Hello Seniors!!
Once upon a decade ago, a new transplant (ME) moved to Statesboro with her daughter and her family (the Pattersons’ and my twin grandsons). I called myself a stranger in a new land, RURAL Georgia, a little different from the URBAN lifestyle (Canada and Texas) I was familiar with.
I needed to start over and become familiar with Southern Hospitality and RURAL life. I laughed heartily and was confused when my new friend(s) "PRAYED" for rain. I said to myself “HMMM that is unusual. WHY would anyone want that!” BUT with time I began to understand that farmers need rain.
Upon arriving, I was faced with several challenges. My family was busy getting settled in their new jobs and lifestyle and I knew I had to start over for sanity sake. That meant to meet and make new friends, find a place to worship and get familiar with all the finest HOTSPOTS Statesboro had to offer (namely shopping, eating and entertainment places).
Getting out there
I needed to be PROACTIVE and try to meet and make a new life. WELL, my Sunday School class at First Baptist Church-Statesboro welcomed me in and that was my beginning. There I met another lady that had relocated here from Oklahoma for the same reasons as me and asked if “she could be my friend”.YIPPEE!!!
Like me, we decided to ask a few ladies to go EAT with us. Eating as you know, is always the COMMON denominator with women. Breakfast at the former Vandy’s in the Mall at 8:30 Thursday morning was the solution. It went well. We continued to meet every Thursday with a few more ladies joining us.
WE all had the same life-things in common (either had relocated or some major lifestyle change). We enjoyed each other's company celebrating birthdays, sharing recipes, stories about our families and a lot of chit-chat on STUFF!! WE happily met weekly for a little over five years, then in 2019, COVID came and stayed in Statesboro a little longer than we wanted. So we were GROUNDED!!
After a lengthy unwanted sabbatical and when it was SAFE, we started out again in 2022. Now we are the LUNCH BUNCH and meet twice a month. Some of our group has changed, lost a few friends and gained a few new ones but still are having a GREAT time!.
Find your tribe
WELL, to make my LONG STORY short, Seniors it’s your time to ‘GROW and CULTIVATE A LUNCH BUNCH.’ Grab a friend, join a group (Garden Club, Bridge Club, Library, YMCA or Bulloch County Parks and Recreation Department, Sunday School or Young at Heart ) or just ASK someone to be your NEW friend and MEET the Challenge!!
In no time, with the new friends you meet, you will love this little town as much as I do now. It is definitely a wonderful place to call home, especially for Seniors!
Are you having trouble getting plugged in to your new hometown? Reach out to me and I would love to CONNECT you to other seniors in the Boro.
Most importantly enjoy yourself and have a GREAT SENIOR MOMENT!
Have a Senior Moment idea you want me to share?
Join my mission to get seniors back out into our community, discovering ways they can stay active, be appreciated and live a healthier life.
How can you help? Share with me your FRESH ideas, senior activities you would like me to share, senior needs not met. I am waiting on your email at [email protected] …. I would like to know and share. Until then …
Enjoy your next Senior Moment in Bulloch County!!
