Sometime early last week I looked around my new digs.... and something was missing (well aside from the square footage I once had, and half my stuff.)

Most things are in their place, and I have settled in quite nicely.  My clothes hang in the closets, my few remaining books reside on the shelves, some Lego is displayed and stored, my quilts hang upon the walls, and there are no more cardboard boxes strewn about.

This place is beyond humble, but it speaks to me.  Its not filled with precious antiques, nor fragile decorative items, no memories, nor rules upon how one must be in this space.  A blank canvas if you will, it's the basics, (well plus a whole crap load of ABS, but aside from the Lego, and the over abundance of plants on the balcony...) this nothingness is pretty much what I need.  Place to eat, place to sleep, and place to play.

When my sister visited, she said "It looks like you have lived here for years" and I think she meant I look to be comfortable in my space, and to be surrounded by the things that make me happy, and I truly am.  But I havent lived here for years, and that is one of the wonderful bits about living here.  Everything is new, my space, my town, my surroundings, etc. and there is something refreshing about that.

SO yes, Im happy here, aside from a few obvious sad bits.  I miss my kids something terribly, but they have their own needs, and Im so proud of who they have grown up to be.  I also miss my friends and this one sort of hit me from out of the blue.  I mean, yes, I knew I would miss them, but I had no idea how profoundly so.

So, as I said, Im sitting here looking around (and once all the chores of moving in were complete), I started realizing there is a huge thing missing from life.

Friendship.  Or more precisely, close proximity friendship.

Well, making friends in a city where you dont know a soul seemed a bit daunting... but I figured, if I dont do anything about this soon, I will never make friends...and I will be alone in my apt. staring at the walls.   So, I stuck myself out there a bit teetering between self sufficiency and the need for companionship, and so far the reaction has been good.  I made a list of what I can do to meet like-minded individuals and perhaps end up with some friendships, and so far this is basically what has happened over the past week.

1. I posted about one hobby Im interested in and began looking for locals that would want to meet regularly, and it seems to have blossomed quite nicely. I was lucky enough to find someone else that is just as keen to kick start this venture.
2. I found out where different groups meet (got to love the internet) for other hobbies that interest me, took a chance on that last night and was pleasantly surprised.  Making plans to do that again this coming week.
3. I started to network a bit behind the scenes via online groups of various hobbies/pastimes/passions that peek my interest.
4. I went back to my old town to spend time with old friends, because as amazing as new friends are, nothing beats the history between people that know so much.
5. I made some plans to have a few different friends to come visit with me over the next few months.
6. Seriously contemplating taken some course or classes to met other people, particularly something around dance, or art come fall when my son returns back to school.
7. Lastly and most hazy currently, Im developing ways that will promote my need to create and perhaps link me to artists from the area as well. 

The last one is going to take some work, but I am happy with the response from the first four parts of the plan.

So I cant complain, and I also cant say I don't know a soul in Guelph anymore.  If this leads to any long term friendships, well I guess only time will tell but in rare not very Janey- like moment, I will remain optimistically hopeful.

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