3. A New Year, A New Friend

[chromaskies]

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<span style="font-size: large;"><em>The Basics</em></span> <strong>Name:</strong> <strong>Age:</strong> <strong>Pronouns:</strong> <strong>Country:</strong> <span style="font-size: large;"><em>The New Year</em></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><strong>Do you have any resolutions?:</strong> <strong>Are there any new books, music, games, shows, etc. that you want to dive into?:</strong> <strong>Are there any small or big events that you're planning for this year?:</strong> <strong>Any new interests/hobbies that you'd like to try out?:</strong> <strong>Did you accomplish your resolutions from last year?:</strong> (If not, that's okay. Just skip this one) <strong>What were your favorite memories from the past year?:</strong> <strong>Do you have any new years traditions?:</strong> <strong>Is there anything you'd like to do more of in 2023?:</strong> <em><span style="font-size: large;">The New Friends</span></em> <strong>What kind of friend(s) are you searching for?:</strong> <strong>What do you like to read about?:</strong> <strong>How often do you check your friends feed?:</strong> <strong>Do you have any deal-breakers?:</strong> <strong>Do you mind reading about fandom?:</strong> <strong>If so, what fandoms would you like to read about?:</strong> <em><span style="font-size: large;">Currently...</span></em> <strong>Reading:</strong> <strong>Watching:</strong> <strong>Playing:</strong> <strong>Thinking about:</strong> <strong>Hobby/Interest:</strong> <strong>Planning for:</strong>

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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://friending-memes.dreamwidth.org/3049.html"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/QcCRWfX/newyearsfriendzy.png" alt="newyearsfriendzy" border="0" /></a> Click the banner to join us and make some new friends!</div>

Comments

[pineapple_sour]

The Basics
Name: Nicole
Age: 37
Pronouns: She/Her
Country: USA

The New Year
Do you have any resolutions?: I'm still working on those. I'd like to be fitter, to read more, and to pick a career goal. To be honest I'm really struggling with figuring out what I feel like I have the mental capacity, energy, and time for, and don't want to set myself up for failure.
Are there any new books, music, games, shows, etc. that you want to dive into?: None as of yet... Well, there are books but step one is I want to get back into getting books from the library.
Are there any small or big events that you're planning for this year?: No, not that I recall, other than my daughter's first birthday (and my son's THIRD, good grief.)
Any new interests/hobbies that you'd like to try out?: I need to find some sort of exercise hobby, or a hobby that requires physical movement. Otherwise, in terms of interest: I'm interested in learning ASL.
Did you accomplish your resolutions from last year?: (If not, that's okay. Just skip this one) I ... can't see that I made any new years resolutions last year... I normally put them into my online journal but can't find them if I did! So... I'm going to go with both NO and YES, because I can't fail to accomplish something I might not have done? Haha.
What were your favorite memories from the past year?: My daughter's birth. Growing as a family.
Do you have any new years traditions?: My only traditions are that we open the front and back doors to welcome in the new year and kick out the old, and we try to be mindful of the superstition that what we do the first day will influence the rest of the year. I try to stay awake, but I know there's been years where I've said "eff it" and gone to bed, haha.
Is there anything you'd like to do more of in 2023?: I'd like to read more books for FUN.

The New Friends
What kind of friend(s) are you searching for?: I like people who post about their lives, what they're up to and thinking... I'm a nosy person, I guess.
What do you like to read about?: See above.
How often do you check your friends feed?: I try to check daily, though on weekends I tend to be off my computer.
Do you have any deal-breakers?: I'm anti-racist, pro-choice, feminist, gender equal rights advocate and generally try to stand for all persons to be treated with respect and to be given the freedom to live their lives in a way that makes them happy. If you have an issue with that, then we will not get along.
Do you mind reading about fandom?: It's not my thing, but if it makes you happy I don't mind! I just might not be able to follow along.
If so, what fandoms would you like to read about?:

Currently...
Reading: I've been slowly making my way through all the Terry Pratchett books (I mean ALL)
Watching: I'm on a loop of watching documentaries headed up by Lucy Worsley, Tony Robinson, and Mary Beard, as well as the farming series with Ruth Goodman, Peter and... that other guy whos name escapes me, lol. Also enjoy: Rome, 1995 Pride and Prejudice, Psych, All Creatures Great and Small (PBS)
Playing: I'd like to get back into playing the violin and learn the piano (someday).
Thinking about: Finances. We have two kids in daycare and... ouch.
Hobby/Interest: Knitting, Weaving, Crochet, Cross stitch. I aspire to learn to water color (someday) and get back into sketching (someday).
Planning for: Ohhh, I don't know. More projects around our house & land (we live on five acres). Forever planning upgrades to those. This year we'd like to get a playground built for our kids.

[smittenbyu]

I am a nosy person, too! :) Add?

[pineapple_sour]

Sure thing!

[vysila]

Nosy for the win! And for living on 5 acres and doing all sorts of property improvements.

I'm trying to improve health as well, and if you post about your kidlets I will be on board.

[pineapple_sour]

I do post about my kids, though I give them nicknames.

I'll add you! Mind if you add me back?

[vysila]

Thank you - and nicknames make sense to provide a bit of privacy and security. I totally understand that. It's why my journal is mostly locked - a sensible precaution at all times.

I am adding you right now. Looking forward to getting to know you.

Hello!

[ysabetwordsmith]

>>I need to find some sort of exercise hobby, or a hobby that requires physical movement. <<

You might try getting a big list of hobbies, pick the ones that sound promising to you, and then date them for a week or a month to see which you like the most. No big commitment to any one yet, just trying new things.

>>Knitting, Weaving, Crochet, Cross stitch. I aspire to learn to water color (someday) and get back into sketching (someday).<<

Crafts are fun.

>>More projects around our house & land (we live on five acres).<<

I have 2 acres here. I know that feel.

>> Forever planning upgrades to those. This year we'd like to get a playground built for our kids.<<

Nature playground, storebought, or what? With kids that little, a patio, sandbox, or play garden is likely a good place to start. Put out a nature table or box for collecting loose parts. If you're crafty, tree cookies or tree blocks are great things to make. You can find or make a ton of natural toys free or cheap.

Think modular and expandable. As the kids grow, you can lay an adventure trail through your large yard by adding a balance log here, a tree swing there, etc.

Re: Hello!

[pineapple_sour]

We picked up a free swingset / slide playset off of Craigslist last year. It needs a bit of repair and some paint, but is in pretty good shape. We need to clear and flatten an area for it and assemble it, basically. We already have a little sandbox that sees lots of use, and there's a pile of leaves Muppet loves to climb up and throw himself down, haha!

I love that hobby list, thank you for sharing! I like the idea of "dating" a hobby. I think my struggle is at step one, I just need to pick something and try it.

Re: Hello!

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> We picked up a free swingset / slide playset off of Craigslist last year. It needs a bit of repair and some paint, but is in pretty good shape. <<

Oh, that's cool.

>> We need to clear and flatten an area for it and assemble it, basically. We already have a little sandbox that sees lots of use, and there's a pile of leaves Muppet loves to climb up and throw himself down, haha! <<

:D Leaf piles are so fun.

When I was little, I was forever picking things up to look at and play with outside. Rocks, sticks, walnuts, pine cones. I still do that.

>> I love that hobby list, thank you for sharing! <<

I'm happy I could help.

>> I like the idea of "dating" a hobby. <<

I have found that lots of folks feel daunted by trying to find "the right" hobby or exercise. Well, how can you know unless you try it? So try lots of different things. Don't make a significant investment until you find one that you like. Most have classes, workshops, park programs, gym sampler days, etc. where you can explore things without needing a big commitment.

>> I think my struggle is at step one, I just need to pick something and try it.<<

You could go down a list or roll random numbers with dice. If you're socially motivated, find a friend or relative to try things together; then you can talk about what you liked or not. I've even seen apps that set people up with an exercise or hobby partner, which has potential for big cities where it can be hard to find like-minded folks.

Re: Hello!

[pineapple_sour]

Yeah, I do think for exercise I need an accountability partner of some sort. We'll see.

Mind if I add you as a friend?

Re: Hello!

[ysabetwordsmith]

>>Yeah, I do think for exercise I need an accountability partner of some sort. We'll see.<<

There are a few communities here that do that, but I think all the ones I've seen were writing-related. <user name="awesomeers> has a Just One Thing post. There are a number of accountability apps, though: https://actionbuddy.io/blog/accountability-apps >>Mind if I add you as a friend?<< Go ahead!

[smallrobot]

I've looked at your journal and I really like the public posts that are visible. I'd love to be friends! :) Not sure if my journal a little too special interest-heavy, I do post RL stuff as well, but feel free to check it our for yourself! ^^

[pineapple_sour]

haha, is it wrong that my first thought was, "Oh no! What entries have I left public?" because... I don't remember. They might be horribly out of date, though I doubt my maturity has changed much.

I'll gladly add you back - the only challenge I feel with special interests is I often feel guilty that I might not be able to contribute much to any meaningful conversation; However, I always find them interesting to read!

[smallrobot]

I think it was an entry where you talked about a sexist ad that really spoke to me... I feel that nowadays, there is still so much underlying sexism no-one talks about anymore.

That's fine, please don't worry!! :o I have a lot of autistic traits, and tend to randomly obsess over things, and these obsessions tend to emerge very suddenly and change suddenly as well. So I don't expect anyone to be able to fully and quickly "follow" me to a new special interest... I'm grateful to just be able to share my thoughts (and thus try to write in an easy-to-follow style ^^;), and of course also read the thoughts of others!

[pineapple_sour]

That sounds good! I look forward to reading what you're interested in! I've added you.