6 Comments
User's avatar
Rich Shipley's avatar

Excellent, and something I definitely think about when I contemplate moving to Spain or Portugal.

Expand full comment
Rachel Drummond's avatar

I hope you found it helpful, Rich!

Expand full comment
Ellie is Based in Paris's avatar

Fantastic, Rachel! It is *hard* making new friends when you move overseas; we come from really different backgrounds and are thrown into a new country.

I finally found a nice association to join that is mostly comprised of women who are permanent and long-term residents of Paris.

It took a while to get there, ask me how I got kicked out of a book club for reading Niall Ferguson. 🙄😁

Expand full comment
Rachel Drummond's avatar

Finding friends who can relate to our situation is so important. I'm glad you've found an association of permanent and long-term residents in Paris. Also I need to hear this being kicked out of a book club story...

Expand full comment
Norah Pratton's avatar

I loved this piece. Today, I have all new friends -- like-minded because we garden and teach together. Tomorrow, I will attend a memorial service with dear old friends I taught with from 40 years ago. This morning, I played Wordle with you, and my sparkle-friend-Sister, and my sweet newly-widowed friend from high school 60 years ago, and my college friend whose current life situation touches me deeply every day now.

There is absolutely nothing that compares to a dear friend -- one you dare not sit next to during a serious occasion. It's the laughter that binds us together -- one by one.

Expand full comment
Rachel Drummond's avatar

You've seen friendship in so many of its forms, bringing loyalty and laughter to all of your relationships. What an example you set for us!

Expand full comment