This gave me a lot to think about. Friendship used to come so easily to me when I was younger, and I was lucky to build some really deep connections that have lasted decades.
Now, in this stage of life, I find it much harder to create that same depth. Life is fuller, I’ve moved around, and I think I’ve become even more introverted along the way. I still have friends, but those really close, “best friend” connections feel harder to come by…
Thanks for reading Andrea & sharing your experience. It's truly a difference when we've got so much more going on with our lives, but it's great to still have those meaningful friendships from decades for sure! This is why I hope people who do move abroad or a different state / city keep in touch with those friends as they mean that much more when you're away.
You’re so right, those friendships that have lasted through the years are incredibly special. There have been a couple of times in my life when I've moved away, either to another country or a state. It's not easy. You're trying to navigate a new environment, settle in, and try to make new friends? Oof! Keeping strong connections to my friends back at home was absolutely essential!
I definitely relate to that, it is essential! It truly depends on the stages people are at when they move, a student with no kids has so much more time to socialise and meet people compared to those who have a family, work etc. Yet it can be done, it just may take that much longer. So happy for you for the friendships that remained for you, it's special!
That was a great piece. Looks like a lot of effort went into putting it together.
My best friend moved to Germany 20 or so years ago and I visted frequently the first few years so kind of saw second-hand a lot of the things described here.
Thanks Gary! Appreciate you reading, restacking & commenting.
I imagine your best friend was thrilled to have you visit, there's nothing like a close friend or family member making that effort, it speaks volumes and just makes you appreciate the relationship so much more!
Brilliant article, C. Simone. I can’t imagine what it takes to move to a foreign country, let alone the challenge of a new language, and making new friends.
We moved three times within Canada. Twice for my job, and once for Merilyn’s. Our kids were young at the time. We pulled them out of school over March break and moved to a more remote part of Northern Ontario. It was hard on them, leaving the friends they had grown up with, and equally difficult for Merilyn to be away from her family.
Two years later, we moved again. This time to the Toronto area. We weren’t city people, so it was a big adjustment for all of us. Once again, the kids bore the brunt of it. The upside was that we were closer to family, about a four-hour drive instead of eleven. So we saw our families more.
Nine years later, we made the move to Winnipeg for Merilyn’s job, and I was able to secure a technical role in the customer support centre that her job moved to. By then, our youngest was 17, and it was especially tough on her. Now, seeing family meant a 1,400 km trip, which made visits less frequent.
Moving comes with so many challenges; new work, new friends, a new home, new schools. And friends is an especially big one for kids. The find new ones fast, but it's tough leaving.
I’m glad your family adapted so well, though I know you’ve written before about how difficult even the basics were at first—banking, shopping, simply functioning day to day.
When you think back to where you started in Spain—no friends, getting settled, struggling with the language, and compare it to where you are now and all you’ve built, what do you think and feel about it?
Appreciate you reading and for adding your experiences!
I can imagine that moving three times especially as a family was a lot to deal with, being further from family, your children's friends, school etc and the various environments. It's not easy to do but you all got through which is amazing!!
Thanks for your question, we've come a long way since we moved here, although it feels like a blink of an eye and we jumped 6 years!!
We understand so much more and when we meet up with our closest friends here, they always notice the progress which is great!
Each year comes with its own highs & lows, it's particularly difficult when loved ones back in the UK are celebrating milestone birthdays or the older generation being quite ill and you can't just "pop round", some things you just have to miss out on & support in other ways.
On the bright side, living abroad
can enrich some longterm relationships as we find we spend even more quality time with some friends/ family rather than a few hours or a couple days when people visit we get to make new memories & spend so much more time together.
I'm enjoying getting to know new people here since our daughter began preschool, especially finding one that's as expressive as we are, it's quite funny. I can't imagine not living here, it's a beautiful place to be.
How does Winnipeg feel for you compared to other places you lived? Does it feel more like home or do you miss certain things about other parts you once lived?
I’m glad you’ve got some good friends and are making new ones now with your daughter in school. That’s awesome. Being away from family is always the hardest part of these moves. Merilyn’s older sister is coming in April for her birthday, so we’re really looking forward to that.
It’s great to hear you still love the location.
It’s amazing how fast time goes by. I’ve lived almost half of my life in Winnipeg now.
We actually really like it here, C Simone. The climate is very similar to where we were born and raised in the Sudbury, Ontario area. We’re at the south end of the city, and the way Winnipeg is laid out, unless you’re right downtown, it has a small town feel with the amenities of a larger city.
Thank you, it is great getting to know new people especially for our daughter to play with outside of school, although to be fair, she's very social so often plays with other kids at parks or the beach. But good to get acquainted with parents of her school for sure!
Glad to hear you really like living in Winnipeg, it looks great from the video you sent before about it. Half your life there, I bet it really feels time has flown!
Hope you all enjoy when Merilyn's sister visits for her birthday 🎂 🥳 Always nice to have these celebratory moments together!
One of my sisters is visiting in a couple of months, we're very close so can't wait to see her, she came out in September to be a part of the transition of our daughter starting preschool, that's the type of person she is, amazing!
Thank you so much @Dorie Snow/雪多丽 lovely lady for restaking! ✨
This gave me a lot to think about. Friendship used to come so easily to me when I was younger, and I was lucky to build some really deep connections that have lasted decades.
Now, in this stage of life, I find it much harder to create that same depth. Life is fuller, I’ve moved around, and I think I’ve become even more introverted along the way. I still have friends, but those really close, “best friend” connections feel harder to come by…
Thanks for reading Andrea & sharing your experience. It's truly a difference when we've got so much more going on with our lives, but it's great to still have those meaningful friendships from decades for sure! This is why I hope people who do move abroad or a different state / city keep in touch with those friends as they mean that much more when you're away.
You’re so right, those friendships that have lasted through the years are incredibly special. There have been a couple of times in my life when I've moved away, either to another country or a state. It's not easy. You're trying to navigate a new environment, settle in, and try to make new friends? Oof! Keeping strong connections to my friends back at home was absolutely essential!
I definitely relate to that, it is essential! It truly depends on the stages people are at when they move, a student with no kids has so much more time to socialise and meet people compared to those who have a family, work etc. Yet it can be done, it just may take that much longer. So happy for you for the friendships that remained for you, it's special!
Beautiful post about friendships thanks for writing it down
Thank you so much Hina 💜
That online tutor turning into the person you laugh with till your stomach hurts, yeah~ That got me smiling at my screen~ ;D
Your comment made me smile too! Thanks for showing up & adding to this, appreciate you being here!
What a thoughtful idea, I social events are the best way to meet new people. I sometimes go places by myself
Thanks for reading Duncan! Yes going places by yourself is a great thing & it can be an opportunity to meet new people 😀
I do it all the time, so I’m used to it
https://substack.com/profile/390778071-eldridge-brown/note/c-230539005?r=6gnqaf
That was a great piece. Looks like a lot of effort went into putting it together.
My best friend moved to Germany 20 or so years ago and I visted frequently the first few years so kind of saw second-hand a lot of the things described here.
Thanks Gary! Appreciate you reading, restacking & commenting.
I imagine your best friend was thrilled to have you visit, there's nothing like a close friend or family member making that effort, it speaks volumes and just makes you appreciate the relationship so much more!
Brilliant article, C. Simone. I can’t imagine what it takes to move to a foreign country, let alone the challenge of a new language, and making new friends.
We moved three times within Canada. Twice for my job, and once for Merilyn’s. Our kids were young at the time. We pulled them out of school over March break and moved to a more remote part of Northern Ontario. It was hard on them, leaving the friends they had grown up with, and equally difficult for Merilyn to be away from her family.
Two years later, we moved again. This time to the Toronto area. We weren’t city people, so it was a big adjustment for all of us. Once again, the kids bore the brunt of it. The upside was that we were closer to family, about a four-hour drive instead of eleven. So we saw our families more.
Nine years later, we made the move to Winnipeg for Merilyn’s job, and I was able to secure a technical role in the customer support centre that her job moved to. By then, our youngest was 17, and it was especially tough on her. Now, seeing family meant a 1,400 km trip, which made visits less frequent.
Moving comes with so many challenges; new work, new friends, a new home, new schools. And friends is an especially big one for kids. The find new ones fast, but it's tough leaving.
I’m glad your family adapted so well, though I know you’ve written before about how difficult even the basics were at first—banking, shopping, simply functioning day to day.
When you think back to where you started in Spain—no friends, getting settled, struggling with the language, and compare it to where you are now and all you’ve built, what do you think and feel about it?
Muchas gracias Kevin 😀
Appreciate you reading and for adding your experiences!
I can imagine that moving three times especially as a family was a lot to deal with, being further from family, your children's friends, school etc and the various environments. It's not easy to do but you all got through which is amazing!!
Thanks for your question, we've come a long way since we moved here, although it feels like a blink of an eye and we jumped 6 years!!
We understand so much more and when we meet up with our closest friends here, they always notice the progress which is great!
Each year comes with its own highs & lows, it's particularly difficult when loved ones back in the UK are celebrating milestone birthdays or the older generation being quite ill and you can't just "pop round", some things you just have to miss out on & support in other ways.
On the bright side, living abroad
can enrich some longterm relationships as we find we spend even more quality time with some friends/ family rather than a few hours or a couple days when people visit we get to make new memories & spend so much more time together.
I'm enjoying getting to know new people here since our daughter began preschool, especially finding one that's as expressive as we are, it's quite funny. I can't imagine not living here, it's a beautiful place to be.
How does Winnipeg feel for you compared to other places you lived? Does it feel more like home or do you miss certain things about other parts you once lived?
I’m glad you’ve got some good friends and are making new ones now with your daughter in school. That’s awesome. Being away from family is always the hardest part of these moves. Merilyn’s older sister is coming in April for her birthday, so we’re really looking forward to that.
It’s great to hear you still love the location.
It’s amazing how fast time goes by. I’ve lived almost half of my life in Winnipeg now.
We actually really like it here, C Simone. The climate is very similar to where we were born and raised in the Sudbury, Ontario area. We’re at the south end of the city, and the way Winnipeg is laid out, unless you’re right downtown, it has a small town feel with the amenities of a larger city.
Thank you, it is great getting to know new people especially for our daughter to play with outside of school, although to be fair, she's very social so often plays with other kids at parks or the beach. But good to get acquainted with parents of her school for sure!
Glad to hear you really like living in Winnipeg, it looks great from the video you sent before about it. Half your life there, I bet it really feels time has flown!
Hope you all enjoy when Merilyn's sister visits for her birthday 🎂 🥳 Always nice to have these celebratory moments together!
One of my sisters is visiting in a couple of months, we're very close so can't wait to see her, she came out in September to be a part of the transition of our daughter starting preschool, that's the type of person she is, amazing!
Have an awesome weekend!
Thank you, C Simone!
So nice that your sister is coming for another visit. 😊
Have a great Sunday... I'm a little late replying.
Thank you Kevin! Yes looking forward to her visit!
Have a great Sunday too!😊
Thank you! 😊