Making "New" Friends

[motherto2]

I used to have a lot of friends, but through the years I've kind of backed out of the social scene. It started because one of my friend's had an affair with my first husband, and then one of my close friends that knew all of the inside ugliness got way too friendly with my second husband (we had only been married about 6 weeks). That really gives you some deep scars and trust issues. So as time went on, if you had kids involved in activities that my kids were in, I'd see you and maybe get together. But now that the kids are grown and gone, my work schedule is hard to work around. One of my biggest excitements about retiring next year and moving is being able to make new friends. The area I'm moving to has a "newbies club" that gets together, and inside of that club are smaller similar interest clubs. they have a singles club of folks not looking to date but that are single and get together to do things. That is what I'm looking forward to. I'm somewhat shy, so this is a huge undertaking for me to move away from where I've lived for almost 50 years and where I don't know a single person. But I'm up to the challenge!

[empress of self-improvement]

I have one friend. We have been friends since Junior High. DH's friends all disappeared when he was diagnosed over 20 years ago because apparently MS is like cooties and is very contagious. Only one that stuck around has no choice whatsoever because he married my sister. SUCKER!

[MarleyKeezy78]

My longest friend I have known since we were four, we hung out on and off through school, lost touch after graduation and reconnected in our early 20's. Our kids are around the same age and we get together a couple times a year to do things with or without the kiddos. It's a comfortable friendship with no expectations or pressure and it's nice   I hadn't really had friends otherwise in a very long time, although I do hangout with my cousins and we are all pretty close so I never felt like I was missing out but I did meet a mom at the bus stop this year, they moved in over the summer and lives three doors down, one of her kids is in the same grade as my kid and her other is a couple years younger, we had a couple play dates and from that time on we became fast friends! Our kids get along awesome and her and I go do things all the time, she's freaking amazing!!! Because of her, I have dug myself out of a pit of depression and have been able to be an all around better, wife, mom, friend and person   

[swamp]

I socialize at my kids activities.

I used to be a big drinker/partier. Now I'm lame.

[mojothehelpermonkey]

Last summer we moved from a large city where most of our closest friends lived to a tiny, insular town. We didn't get to know anyone in the tiny town too well, but we are both okay with that. It seemed like the kind of place where people have have known each other since elementary school and/or they keep to themselves.
We just moved to a larger town where my brother lives. He has a lot of friends and plays in a band on the weekends, so we could probably have an active social life if we wanted one, but we like hanging out at home with the pets.
On a side note, FaceBook/social media gets a lot of well-deserved criticism, but I like how it allows me to easily stay in touch with my closest friends from high school, college, and grad school. I have good friends from all of those stages in life, but our friendships probably wouldn't have lasted if we had to send a letter or travel every time we wanted to check in with each other.

[countrygirl2]

We are in a small insular town now. 200 people

My husband grew up near here and they know him but I lived about 10 miles north and in the

country.  Almost everyone I knew of there is gone, dead, or involved with their families.

Same here, we do not drink or go to church so its rough. They know DH but I'm kind of an

afterthought. Oh well.

I enjoy talking to folks here and say more then I ever would to people where we live. We do not share

personal info though I'm sure people know we have savings, etc.

Can't really fraternize with many of the people hubby worked with when he was here. He moved

into a different circle and higher income so makes it difficult. No matter what we think I'm sure

we brought a lot of the city back with us. The bigotry etc is here just like we found that out in

this last election. I couldn't believe it, its there just right under the surface. It's just like having

a motorhome, even if its old I don't know of anyone else around here that has one.  A few have

travel trailers, moreso at town.  Lots of people have them at the lake but who we don't know,

they seem to be set up permanent there.  So again small groups that know each other.

Hubby misses the comraderie of being with other men, I can survive.