tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611711622146875201.post919730855214530405..comments2024-03-27T19:07:06.944-04:00Comments on DON'T READ THIS; IT'S BORING!: About the Current Retirement Plan & Moving Awayslugmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12728856166374248591noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611711622146875201.post-70284872343065674062014-04-30T19:43:48.273-04:002014-04-30T19:43:48.273-04:00Hi Sluggy, this is so sad. You would be made most...Hi Sluggy, this is so sad. You would be made most welcome here where I live. I'm just stopping by to say how delightful your blog is. Thanks so much for sharing. I have recently found your blog and am now following you, and will visit often. Please stop by my blog and perhaps you would like to follow me also. Have a wonderful day. Hugs, Chris<br />http://chelencarter-retiredandlovingit.blogspot.ca/Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04371079442081063376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611711622146875201.post-10634868290432299292014-04-30T02:45:05.439-04:002014-04-30T02:45:05.439-04:00Gee Slugs, I am sorry if I had lived next door to ...Gee Slugs, I am sorry if I had lived next door to you we would be best friends, I don't drink but I could steer you home as designated steerer:0 I have had similar experiences where we live now, but I made my own life and to hell with them, I say To HELL!!!!! So I am a little different, okay a lot different but I did not make myself this way... well maybe I have some responsibility? Out My windowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13456481267171643227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611711622146875201.post-27669851717726664982014-04-29T19:18:24.122-04:002014-04-29T19:18:24.122-04:00Sluggy, I hear you! I have very much enjoyed mee...Sluggy, I hear you! I have very much enjoyed meeting a few new cyber friends but am I looking for new friends in my day to day life? No! I am not. I have the same 3 women and 1 guy friends that I have had for 30+ years I'm not actively looking for new friendships.<br /><br />If I lived alone I think that I might feel differently. To tell the truth my husband is not a whole ot of company but that works for us (most of the time) Like you, I like being alone. I don't think that I have ever been bored.<br /><br />I think the suggestion of a RV is a good one. We like rv travel very much but the current gas prices have caused us to keep out little camper parked much of the time.Janethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01024512934812657769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611711622146875201.post-34267686838448757522014-04-29T17:15:09.659-04:002014-04-29T17:15:09.659-04:00Pardon this being a Christmas song, and therefore ...Pardon this being a Christmas song, and therefore at the wrong time of year, but I thought of you. It's a New York (state) guy singing about a gal like you who lives in Dixie Land (soon enough.)<br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xa7tNAUyQwQ444https://www.blogger.com/profile/18317761558076527630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611711622146875201.post-69698728707374108202014-04-29T14:50:16.990-04:002014-04-29T14:50:16.990-04:00Part two
I met a woman with whom I started findin...Part two<br /><br />I met a woman with whom I started finding things we had in common. About a year later after many pleasant conversations that were mostly short ones, I called her and asked her if she had ever been to a local festival and why didn't we go together. She agreed and wanted to know all about it. She then said she would bring her "sweetie." aaaah! <br /><br />I told her I would just go by myself if she had someone to go with her. She said he likes the same things she does and he would want to go. I very pleasantly told her I did not want to be a fifth wheel. It turned out their was rain before the festival and I was having allergy problems, so I did not go. She then begged me to go with them. What? Me go with them? <br /><br />Then, she adamantly told me that she could not go on Sunday to anything ever that the church came first, that she went to church four times each week. So, that sort of put a wet blanket on any relationship with her. EVER <br /><br />I finally determined who her "sweetie" was. There was no way I was going to go with him because he is an idiot. He is conversation challenged. Oh, he talks, but his blathering would drive me nuts. <br /><br />Then, I joined a writing group last month. After one meeting, I can see the handwriting on the wall. But, I am going to try to make it work. <br /><br />Going to the 60s style coffee shop to hear live music is great, but I need someone to go with me because of my back and mobility problems that occur once I sit for an hour. <br /><br />The online community is great. After one huge mistake in online communities, I have found other places more pleasant. <br /><br />I discussed joining a book club about ten years ago. But, the leader made it clear they don't discuss the author, time the book was written, or anything other than reading their favorite parts. In other words, they read aloud to each other.<br /><br />I had people over once a month for three years. Only one of those people is even friendly to me now other than a passing "How are you?" as I roll through the store on an electric cart. One even had a longer conversation about how all of them got together and what a good time they had. <br /><br />This town is great for rearing children, great for couples, but for a single person, it's the pits. <br /><br />I must say, the part of town I live in affords me great safety and security. So, leaving here would probably make me feel not safe. <br /><br />When new people I meet find out I am the one who lives in the falling down house, I can see by the look on their faces that we will probably not speak again other than in passing, much less being friends. <br /><br />I am not looking for many friends, just a few with whom I at least have something in common. Practical Parsimonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08419071209412207674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611711622146875201.post-83102757716529388412014-04-29T14:49:39.653-04:002014-04-29T14:49:39.653-04:00My last post, the last blogger will allow me to po...My last post, the last blogger will allow me to post, is about finding some human light in this world. For too many years I have had friends in Birmingham and Huntsville and a few here, smack dab in between. My friends my age living here and the other two cities are dying, not to mention the older ones. <br /><br />There was a time I could go to festivals in town, partake in other activities and honestly not feel lonely when I was alone here at the house. My recent search for something is not so much for the desire to be in a flurry of activity or be accepted, but to stave off some of the deleterious affects of isolation in old age. Now, I like isolation in many ways. When I could get to my sewing machines, I whiled away my time happily. <br /><br />I have lived here since 1974 and was always on the outside. My friends for years were other people not from this town. They then moved away for good to escape. <br /><br />Having a spouse goes a long way towards alleviating loneliness. I rarely feel lonely which may be why I feel it so acutely once in a while. The problem is that I am such good company for myself that I rarely miss people. This past year, I decided to get out more in the community. That has been full of angst as anyone who reads my present blog post can see. I am not interested in the drinking crowd or the church crowd. I don't have small children so that I meet other women. Some women are jealous of single women talking to the husband. I don't want to join the knitting group at the library. I never wanted to go to the dances at the VFW. <br /><br />Practical Parsimonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08419071209412207674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611711622146875201.post-2918467828805195402014-04-29T14:45:37.233-04:002014-04-29T14:45:37.233-04:00I can relate to your post in ways. I grew up in a ...I can relate to your post in ways. I grew up in a town of 10k people from ages 6-19. I was fairly well-known and had lots of friends. I moved 5 hours away when I was in college, and ever since I've struggled finding a reliable network of friends. I have my Dad & grandma (Mom passed away) who live an hour away and a wonderful boyfriend, but as far as friends are concerned.. no one I can really count on consistently. They few I do have are wonderful people, but they're from there. They have a difficult time making room in their already busy schedules of work/spouses/children/long time friends for newcomers. Thank goodness I've maintained my closest friendships back home, but even still they're 5 hours away. I remain hopeful that maybe one day I'll develop a small, tight-nit group of gal pals to connect with (where I live now).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611711622146875201.post-86527535495192264202014-04-29T12:13:42.479-04:002014-04-29T12:13:42.479-04:00You're a woman after my own heart. I love spen...You're a woman after my own heart. I love spending time with me - I always get along very well with me :) and am descended from a long line of hermits. I didn't plan to live in PEI alone but the thought doesn't scare me. I have met people there through my blog, have a local pub to hang out in, have made friends in the community so that will be more than enough people to interact with. And our online community is the BEST! I'll be with you wherever you go Sluggy!Janehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02803104035204416080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611711622146875201.post-90594877162667280202014-04-29T11:57:16.950-04:002014-04-29T11:57:16.950-04:00Sluggy, I found your post today to be very sad and...Sluggy, I found your post today to be very sad and yet, so realistic. I don't think any one of us who have had to move to a new town or area hasn't experienced what you have all these years. I've gone through the exact same things. I don't think I even fit in where I was born!<br />My kids often make fun of me because I have no human friends. I had many in my younger years but I've found out maintaining human friendship is a very difficult thing to do. There is always jealousy and envy. I've been betrayed too many times to count by women who swore their allegiance and loyalty. I could have a friend for years but do or say the wrong thing, a fight erupts and the friendship is gone.<br />So, I've maintained family relationships instead. Family can always forgive a misspoken word or deed. Family forgives and understands. That's why I've never moved away from family BUT more closer to them.<br />I understand that not everyone is going to like me and not everyone is going to hate me. I do my best BUT I answer solely to myself. I've joined many a social club (Garden Club, book club, hiking club, yada, yada, yada) and have been appointed to many board memberships. PLUS I always got a job locally which improved my chances of making friends and learning new things about the current area I am residing in. I also volunteered at the local hospital and adult living home. We all need people. Human people. Because the day comes when you're either sick or infirmed, your spouse ain't around and you need that help! You've got to have at least one human being or neighbor that you can physically call to help you! Especially as we get older!<br />I was born in NYC and I did everything in my power to get my kids out of the city. Once they graduated college, where did they go to live? New York City! I cringe each and every time I go there to visit. How can kids, who I slaved for, to grow up in the country, go back into that madness? Live and learn.<br />Please continue to reach out to humans and try to make as many human friends as you can. As we get older we need that network of friends (or aquaintences......whatever) Virtual buddies, however wonderful we are, can not bring you that pot of chicken soup when you have the flu, or go to a drug store to pick up meds (not every store delivers) or can loan you a cup of sugar when you've run out. Am I making any sense? People need people. Don't give up on us. Please don't feel like you don't fit in. Believe me, there are plenty of us who would love just a simple hello, a kind word and companionship. <br />Good luck to you wherever you wind up. I only wish you the best. Much peace and happiness. <br />Don't give up trying to make human friends. Constantly reach out and try, try, try. Take it for what it is. And stay closer to your family.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611711622146875201.post-66104590923570939282014-04-29T10:54:25.600-04:002014-04-29T10:54:25.600-04:00"I hope the little shits appreciated the crap..."I hope the little shits appreciated the crap I went through...... ;-)"-A true good mom statement!<br />I think you should RV for a while and see where the wind blows you. Seems like fun and hey, you can come visit me and fit in. Sonya Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01985227040902078422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611711622146875201.post-4252843264118544532014-04-29T09:50:35.198-04:002014-04-29T09:50:35.198-04:00I can completely understand the difference between...I can completely understand the difference between being alone, being lonely, and being alone in a place full of people. I've never felt like I've fit in anywhere else but my PT job (maybe that's why I'm still there after 9 years, ridiculous commute, ridiculous work practices and annoying, lazy coworkers). I can only hope one day I wont have to feel that way. You're getting me all excited with all this move talk! Taniahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11075300256482920618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611711622146875201.post-85250037093936968632014-04-29T08:31:18.903-04:002014-04-29T08:31:18.903-04:00"We've lived here almost 14 years now and..."We've lived here almost 14 years now and I STILL don't fit in.<br />That's what happens when you move into a small close knit town where everyone has lived here for 5 generations(at least).These folks keep to their "own kind" and after 14 years I am still not accepted."<br />You're telling my story. That's why we had to bug out. And I got tired of people blaming crime and everything else on outsiders moving in from the cities when there were plenty of homegrown criminals and murderers there, as I very painfully found out. We here at clamco will be happy to be part of your support system when you move south, that is, if we're still here by then! Good luck with whatever you decide to do. I know our plans changed from week to week, sometimes day to day, but we wanted to escape winter and we finally made it happen. What an adventure it's been. :-]Lorrainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15328674280714013955noreply@blogger.com