[njbchbum]

chris123 - how does one leave famly? not easy to do until you are ready to do it! without feeling that you will be okay without them and they will be okay without you - there can't be much of a comfort level. our friends who are working toward that goal snowbird in the villages - they get out of winter's snow and cold and have a break from the needs of kids/grandchildren; and then they are ever so happy to get back home to enjoy all that was missed over the winter! it works well for their entire family.

and as far as new neighborhood vs established neighborhood..........................

we bought in an established neighborhood [none more established! - as we live on the historic side - the original villages!] and after a week or so of moving in, adjusting and waving to folks who passed by the house, we hosted a driveway party to meet our neighbors. i printed up an invitation and hand delivered [not easy for this shy type to do!] one to each house on our street - meeting folks that way made it more likely they would stop by. the invite asked them to come to a 'meet and greet' and it worked out swell! some neighbors had not spent meaningful time with each other for quite a while! we love our 'well-to-do, self-absorbed, old, white people' neighbors and friends in the villages! and we love our multi-national friends and neighbors, too!