I like to think that my best years are ahead. When I moved away from New York to be near my sister because I was illl for a while, I tried very hard to make new friends. I joined library groups, political groups, etc. -oh, I joined a church and became active in social activities. Almost everyone there was in for the socialization rather than worship. I failed miserably. There were major cultural problems. I admit to being very urban in my outlook. Education and sophistication are ideals.
I gave up and returned to the New York area. My law license is in New York. Everything about me is related to New York. It seems much easier to meet people in an urban environment. There are so many interest groups. People are passionate. Also, there is a pool of professionals my age. I am finding it a bit difficult to go out. It worked for me in the past. If I could not live in New York, I would choose Paris or San Francisco.
The transition is difficult, though. I feel strongly that a WT education lacks basic social skills. In fact, I could cringe when I recall what I did not know. There are groups that teach social skills. We have to absorb so many immigrants. As I climbed up the social ladder, I found people near the top to be very social and warm. I recall pushing myself into mixers. My new rule is that I must make the effort. Certain groups of people want fresh faces. Others do not.
It looks as though the Metropolitan Museum of Art is still the largest hangout in the city. Perhaps if I were a rural person, I would have made rural friends.