Ya Gotta Have Friends
One of the things I miss about working in Corporate America is seeing people on a daily basis. I miss my friends and social acquaintances.
It doesn't help that we live out in the boonies, further restricting our chances of getting together.
I worry about this, more for Greg than myself. He moved 300 miles from all his friends, so he has to start from scratch. At least I still have a few of the friends I had when I was working.
I've resolved to become more sociable. That will be easier when the other house sells because we seem to travel down there every other week and that's one huge time suck.
Greg tells me I'm not the sociable type but that's not true. I'm just selective about the people I befriend. Social acquaintances I have aplenty, but real friends are few and far between.
To me, a friend is someone who's willing to go to my house and check on my animals when I'm away...or bail me out of jail. :grin:
As we get older, friends become more important than ever. A week doesn't go by that I don't hear of someone dying alone, and not being found until weeks later, usually by a stranger.
An actual friend of ours died in his car, in his driveway, and no one noticed him for two days. We usually invited him to spend the holidays with us, but that one year we were away from home.
I've suggested to Greg that we get more involved with the community. Maybe we could attend county meetings.
I'd also like to take some classes. I'd be interested in ethnic cuisine cooking classes. Or maybe another master gardening class for this climate. I took one many years ago and enjoyed it immensely.
Greg's mentioned he'd be interested in learning blacksmithing or expanding his expertise with a master woodworking class.
Taking a part time job could help too--but let's not get crazy! Mostly I'd like to interact when it's convenient for us. A regular job requires too long a commitment.
I've often thought about volunteering at the nearest animal shelter, but I think seeing all those homeless animals would kill my spirit, knowing I couldn't save them all. If I did volunteer work it would have to be something that didn't make me too attached to the recipients.
Physically being around other human beings is important. It doesn't help that being online with friends is so much easier. But I can't call my friends flung out in all corners of the globe to bail me out of jail. That distance thing gets me every time!
Do you have a lot of friends that you see daily? Any suggestions on how to meet new people?
And if you're in north Texas (north of Dallas), look me up. I'm quirky, but totally harmless.
It doesn't help that we live out in the boonies, further restricting our chances of getting together.
I worry about this, more for Greg than myself. He moved 300 miles from all his friends, so he has to start from scratch. At least I still have a few of the friends I had when I was working.
I've resolved to become more sociable. That will be easier when the other house sells because we seem to travel down there every other week and that's one huge time suck.
Greg tells me I'm not the sociable type but that's not true. I'm just selective about the people I befriend. Social acquaintances I have aplenty, but real friends are few and far between.
To me, a friend is someone who's willing to go to my house and check on my animals when I'm away...or bail me out of jail. :grin:
As we get older, friends become more important than ever. A week doesn't go by that I don't hear of someone dying alone, and not being found until weeks later, usually by a stranger.
An actual friend of ours died in his car, in his driveway, and no one noticed him for two days. We usually invited him to spend the holidays with us, but that one year we were away from home.
I've suggested to Greg that we get more involved with the community. Maybe we could attend county meetings.
I'd also like to take some classes. I'd be interested in ethnic cuisine cooking classes. Or maybe another master gardening class for this climate. I took one many years ago and enjoyed it immensely.
Greg's mentioned he'd be interested in learning blacksmithing or expanding his expertise with a master woodworking class.
Taking a part time job could help too--but let's not get crazy! Mostly I'd like to interact when it's convenient for us. A regular job requires too long a commitment.
I've often thought about volunteering at the nearest animal shelter, but I think seeing all those homeless animals would kill my spirit, knowing I couldn't save them all. If I did volunteer work it would have to be something that didn't make me too attached to the recipients.
Physically being around other human beings is important. It doesn't help that being online with friends is so much easier. But I can't call my friends flung out in all corners of the globe to bail me out of jail. That distance thing gets me every time!
Do you have a lot of friends that you see daily? Any suggestions on how to meet new people?
And if you're in north Texas (north of Dallas), look me up. I'm quirky, but totally harmless.
Comments
As for friends... well, I don't have that many local ones. Even when I worked, I didn't make many friends, but I still keep in touch with the ones I liked (even if it's only meeting for dinner twice a year!).
Although I don't have the ability to pop over to your place to look after your animals due to distance, I would if I could :-)
As for that bail, hubster can get my share of it via Western Union lol!
I don't have very many people I call friend. My circle is small, selected to go beyond acquaintance over time and interactions. Sadly, I'm quite happy with my tiny handful of friends so I'm not a good source for how to meet new people lol!
Re: bail
I'm good for the money. I just need a good alibi. LOL.
And I don't want to be one of those statistics where I die (perhaps needlessly) because no one ever sees me.
You know me. I don't do anything halfway.
A great epitaph, Maria. I'm a natural loner, but it's good to have friends. Enjoy the classes, but I'd avoid part time jobs and similar 'time-sucks. You've done all that and have the T shirt :)
Outside work doesn't appeal to me too much unless I can find something that gives me personal satisfaction. Those jobs are few and far between.
I think you have some great ideas that will offer you more opportunity to network and meet new friends. I've learned that it takes time to build that trust, to get a point where those friends become more than just acquaintances.
Long distance friendships can work, too. I meet up once a year with some quilter pals whom I've known since before the internet existed. We keep in touch by e-mail throughout the year, and then meet at the same quilt show and spend two days together. Blieve it or not, this year was our thirtieth get together. :)
I have friends that I go out to lunch with about once per month but I'm not real social either. And I don't mind.
Had we continued living in the same area I know we would've been back in each other's lives when the boys were big enough to have lives of their own.
The 'gene' pool was too small and I didn't like being forced into activities with people who were okay as work mates but not particularly friend material.
But now I see how important it is to have people around me as I get older--if only to have somewhere to go when I want to get away from all this wilderness. :)
I'll bet the time flies much too fast.
That might me be a neat thing to arrange with my online friends. Once a year we can meet in a different part of the country or world.
I'm glad you found someone with whom you had chemistry. It'll make learning so much easier and pleasant.
Even in good weather, it's rare to see our neighbors. We can't see each other from the road, but at least one neighbor throws a big music bash every summer.
I think classes are an awesome idea!
That's like leaving the kid in a candy store.
I mentioned over at Susan G/K's blog that I really should get out more but that I love being home. Taking classes and/or volunteering is a great idea though.
Hi Madeline, and welcome!
Much as I like my privacy (something I can only get at home) I remember how much more interesting and colorful my life was when I used to work 9-5.
Studies indicate time again that people are healthier when they have a strong social circle too.
Thanks for stopping by! If you're ever in north Texas, let's meet up too!
So... maybe just find something that you love to do that other people share a passion for as well?
As a matter of fact I just made a new friend yesterday at yoga class. I found out she has a little farm too and not too far from me. I hope we can visit away from the studio in the future.
I don't have anyone I'd consider a friend locally either. Co-workers, most of which are the stuff of awesome, and acquaintances aplenty. I've met some great people through MeetUp groups, though I'm not real active in that anymore. I've thought about taking a class at the rec center but time is at a premium these days.
My BFF is the one who's seen me puking my guts out and still loves me, LOL. Of course, I can say the same about her.
BFFs and puking: :) That's what makes them BFFs.