All my really good girlfriends are scattered across the Western Hemisphere:
- Angela is in Los Angeles
Charlotte is in San Diego
Ann is in New York
Cindy is in Atlanta
April is in London
These are the women I really connect with, the ones I really have a good time with, the ones I can talk about anything with. Sure, I have a few close female friends here, but no one I really connect with that closely.
Is that just due to the circumstances of my life? I work in a small shop, so there aren't scads of people to sort through to find good friends. And my industry (cabinetmaking) is pretty damn male-oriented, so the chances of even finding a female to test out are pretty slim. Plus I'm pretty lame when it comes to having a social life. I'm a bit of a hermit, I need someone else to drag me out of the house from time to time. Luis does that pretty well, but he's a boy, and that's just different.
Or is it a matter of my age? I've just turned 40, although I don't feel like it, nor do I act like it. Portland is a pretty young town though. Most women my age are having babies, it seems. And the women who like to go out to bars, or to see bands, or whatever, are usually doing that more often than I'm able to (the thought of going to work hung over or tired and having to work with power tools kinda scares me!). Or they are just younger than me and, dang it!, I'm starting to feel that generation gap!
I'm starting to wonder if Portland is too hippie for me too. I mean, it's nice to have a supportive, progressive, forward-thinking community, but I miss the harshness of a bigger town. I miss the variety of a bigger town. Here we have a ton of variations on the hippie, the hipster, the socially concerned. To be a "rebel" in this town is difficult, because no matter what you do, you are supported! Wanna be a punk? Ok. Wanna be homeless? Well, we don't want that for you, but we will work hard to make sure you get whatever you need in order to remain homeless. Wanna be an MBA-holding, suit-wearing business person? Ok, but really there is no need for the suit. Wanna be a soccer mom? Sure, we'll even sell you a hybrid mini-van so you can be an eco-soccer mom!
All I want is a group of friends who will come over on a Sunday and sit in the back yard with me and talk trash about our lives. Anyone interested?
1 comment:
Feel the same about Austin now that I am back here. To hippie and laid back. So I have just started dressing up and doing what I want. I purchased a silk dress and the woman at the store asked if I had a special occassion coming up and I said "Friday". It is my summer dress and really super nice and screw them for all wearing flip flops and shorts!
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