Scotty, whether or not your marriage survives, YOU need friends, activities and interests of your own. An hour isn't all that far away... can you and your pastor friend meet halfway for lunch once or twice a month? In this day of packed schedules when even three-year olds need "play dates," a social life doesn't happen unless you make it happen. How about if you and your pastor friend start a Guys Lunch Group, and each of you bring someone to this halfway lunch? Invite a couple of people over to watch some of the football games. Join a book club.
All marriages end one way or another. After my husband died, if I hadn't had friends to help me through I would have lost my mind. I belong to one group of eight women who just get together for dinner once a month. I also belong to a breakfast group of four who have breakfast once a month. AND I belong to a book club of 13 that meets once a month. That may sound like a lot, but really it's just TWO EVENINGS and ONE BREAKFAST a month that I'm committed to. I see some of these people in between times, but mostly if I really feel lonely, there's a whole pool of people to call/email and suggest getting together.
You probably don't feel like dealing with this now, what with the uncertainty of your M, but now is the ideal time. Most people today (and certainly most men) have a hard time socializing. The days of Fred and Ethel Mertz who live downstairs are long gone. You have to plan and execute a social life.
Think about it... I'd be interested in hearing what you think is possible (on your own thread, of course :rolleyes: )
ETA: How about locating a couple of other Civil War buffs and systematically visiting the battlefields together? I'm sure there are lots of people with this interest in your area. Ask at the local library!
