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Jenny Johnson's avatar

Thank you for writing this. It gave me a lot to think about. I guess I would qualify as an Alaskan townie and I fear I might be a Meg. If it helps, my reason for avoiding new friendships usually has more to do with my own anxiety/insecurity than anything about the other person. New people make me a little nervous. I do make new friends, but it's usually a long process. However, this sweet piece has inspired me to reconsider friendship advances. If you never take a risk, you miss the chance to gain something wonderful. Like a beautiful new friend!

What you said about the siblings is spot on true. I'm very close with my brother and his wife. I also have a LOT of cousins that occupy much of my social time. Not to mention my husbands equally large family. We basically have a built in social structure!

My husband told me all about the Seattle Freeze. He struggled with that when he lived there and usually ended up dating either Alaskan transplants like himself, or girls from elsewhere. Never Seattle natives though. He couldn't seem to attract their interest. Interesting phenomenon!

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prue batten's avatar

SUCH a good post.

No I don't have masses of friends. I can count them on the fingers of one and a half hands. But that's good because they're very important and we're kindred spirits.

I learned early in life that some folk can be plain nasty and that rudeness is globally endemic. I have a husband who is the other half of my soul and I have my dog and my kids and my grandson. It's pretty well all my life needs to make it complete.

I've lived here and there in Australia - but returned with family to my island home about 30 years ago. The friends I returned to interestingly are not the friends I have now. Time and people change.

But I'm content...

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