well I am on my way. I have begun three and a half friendships with women and that is far more progress than I made in Montgomery at a similar point in my life there. My first woman friend is married to a childhood friend and I immediately liked here when she showed up with a louise brooks haircut and clogs last winter. Since then every conversation we have is a delight and I laugh, feel completely at ease and enjoy her  company more and more.  Another relationship is a little less satisfying as I have to be aware of my need for boundaries. She is a neighbor, drops in  with out calling ( I don’t answer the door) and wears far too much perfume. She is also consumed with finding a man - a whole topic that doesn't interest me at all. My other new friend is a delightfully energetic and creative woman who has adopted her sister's children and is inspiring in her ability to use humor and authenticity to  cope with some really hard issues. She is beautiful - inside and out- and doesn't fully realize it. The woman I met today is from Boston via california and we have so much  in common that it's uncanny. Two blondes with presbyopia married to Jim's who make art. And she  laughs easily, is politically aware , bright, quite at ease with herself.   Why did I linger in the south so long with Belles and people with false fronts and the need to present a facade when authenticity is more rewarding and far less effort? The women's book group I am trying to  create has ten possible members and while daytime did not work, an early evening might... this recreating a life is far easier here because its not predicated on a false self and trying to be accepted as a "furiner". Meanwhile it rained today. a delicious gift because  it stopped the construction next door and cooled everything off... giving me and Abi some wonderful peace and quiet. The cabinets arrive tomorrow but I don’t have an install date yet.....