Location Complications

Today, I have no local friends. 

This was going to be a point made a few weeks ago, that it's so useful to finally have local friends. It makes networking and social arrangements so much easier when literally everyone I socialise with at uni lives and works within a two mile radius, and most people I care about within a few minutes walking distance. 

Prior to attending university, I didn't have close friends within the immediate vicinity, for various reasons. Now, to be back at home means the same predicament reappears. Getting about to see people is a pain in the posterior due to travel & transport constraints. There are ways and means, but none so convenient as merely popping 'round the corner for a cup of tea and a catch-up, or sitting in the common room and chatting. 

It's always such an effort to arrange events - times, places, people. I miss having the chance to just chill out, never needing structured activities to make a meet-up worthwhile. Part of the problem is, I don't always want to spend a large amount of time with certain people. Just to do lunch, or have a couple of drinks, or watch a film would be fine and would fufil my basic need for socialisation. However, that's next to impossible, as the distance travelled means that the gathering should be long, drawn-out and made full use of. I find myself looking for excuses not to go in the first place, just because it avoids the need to think up excuses to be able to leave...

On the jukebox: Self ~ Stay Home