By The Wiz
I do like it in Arizona. Really I do. I’m just BORED out of my skull. Lonely, too. Because, really, I have no friends here.
Now, before you all start telling me to throw a barbecue or something, let me also tell you that I’m a fairly introverted person. I am NOT comfortable walking around to people I don’t know and inviting them to my house. It might be an effective way to get to know my neighbors, and it might have worked for you, but it’s not going to happen here. Nuh-uh.
So, I guess I deserve to be lonely, then? Probably. I do enjoy staying home and reading books, surfing the web, etc. And daily alone time is required for my sanity, and for me, loneliness is not the worst thing that can happen. But every now and again I’d like to call someone up and say “I need a break. Let’s do a movie.” I want that option! I need a couple of friends. Not a lot, really, just a few here and there.
So, I am actively recruiting all my current friends to move here. None of them want to. I think it’s just rude, really, that they don’t want to uproot their families, go through house hunting and selling hell, and change jobs just so they can hit Trader Joe’s with me, (oh, the glory of having a Trader Joe’s!) or make fun of bad movies, or commisserate with me as I drive through scary monsoons and watch for rattlesnakes. Somehow, these things don’t appeal to them.
My kids are adjusting beautifully, though, and my daughter’s main complaint: It rains too much in Arizona. Hee hee. Didn’t see that one coming.




We’re about to go through the same thing here. I feel your pain. All of my “close” friends live states away & I would really love to just have them here. With me. So that we can just take a break & go see Harry Potter (which I haven’t seen yet) or go out for ice cream or Chinese.
I am lonely, too. And I want that option, too. I’m so sorry you’re feeling that way.
BTW - I just finished reading the last HP book and I have NO ONE here to talk to about it. Oh the sadness I feel.
Comment #1 by Natalie S.July 25th, 2007 at 2:37 pmHmmm…Want to get together with a random strange redheaded person (with or without her six children) known only from the internet?
I’m in the West Valley but I like driving. Let me know if you’re interested =)
And yes, TJ’s is fabulous!
Comment #2 by TéaJuly 25th, 2007 at 2:40 pmYou know, Téa, once the humidity (or temperature) drops we should have that picnic we were planning (what was it, like a year ago? man time flies) and call it a bloggersnacker for AZ bloggers.
Comment #3 by StarfoxyJuly 25th, 2007 at 3:57 pmI have moved more times than I care to remember in my life so I totally get where you are coming from.
Comment #4 by AJuly 25th, 2007 at 5:03 pmI also live in the valley of the sun. (Tempe) The summer is a hard time to move here because everyone hibernates in their houses from the heat! Or leaves town. So it can be doubly hard to get to know people. But give it time and you’ll get to know poeple. (And BTW I thought your entry on the weird ward you visited here while house hunting was hilarious!! I hope the ward you moved into is normal.)
I’m always trying to get my friends to move up here but so far, no luck. Some of them would like to in a theoretical way, but no one’s actually done it. Sigh.
Comment #5 by dangermomJuly 25th, 2007 at 7:08 pmI’m all for an Arizona bloggersnacker. My sister loves attending them in Boston and has met a lot of great people that way.
I too moved to Arizona at the start of the summer in 2005 and it was really hard to get to know people for the reasons mentioned above. (the heat, everyone out of town, etc.) It’s taken me quite a while to even find some acquaintances in my ward. I’m shy and also have the distinction of being in one of the “weird wards” highlighted in ‘Adventures in Arizona’. (one of the best threads ever…)
Although there was a ton of rain today, assure your daughter that it’s truly a passing trend. When my two year old suddenly declares, “Look mommy, clouds” you know that you live in a place where weather (and even clouds) are a rare sight indeed.
Comment #6 by ZinkaJuly 25th, 2007 at 8:09 pmI am an Arizona blogger - I live in Mesa - my ward is not so weird - but it took me a long time to find good friends here. I think you have to go through a “weeding out” period - to sort the wheat from the tares and find the friends who will be really great. I am totally inviting myself to your get together.
Comment #7 by JoleneJuly 25th, 2007 at 11:24 pmWhen I really needed friends to do things with, I joined the MOMS club. I have loved it. momsclub.org
Send some of the rain to LA - we really need it!
Comment #8 by Mrs. MJuly 26th, 2007 at 12:27 amWell, ya know, one way to get to know people quickly is to be called as the Relief Society President…….or to head up the Activities Committee! You could be partyin’ with your peeps in no time flat.
Sigh…..we miss you here too.
Comment #9 by Tammy and ParkerJuly 26th, 2007 at 1:35 amThere are SO many bloggers in AZ- I would totally come to a bloggersnacker- if I wasn’t in the Northwest. Clouds, here, are NOT an unusual sight. Actually, it’s more like the sun that causes my Monkeys to exclaim in delight.
Comment #10 by Tracy MJuly 26th, 2007 at 11:11 amI know you weren’t asking, but - you should start a book club. It’s an awesome way to make new friends if you aren’t all that social. No awkward small talk, no commitment to do something other than book club, but you get to talk about things on a deeper level, find people you connect with and that often LEADS to good friendships.
Comment #11 by SueJuly 26th, 2007 at 12:18 pmYAY! to an AZ bloggersnacker. I just invited myself, too:) I moved here in the summer ‘04 and it was the first move of my entire life. With no friends and some crazy in-law’s I’ve been forced to make new friends. It’s taken a while for me to come out of my shell but it’s been a great learning experience and I’ve made a few good friends along the way.
Comment #12 by Methodical WormerJuly 26th, 2007 at 12:23 pmLooks like your plea is working, Wiz!
How about using your kids as friend-bait? Have your kids invite friends over and try and corner the parents at pick-up/drop-off to chat and set up your own play dates…
Or is that creepy? I have no idea.
Comment #13 by SarahJuly 26th, 2007 at 4:52 pmI’m an introvert too and hate socializing in groups. I made up my mind the last time we moved, though, to step outside myself a bit and no longer be one of those “fall through the cracks” types. I started a book club in the ward, which was a hit—mainly with all the little old ladies, but it was fun. It’s still going strong although I had to bail on it when I started working fulltime. Then our ward was dissolved and I’m thinking of starting up a photography club now.
These types of activities are perfect for introverts to get to know people—like Sue said, not much small talk needed. You have an agenda to follow. You don’t even have to host it, someone else is usually ready to. (I can’t host anything, in a small apt.)
Comment #14 by Susan MJuly 26th, 2007 at 5:08 pmOk, I’m inviting myself, too, and I can host. I’m in central Phoenix (5 minutes off of I-10 for the Tucson people). Interested people can email me at clyde underscore curtis at yahoo dot com.
Comment #15 by EmilyCCJuly 26th, 2007 at 6:35 pmOkay, Wiz, you now have at least 8 bloggersnacker buddies. I don’t think anyone in the Bloggernacle lives near me. I almost feel as out of the loop as you’re feeling with your move… I guess I will just have to hold a bloggersnacker with my DH who frequents the ‘nacle. :]
I hope you will feel more at home soon!
Comment #16 by MichelleJuly 26th, 2007 at 10:36 pmAnyone in Missouri? We’re moving in a week (we’ve known for one week) and I don’t know a soul! You gotta love getting together with moms!
Comment #17 by CheckersJuly 29th, 2007 at 1:20 amI no longer live in the Valley, but would drive over for a Bloggersnacker…
Comment #18 by AmyJuly 30th, 2007 at 11:00 amFMH is getting an Arizona bloggersnacker together for the end of August…FYI
Comment #19 by AmyJuly 30th, 2007 at 2:32 pmHere’s the fMh link for the AZ snacker.
Comment #20 by JessawhyAugust 2nd, 2007 at 10:54 pmEmily at EXII is offering to host it. Families are invited and the suggested dates are Aug 25 (sat) and Sep 11 (tues) but I think the last one might be a typo b/c we’re expecting people from all over and Saturday would be a better day for people who have to drive.
http://www.feministmormonhousewives.org/?p=1278
Hope to meet many of you there!