This is actually one topic I feel qualified to speak about. I have been living in England for about 6 years, coming from Florida before that. I don't really miss America, just certain aspects here and there. Overall though, I am quite happy in this country.
When I first came over, my husband had just signed into a mortgage on a house in north Nottinghamshire. Unfortunately we couldn't have been in a worse place if we tried. It was terraced housing and the 2 houses to our right had access through our back garden in order to get to their back gardens. It immediately caused problems because the woman living directly next to us was selling illegal cigarettes and most of the village was buying from her. I am not joking, the back gate was like a revolving door there for a time. Now keep in mind, it's our property they are walking through, but do you think they had any consideration for me, or my dogs? Hell no, and me being American, I stood up to her and ended up being hated by most of the village, no joke. It was pathetic. And that's how I lived till we moved here. Having people make nasty comments when you walk past their house, or see them in passing. All very juvenile, but even so, no one wants to live like that.
Needless to say, I never made any friends. I don't work, do not have any children, don't drink or go to the pub .... so I never got to meet anyone. I've had a few computer friends, but no real friends.
My husband has always worked nights, and initially that didn't bother me, but through the years, it did start to wear on me. I started having panic attacks and anxiety problems, that's when I was first put on medication for it. But now I just feel so incredibly lonely. He goes into work around 19.30 and doesn't get back home until morning, sometimes quite late as well. Naturally he needs to sleep, and is pretty much sleeping all day. I might get to see him for about 3 hours, but in that time, I have to share him with the tv (he's like mesmerised by the tv), he has to get something to eat and get ready for work again. We don't have the greatest marriage in the first place. We are very dysfunctional actually (thank goodness no children) ..... but I do think we love each other in some way.
We are going through a bit of a difficult situation right now with being evicted and trying to find another house, so that's had me stressed. But I know once we move and settle, I will go back to feeling lonely because nothing's going to change in that way. I mean, other than clicking on this computer, I don't actually interact with people, not real people. I talk to another American lady from time to time, she runs a small shop, but that's not like having a proper friend is it?
I'm beginning to wonder if I'm socially retarded. No joke. I'm 51 years old and I have no friends .... no real life.
I feel like when you're my age people don't take you seriously. It seems to me that the young people get all sorts of help thrown at them, especially students. And then there's a couple of different organisations specifically to help the older people here in the UK .... but what about people my age? I'm not young enough, nor old enough apparently. I don't have children, so can't connect on that level with other women. I don't drink or smoke, and have no interest in sports - so going to the pub isn't really going to work either. I just don't seem to fit in anywhere. For one thing, I feel so different from what I think women my age should be like .... but maybe there is no set way a person my age should behave. I don't know. I just feel like a social reject.
I feel so incredibly lonely at times ..... and I don't know what the answer is. People are so insensitive. They will just say, "get out and meet people" .... yeah okay, easier said than done. How do you meet people, and moreover, how do you cultivate a friendship at my age?!
When I first came over, my husband had just signed into a mortgage on a house in north Nottinghamshire. Unfortunately we couldn't have been in a worse place if we tried. It was terraced housing and the 2 houses to our right had access through our back garden in order to get to their back gardens. It immediately caused problems because the woman living directly next to us was selling illegal cigarettes and most of the village was buying from her. I am not joking, the back gate was like a revolving door there for a time. Now keep in mind, it's our property they are walking through, but do you think they had any consideration for me, or my dogs? Hell no, and me being American, I stood up to her and ended up being hated by most of the village, no joke. It was pathetic. And that's how I lived till we moved here. Having people make nasty comments when you walk past their house, or see them in passing. All very juvenile, but even so, no one wants to live like that.
Needless to say, I never made any friends. I don't work, do not have any children, don't drink or go to the pub .... so I never got to meet anyone. I've had a few computer friends, but no real friends.
My husband has always worked nights, and initially that didn't bother me, but through the years, it did start to wear on me. I started having panic attacks and anxiety problems, that's when I was first put on medication for it. But now I just feel so incredibly lonely. He goes into work around 19.30 and doesn't get back home until morning, sometimes quite late as well. Naturally he needs to sleep, and is pretty much sleeping all day. I might get to see him for about 3 hours, but in that time, I have to share him with the tv (he's like mesmerised by the tv), he has to get something to eat and get ready for work again. We don't have the greatest marriage in the first place. We are very dysfunctional actually (thank goodness no children) ..... but I do think we love each other in some way.
We are going through a bit of a difficult situation right now with being evicted and trying to find another house, so that's had me stressed. But I know once we move and settle, I will go back to feeling lonely because nothing's going to change in that way. I mean, other than clicking on this computer, I don't actually interact with people, not real people. I talk to another American lady from time to time, she runs a small shop, but that's not like having a proper friend is it?
I'm beginning to wonder if I'm socially retarded. No joke. I'm 51 years old and I have no friends .... no real life.
I feel like when you're my age people don't take you seriously. It seems to me that the young people get all sorts of help thrown at them, especially students. And then there's a couple of different organisations specifically to help the older people here in the UK .... but what about people my age? I'm not young enough, nor old enough apparently. I don't have children, so can't connect on that level with other women. I don't drink or smoke, and have no interest in sports - so going to the pub isn't really going to work either. I just don't seem to fit in anywhere. For one thing, I feel so different from what I think women my age should be like .... but maybe there is no set way a person my age should behave. I don't know. I just feel like a social reject.
I feel so incredibly lonely at times ..... and I don't know what the answer is. People are so insensitive. They will just say, "get out and meet people" .... yeah okay, easier said than done. How do you meet people, and moreover, how do you cultivate a friendship at my age?!
