I am doing some stressing over the thing with my friends moving away from the area and slipping into my escapist mode, which I have not done since I retired. Although I have had some brief thoughts about it in the past 2 years, born of political angst, I have not really got "into it". Now, I find myself having an urge to pack it all in and take off to .... who knows where. Another country, although I fear Canada would be too cold for my tastes in my old age and Mexico would mean I would have to get serious about learning Spanish. On considering it, I might be OK with remaining in the states, if I moved to a liberal stronghold, far from Kansas. Of course, I have little expectation of acting on any of this but have long had a tendency to start thinking about running away when I get stressed. For years, while I worked, I dreamed of going to live in a lighthouse somewhere. A remote, far away lighthouse. (I guess all of them are far away from Kansas) That never happened either.
Meanwhile, I will have to find better ways of dealing with my unrest as eating will not resolve it and would likely only make it worse.

@DotLewis That resonates very strongly with me, since my biggest problem is that I am where I do 't want to be and can't get away. Also the only English speaking friends I have here are moving away very soon! I don't have your strength though and I have given up the attempt to lose weight until I can get away. Emotional stressors are very strong and I really admire the way you keep going and are close to your goal.

@CeliaVL I have long had issues with loss and abandonment, went through a lot of living situations as a kid. Married/divorced twice and found it better to remain independent than to do that again. I am pretty much an introvert yet spent 30 years working in children/family services so it was not unusual to just feel overwhelmed by having to deal with people so much of the time. Now that I'm retired, social contacts are limited but that is generally OK because I've had "enough" to be content. However, with these people moving away and knowing that the neighbor, who is gradually becoming more frail, is unlikely to be around many more years, I'm finding it a struggle, thinking about being "all alone".

Even my pup, who I spoil shamelessly, is almost 13 and has seizures. I worry regularly about losing her. There are times when I think the only reason to stick around is because I don't have my life/home "in order" and wouldn't want to leave someone else to deal with it. Then, I will think I would like to get one of those "tiny houses", put it behind the truck, pack up the animals and leave the whole thing behind and just disappear off into the wilderness. Have no idea what I REALLY think that would turn out like but the thought of it is sometimes, somehow comforting.
Damn, that kind of got out of control. I'm actually working on that bedtime thing so better stop. Less than 30 minutes I want to hit the bed.

@DotLewis Without going into detail that could have been me speaking , except that I am stuck in marriage number two and can't get out.A small island appeals more than the wilderness as I am a sea person!

@CeliaVL Oh, islands were on my list, too. Best ever, a lighthouse on an island. These days I am less anxious to find myself completely surrounded by steadily rising sea levels, thus the wilderness.

Since none of that is likely to happen, I will have to come to grips with the rather solitary reality of my life. Once I have muddled past the immediate sense of loss at my friends' pending move, I will, I'm sure, fall back into a relatively comfortable acceptance of my situation, although I may continue to dream of leaving this country and the ridiculous state it has sunk to in the last 3 years.

@DotLewis I quite like the idea if climate change - sea levels rising, wild weather, etc ., - from my own point of view, but as a grandparent and concerned citizen I have to go the environmentalist road. My ultimate plan is to have a little house in walking distance of the sea. I just hope it happens while I can still walk!