When you read our editions this week, they will be released days before the governor reveals his plan for the re-opening of the Commonwealth.

Already Gov. Charlie Baker has relaxed some restrictions on stores in order to capitalize on Mother’s Day, and golf courses have been reopened.

There has been much speculation about the conditions for re-opening of retail establishments and other businesses, as well as a timetable. My prediction, based on Baker’s record during the past few months, is that he will try to walk the delicate line between re-energizing our economy as the Commonwealth avoids any resurgence in cases of COVD-19.

That’s not an easy line to stay on and I applaud Baker’s determination to do so.

The mood seems to be like the one before Christmas. We know it’s coming, and we want it to be here.

As Reminder Publishing reported last week, the tourism industry here has been hit hard, and with social distancing requirements that undoubtedly will remain in place programming at various attractions such as the Basketball Hall of Fame, the Springfield Museums, activities at the Big E, MGM Springfield and others won’t be a case of simply re-opening the doors.

How big is tourism here? State Sen. Eric Lesser noted in a livestreamed discussion he led last week about the subject, “tourism, arts and culture is actually the third-largest sector of the economy in Massachusetts statewide in terms of total employment, and in Western Massachusetts in particular it is an essential part of our economy.”

We are not the only ones with a thriving tourism industry that is wondering what is next.

Cape Cod is clearly one of the leading summer destinations in the Northeast and, residents there, like here, are worried.

Katie Lannan of the State House News Service reported, “As Cape Cod and the islands prepare for what Sen. Julian Cyr said will be a ‘muted’ summer season in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, a new regional task force is hoping to provide consistent guidance for both seasonal and year-round residents, workers and businesses. The task force, led by the region’s legislative delegation, the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce and Barnstable County officials, plans to work with Gov. Charlie Baker’s reopening advisory board and develop its own set of recommendations that reflect the challenges of both a geographically isolated region and a summer tourism hot spot. The seasonal nature of the Cape Cod economy and the influx of summer residents and visitors between Memorial Day and Labor Day make it crucial for officials to work quickly to provide clear messages around what a reopening will look like, Cyr and other task force members said Thursday on a conference call with reporters. Many local businesses make most of their income during the summer, leaving them ‘deeply concerned about reduced capacity and future viability,’ Cyr said. For people involved in the seasonal economy, ‘your opportunity to earn a living doesn’t really come around again for nine months, so that raises a whole host of considerations and needs,’ said Cyr, a Truro Democrat.”

What will the Commonwealth have to do? Strict guidelines about social distancing and visitor capacity at attractions, bars and restaurants? Additional monetary aid for tourism-related businesses? Longer periods of unemployment insurance for workers in that industry? Perhaps all of the above and much more.

Nothing would make me happier if the doors to businesses could be swung back open and everything would return to business as usual. That scenario would help families regain financial footing, restore the business communities and bring back tax revenues sorely needed by cities and towns.

The grim fact that I think we will have to accept is full recovery will take longer than we imagine. I certainly may be wrong and in fact I hope I am.

In the meantime, please consider within your means supporting local businesses that have remained open. Please observe social distancing, good hand-washing hygiene and the wearing of a mask. Please have patience and be temperate in your social media posts.