Making new friends in Washington

[MyAzi]

It has been tough making new friendships here in WA. I quickly found out I wasn't alone in that. I thought for a bit it might be me... bad mouthwash perhaps? Well I have come to learn about this place that you really need to put yourself out there. I have met a lot of wonderful people and everyone is so nice, yet friendships up here is difficult. Everyone is so busy with their families or work or seem to already have their groups.

Well because of this site....

Today I made a new friend... and guess what? She is on this forum! Schro181!

We met at a Starbucks (naturally), talked for a bit and seemed to hit it off. She is really nice and down to earth. Seems to be a real solid person. After our coffee I needed to get a gift for a friend and she went with me. We drove to down town Issaquah. We both bought something and then I wanted to show her the Plateau. She hadn't been up here. So up the hill we came and I think she liked the view but you will have to ask her. I showed her where I live and after that I took her back to her car. We drove past where she lives and we can't be more than a 12 min drive away. We talked about getting together next week so I can show her around some more. We just may hit one of those Malls Duff talked about.

[Wyoming53]

You are truely a lucky person. Anytime you can make a friend, it's special. You can always be friendly, but that's not the same.

Remember. A friend will watch you kill somebody and not say a word. A true friend will help you hide the body.

[the dufferz]

Originally Posted by MyAzi

It has been tough making new friendships here in WA. I quickly found out I wasn't alone in that. I thought for a bit it might be me... bad mouthwash perhaps? Well I have come to learn about this place that you really need to put yourself out there. I have met a lot of wonderful people and everyone is so nice, yet friendships up here is difficult. Everyone is so busy with their families or work or seem to already have their groups.

Well because of this site....

Today I made a new friend... and guess what? She is on this forum! Schro181!

We met at a Starbucks (naturally), talked for a bit and seemed to hit it off. She is really nice and down to earth. Seems to be a real solid person. After our coffee I needed to get a gift for a friend and she went with me. We drove to down town Issaquah. We both bought something and then I wanted to show her the Plateau. She hadn't been up here. So up the hill we came and I think she liked the view but you will have to ask her. I showed her where I live and after that I took her back to her car. We drove past where she lives and we can't be more than a 12 min drive away. We talked about getting together next week so I can show her around some more. We just may hit one of those Malls Duff talked about.

I am so glad that you have found someone! That warms my soul.

Talkstates continues to absolutely make my day!

Do a field trip, visit Alderwood mall! It's worth the trip. (oh, you drive right past Totem lake mall, so.....

[MyAzi]

Duff that Totem Lake Mall... is that the one with the Guitar Center? If so that is like a stip mall... Or did I miss something?

[Jenbar]

That's nice. It's always fun (and interesting) to meet people from online.

[washington native]

Originally Posted by Jenbar

That's nice. It's always fun (and interesting) to meet people from online.

hiding bodies also is a great source of fun as well.

[Wyody]

Azi - and other folks looking for a way to spend some time and make friends - there was (maybe still is) a boy's orphanage down by Centralia. Used to hire some older boys out of there when I did work in WA. I would assume there is a similar facility for girls some where around. These are young people who need their bases touched every now and then. Perhaps WANative has current info on the boy's home.

[washington native]

Originally Posted by Wyody

Azi - and other folks looking for a way to spend some time and make friends - there was (maybe still is) a boy's orphanage down by Centralia. Used to hire some older boys out of there when I did work in WA. I would assume there is a similar facility for girls some where around. These are young people who need their bases touched every now and then. Perhaps WANative has current info on the boy's home.

wyody - wow, i haven't lived in that area for so long, i have a hard time knowing much of anything that's up-to-date. but, i'd guess you're talking about the boys home (can't think of the name of it, and it wasn't an orphange, it was a home for troubled kids) that used to house boys between centralia and olympia, which no longer is there. most of those kids have been sent to chehalis (green hill), which is nothing more than a kiddie prison.

[Wyody]

Originally Posted by washington native

wyody - wow, i haven't lived in that area for so long, i have a hard time knowing much of anything that's up-to-date. but, i'd guess you're talking about the boys home (can't think of the name of it, and it wasn't an orphange, it was a home for troubled kids) that used to house boys between centralia and olympia, which no longer is there. most of those kids have been sent to chehalis (green hill), which is nothing more than a kiddie prison.

The troubled-kids part rings the bell. It was my first extended visit to WA - and I don't think I drove so far as near Olympia so, must've been at Chehalis ... but seems more it was N/NW of Centralia while my project area was N/NE. The fellas I got were all okay guys - older teens with chainsaws - felt pretty safe around them (egad) but had to have them back every night.

[washington native]

Originally Posted by Wyody

The troubled-kids part rings the bell. It was my first extended visit to WA - and I don't think I drove so far as near Olympia so, must've been at Chehalis ... but seems more it was N/NW of Centralia while my project area was N/NE. The fellas I got were all okay guys - older teens with chainsaws - felt pretty safe around them (egad) but had to have them back every night.

i'm not so sure they let the "kids" at green hill now use anything more than plastic knives for dinner much less chainsaws. what year we talkin' wyody?

[Wyody]

Originally Posted by washington native

i'm not so sure they let the "kids" at green hill now use anything more than plastic knives for dinner much less chainsaws. what year we talkin' wyody?

I think about '86/'87 - maybe a year earlier. Actually, I did it for two straight Januarys - but used canoes the next time and didn't need saw-boys.

[MyAzi]

Originally Posted by Wyody

Azi - and other folks looking for a way to spend some time and make friends - there was (maybe still is) a boy's orphanage down by Centralia. Used to hire some older boys out of there when I did work in WA. I would assume there is a similar facility for girls some where around. These are young people who need their bases touched every now and then. Perhaps WANative has current info on the boy's home.

Okay... I hope this doesn't make me sound like a horrible person... But I am DONE with kids...

I have been raising kids almost my entire adult like and before that I was the older cousin always in charge of the little ones. My kids are grown and I still have someone else's 14 year old I care for in this house. That will soon change and I am tired! I think this is one of the reasons I find it challenging to find people near my age to hang out with. They all seem to have kids at home and are so involved in their lives. I don't want soccer games and birthday parties anymore... Just grown people and grown up conversations that aren't ONLY about kids.

Now with that said... I love kids really I do...

[WendyBG]

Originally Posted by MyAzi

It has been tough making new friendships here in WA. I quickly found out I wasn't alone in that. I thought for a bit it might be me... bad mouthwash perhaps? Well I have come to learn about this place that you really need to put yourself out there. I have met a lot of wonderful people and everyone is so nice, yet friendships up here is difficult. Everyone is so busy with their families or work or seem to already have their groups.

Is this any different, for WA, than for anywhere else?

Actually, I find it much easier to make friends, in WA, than anywhere else I have lived (all of which were in the northeast).

Like you, I my interest is in adult conversation and friendship. (I never had kids, and I find personally relating to kids, and discussions about kids, to be very much not my thing. In fact, when adults bring their kids, to visit, the adult disucussion generally gets interrupted, etc...so, I usually avoid people with kids.)

I have met many people, in my neighborhood, just by walking my dogs, and chatting with everyone I met. I met a woman who has M.S., and committed to walking with her, every day. Although she slows me down, I feel that helping her to keep moving is a nice thing to do, and we have become friends.

I joined a religious congregation. A religious congregation often has events, where you can meet, and become friendly, with nice people. The depth of religious/ social commitment varies, from congregation to congregation. There are plenty of choices, so you can move from one to the next, until you find one that suits.

I joined a yoga class, and became friends with the teacher (who is an interesting, unusual woman).

If I wanted to meet more people, I would join hobby groups, such as the Master Gardeners or a trail club. There are local theaters, which always welcome volunteers. Any venue, where you work side-by-side, with people who have similar interests, can be a place to meet friends.

Wendy

[kimbercuddles]

One of the things that is difficult for us is that we started REALLY late...most people our age have grown-up kids. There seem to be either really young parents with young children or older couples with children who have left the coop. We are young at heart and will be starting our beach volleyball league (just for fun) this week. I'm thinking that will be another way to meet people in a fun atmosphere. We also go to the park quite frequently, but it's difficult to just walk up to people and say, "Hello, my name is Kimberly. Would you be my friend?"

[washington native]

Originally Posted by kimbercuddles

One of the things that is difficult for us is that we started REALLY late...most people our age have grown-up kids. There seem to be either really young parents with young children or older couples with children who have left the coop. We are young at heart and will be starting our beach volleyball league (just for fun) this week. I'm thinking that will be another way to meet people in a fun atmosphere. We also go to the park quite frequently, but it's difficult to just walk up to people and say, "Hello, my name is Kimberly. Would you be my friend?"

try walking around with a thermos full of margaritas and using that line ... i actually think it'd be a hit.

[simplyjacy]

I found a friend in KimCuddles!!!

[isabel]

Originally Posted by kimbercuddles

One of the things that is difficult for us is that we started REALLY late...most people our age have grown-up kids. There seem to be either really young parents with young children or older couples with children who have left the coop. We are young at heart and will be starting our beach volleyball league (just for fun) this week. I'm thinking that will be another way to meet people in a fun atmosphere. We also go to the park quite frequently, but it's difficult to just walk up to people and say, "Hello, my name is Kimberly. Would you be my friend?"

We have something in common. I'm 52 and my youngest is 3 yrs old. My oldest is 35 years old. We have five kids. 3, 5, 7, 31, 35, and two grand kids 3,4.

Most of our friends our age, took a hike...when we adopted our three youngest ones. Their kids are all grown and are not really interested in having the kids over to their houses. They have lots of break able items and the kids are too noisy.

Young couples, with kids, don't have our life experiences and we have a hard time relating to them.

I completely understand cuddles. Nice to find someone like us.

Izzy

[kimbercuddles]

Originally Posted by washington native

try walking around with a thermos full of margaritas and using that line ... i actually think it'd be a hit.

I'll let you know how that works out for me, native!

[kimbercuddles]

Originally Posted by simplyjacy

I found a friend in KimCuddles!!!

And likewise, jacy...I'm very glad to have met you!

[kimbercuddles]

Originally Posted by isabel

We have something in common. I'm 52 and my youngest is 3 yrs old. My oldest is 35 years old. We have five kids. 3, 5, 7, 31, 35, and two grand kids 3,4.

Most of our friends our age, took a hike...when we adopted our three youngest ones. Their kids are all grown and are not really interested in having the kids over to their houses. They have lots of break able items and the kids are too noisy.

Young couples, with kids, don't have our life experiences and we have a hard time relating to them.

I completely understand cuddles. Nice to find someone like us.

Izzy

I agree, izzy, but I think it also keeps us young at heart...nothing like having a 3 or 4 year old around! I'm glad we waited, though...we were able to get a lot of that "wildness and immaturity" out of our systems before we had children. I am able to concentrate on the happiness of my family, now, instead of myself...as I had done previously. I've also learned that when people around me are happy, it makes me happy, also. Sounds mushy, I know, but it's true.

[isabel]

Yes, we have no time to think about getting old. As I'm typing this the kids are cannon balling in the bath tub. Giggling and screaming with joy. The floor will be flooded, but they will be clean.:) It is all about family. There is no bigger blessing. Better go mop the bathroom floor.:)

Izzy

[MyAzi]

Originally Posted by washington native

try walking around with a thermos full of margaritas and using that line ... i actually think it'd be a hit.

Now you're singing my tune Native!!! I would even call myself Kimberly... no one would have to know!!!

come to think of it... by the end of that thermos I wouldn't care if I had friends... I could be my own friend!!!

[Jenbar]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/pac...213/cover.html

[MyAzi]

Great article Jen... Thanks for posting that link!!!

[WendyBG]

Originally Posted by Jenbar

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/pac...213/cover.html

What an interesting article!

Wendy