorations – these are multi-discipline (doctor, nurse, psychologist, physiotherapist, social worker and sometimes more) courses, where my health situation is assessed along with my entire life situation, possible future avenues charted and recommendations made. These are either group format, or partially group format and so offer also peer support, even though people usually have different health challenges but we’re more or less in very similar situations. Usually/often the thought is towards back work life, but in my case it’s always ended up that not being possible at this time, and being more rehabilitation and more doctor’s appointments to find out can anything further be done for my chronic migraine and just basicly trying to slowly add more resilience to my health, particularly the migraine by kuntouttava työtoiminta and other ways.

All this because the bureaucracy can’t admit that I’m 1) factually unable to work to support myself despite doctor’s statements and 2) no sane employer will hire a person who has not been able to have a job for 16 years due to many illnesses because if they do hire me and I end up finally getting disability retirement (the likelihood of which is great because having job finally would prove what everyone already knows to the bureaucracy) because they will end up footing the the bill for the said disability retirement – but no new worker.

2. How are your third place needs different today from some other time in your life?

I don’t really have third place needs at this time. And I don’t really remember having them before either! Unless you count my Mom’s Beagle back when she (the dog) was alive – I definitely had to play with the Beagle every week back then!

3. What’s missing from your third places these days?

Ability to regularly enough to spend time in one to have a third place in the first place!

4. What kind of third places do you see yourself never frequenting?

Bars, night clubs, beaches. Just in general places where there are lots of people and a lot of noise, or that are hot and sunny.

5. Which third place in a television series would you most enjoy?

I think maybe Ten Forward on Star Trek TNG. There’s always a nice view out and on the show it’s never too crowded or noisy.