Do you remember neighborhood parties? Or when the kids were gone from sun up to sun down in the neighborhood? It’s rare to see today, but some neighborhoods still do. More than ever we migrate to family and close friends. Our socializing is more through social media than face to face contact.
I’m thrilled social media has given those of us traveling through life a way to stay in contact with our friends and family who are now far and wide. What the crew of Fawkes has found is that neighborhoods change with the seasons but we find new neighbors all the time and the places may change but the sense of neighborhood remains.
Elena Aitken Author talks about this in her blog “I’ve Known You So Long, We’re Practically Related” when she talks about her Bestie or BFF (Best Friends Forever).
And, Megan Nafke’s Blog Thanks all her Blogging Buddies last week when the people around her aren’t paying much attention to her needs.
The longevity of friendships in my world takes on new meaning because we come and go so often , but I can assure you when we see old friends in new places a party is in order. Of course, that means we meet new friends as well. Our social circle keeps getting bigger. Last week a marina we frequent hosted a crab fest giving us a chance to connect to our friends.
Is your social circle growing? Do you have time in your busy life to connect with friends?
Nancy, thanks for the shout out!
I love your blog. I’ve been lucky enough to spend a lot of ‘holiday’s’ as a cruiser because my parents live the life. Their boat has been all over the place, but currently it’s hanging out in Grenada. Which means….Grenada here we come. 🙂
Elena, I can’t wait, we’ll be there, too, someday soon. It’s nice to know you have some of the language I speak. 😉
Nice to hear that others are also finding support through social media when traditional neighborhoods are unavailable. Thank you for linking to my blog. I found your article very insightful.
You’re welcome. I wish the traditional neighborhoods were a reality, but it’s the exception today.
As I get busier in the writing arena, my real life social circle gets smaller, and my internet social circle grows. And old friends only grow more important. I enjoy your blog, Nancy. 🙂
Piper, social life is a hard balancing act, but one that is so important. Thanks for coming aboard.
It’s always been difficult for me to maintain connections with real life friends. I like face time together, or real time chatting over the phone. Most of my real life friends are too busy to give that, so I prefer social media like Twitter and blogging. It requires a time commitment, and I know people are willing to give that time, which makes me feel valued. (Facebook is a different matter. In fact, I was resistant to it for so long because I didn’t want to be “just a friend in a news feed.”)
So I like chatting with people online because they’re actually there. 🙂
Angela, I understand. I do like facebook because a lot of the cruising community is there. I can keep in touch with them despite the fact we may not see each other for a year or more, but we have similar experiences. I like both. I’d rather have one on one time with my friends, face to face, but I’ll take what I can get.
Between the day job, raising the boys, exercising, writing, blogging, my spare time is limited, but I do make sure I meet with my friends at least twice monthly to have a few beers or glasses of wine just to stay connected. My cyber circle of friends has gotten fairly wide and though we don’t see each other face-to-face, I still feel close to them and know they have my back, as I have theirs. As a writer, it is a necessary fact of life, but I really do enjoy it.
Diana, I agree, my cyber friends are growing exponentially. I do like the common ground we have outside of my normal social circle. But face to face time is still my favorite.
Connect with friends? You bet I do. I get together weekly with some and monthly with other. Those too far away are in touch through cards, letters and e-mails. 🙂 Hello Friend, hugs…