im an american. but it doesnt mean that i am ignorant. so many people in america are so worried about their own privacy, that making friends isnt a big deal. people move around a lot and don't stay in the same place for more than ten years which also limits friends. people would rather just not talk to anyone, look away when they walk by anyone, and just simply ignore others. it makes me sick, i guess, like ghandi says, i have to be the change i want to see in the world, im going to go meet as many people as i can....
me and my husband are really social people. but neighbors and such make it really hard when they refuse to acknowledge that you even waved to them. i've spent years and years with neighbors who won't even tell me their names. it's pretty maddening. i think they're primarily concerned about not being asked to do anything for you. overworked, overstimulated, stressed out and financially burdened...they're looking for some quiet time. obligations are exhausting. thankfully we have some really good friends across the street. we practically live over there.
why don't you just drop out of mainstream society? that is what i did. i put together several jobs to make my career. that allows me one hell of a lot of autonomy with a very, very flexable structure, that allows me to set my own schedule. what this gives me is the freedom to make friends. i have three friends, once i have more three or four friends, i start to feel like i'm streching myself too thin. my friends and i, have also drop out of the "american dream." we all drop out for basiclly the same reason, and, that is, because, it is not the "american dream" to us, but more like the "american nightmare!" from your post, you seem to have awaken to that fact, that what mainstream society calls the "american dream" is, in reality the "american nightmare!"
yeah, don't know how it went from being secure, stable and doing whatever the hell you want to owning a huge house and too many toys.
It's not just America ... I think alot of places in the UK are fairly similar. Ten years is plenty of time to make friends though ... lots of friends, but i think one only needs a few friends though. I hope you legalise marijuana one day
Yeah i think so, I'm not sure what it is anymore ... they keep changing their minds. But i do know that whatever class it is, the punishments are no deterrent.
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-s...abis-linked-to-testicular-cancer-1604487.html yeah, it's still called an illegal substance here, too.
so if america's fucked with the "american nightmare" where can i go to get away. fuck this place. nobody chooses where they are born, but i definately want to choose where i go! i bet california. west somewhere!! i want to see mountains, not advertisments!!
California is still America There's advertisments there too. And it is not a nightmare. It's what you make of it, what you do for yourself to find your own happiness. It is your American right, the pursuit of happiness. Making friends is easy. You simply start by saying hello to everyone you pass by. You smile and look welcoming. You will meet people this way. Start a conversation with total strangers, you can make friends this way. But the question is, what quality of friend do you what. Casual acquaitences or really good friends. A wize man once told me that if you have one really good friend in your lifetime that you are a very fortunate person. Good friends are hard to come by. In fact it may be years before you realize how much of a great friend you have. With that said, be possitive and happy, be accepting and you will make friends. You're a pretty woman. You won't have any problems making friends I would be your friend.... maybe
anyway, don't bother keeping up with the jones', do what you want where you want. that's the real american dream.
Yep, just my thoughts. Seems it's more the case in every large city. Not saying you can't make good friends in a city, but people tend to be more friendly, which often starts with the willing to greet for example, in the countryside. I know from experience there are enough exceptions of course
It must be fate that I came across this thread, because I have been considering the expat thing for a while, I just need to 'bite the bullet' and start exploring. There's a movement that is popular and growing especially among hetero males in the West that there must be a better way of life than what we currently have in the States. Social isolation, consumerism, greed, materialism, superficiality and willful ignorance are just symptoms of a disorder created to destroy the natural humanity that is supposed to be present in all of us. To any that have travelled, which region do you find most pleasurable to live in, with the friendliest people? Asia, Latin America or Europe? Also, what problems have you encountered with perceptions that people of other countries have about Americans? If anyone can direct me to some sources on the web, such as expat portals, forums, etc., let me know...
california?! are you outta your mind?try denver. there's mountains everywhere and everyone is pretty happy to be there.
