Temporary? Insanity

I am currently accepting applications for new neighbours. Well, not next door neighbours, as we’ve an empty lot on one side (lovely people, very quiet), and a charming retired couple on the other. A couple who move from their back deck to their front when our kids come outside so they can watch and hear them play. Who laughingly brushed aside our apologies over Becca running over and knocking on their door so often, saying they’re half deaf anyway. Who said they’ll have to keep the cookie jar full more often now that there’s two little cuties running around.

Oh yes, the near neighbour situation is quite lovely, actually. My world in general though? Is starting to threaten a serious lack of good friends, and I’m feeling a bit panicky.

So I’m going to do something mildly crazy here and list the friendships I’ve got going on up here in Middle’o'Nowhere, BC. Crazy because I’m bound to forget someone who I’ll suddenly find out reads my blog and bam. Another one will bite the dust. Still, I’m a bit upset and muddled and making lists calms me, so here goes.

Angela: By far my closest friend here. We’ve next to nothing in common but get on fabulously (most of the time!) regardless. She’s my would-call-at-3am-if-I-needed-help-friend.
Trine: I think she’s my only friend here who reads my blog (Hi Trine!). Oops, no wait…Erin does as well (Hi Erin!). She’s been here, what, a year or so, and I already can’t imagine life without her. She’s one of those friends who inspires with her good example without making you feel inferior. Love that about her.
Jenn: Hard to describe this lovely lady. She’s such a delight. Her adventurous spirit, her dedication to the earth, her hard working nature. She homeschools her children and like Trine she inspires me to be a better Mom.
Erin: A new friend but already a close one. We have these amazingly honest and deep conversations that always leave me grinning.
Georgia: One of the happiest most outgoing women I’ve ever met. She’s sweet and effusive. Wears her heart on her sleeve.
Claire: She lives literally across the street from me and I think she’s lovely but I haven’t got over my social inhibitions enough to get to know her yet.

So looking at that list I can’t help but count myself lucky. I’ve got some fabulous friends here, especially considering we’ve only been here two years and I’m mortally afraid of phoning people, tend towards hermitage, and drop off the face of the earth whenever I get a good story idea. Of course, I’ve some “acquaintances” who could become friends at some point. Heck, I invited a couple we met at the park to dinner this evening (okay, so I’m not as wild as all that, we were at a birthday party and they were super nice). Neil’s thinking I’m nuts of course, but he always does, so no worries.

So why am I getting panicky? Why am I spending much of my spare time mulling over how I can trick, beg, or coax people to move to my neck of the woods?

Because half of the gals on that list? Are threatening to leave me! Yes, yes, there’s some talk of better opportunities and happier lives for them and whatnot, but really what it comes down to is this…They’re leaving me!

Trine’s husband is interviewing for a job that will take them two hours North of here. Erin and her hubby are looking at buying farmland in the same area and leaving by the end of the summer. Jenn and her husband are finishing up the rennovations on their house and plan to sell at the end of summer and then move to who knows where, possibly the other side of the province. And Georgia is planning to move two hours east of here as soon as she possibly can, as she grew up here and wants to escape to the big city (and escape her crazy mum as well, long story).

I’m left with a wide eyed, lip quivering sort of expression on. I mean, I don’t exactly make friends easily, and more than half of mine are going to abandon me to the social equivalent of Siberia.

I’m sure you’d like it here. It’s quite pretty. It hardly ever rains. The people are friendly.

And there’d be this kind of quirky but nice gal living down the street from you. She’s a bit needy, but come one, who doesn’t want to be needed?

Right? Come on…right?!