I haven't noticed that myself, but then I am American. In what way do you feel excluded? When we talk about American politics? I guess it is true that I don't see that much on here about various world situations, and I would agree that Americans tend to be insular, but there are lots of subjects that are interpersonal, and wouldn't seem to me to be particular to just Americans.

@McVinegar I need personal contact - life is very difficult just now. I try to stay afloat, gets hard sometimes. "Not drowning, waving"

@tnorman1236 It isn't so much that I feel excluded - once I told an American that I live in Tasmania - his response 'where is that?' I follow American politics as closely as I can. I pride myself on being an International person, sometimes I wish for an American friend who is aware of what's happening in the larger world. For instance, what do you know of Australia? kangaroos, koala bears? We are a sophisticated nation, huge, beautiful country

@VLove I try to be aware of the rest of the world. It's hard, though, because American news sources, along with the rest of us, are swallowed up by this political hell-hole that is Donald Trump.

@tnorman1236 As an interested person, I watch Al-Jazeera, BBC, ABC, CNN news, get daily updates from Huffington Post, The New Yorker, The Hill. I follow what's happening in other parts of the world - as best I can. MY world does not stop at my country's border.

@VLove Neither does mine.

Thank you. I try.

I'm only lonely sometimes, when I miss my family being around. I'm a loner because of divorce, and my kids growing up. I do still see family and friends, just not as much as I used to.

@tnorman1236 I think that happens to all of us as we get older. Life changes a lot as children grow up and have their own families. Medical science is keeping us going for a lot longer than nature intended so we have to find new ways to fill the last third of our lives. It's not easy. We are surplus to requirements, really.

@CeliaVL Sad but true. But I grew up in a family where the grandparents were involved in family life till the end. One of my grandmothers lived with us when I was growing up, and the whole family got together at my other grandparents' house every Sunday afternoon and on holidays.

@tnorman1236 My family was a bit like that when i was growing up but things have changed and we can only be involved as much as the rest of our family want. I find it hard because I would like to be involved more, but I remind myself that I was the one who brought them up and taught them their values. they are good people but they have their own lives.

Yeah, I think the college is having more and more influence on the town. Overall, I like it here.

@McVinegar I was wondering where Pete was.

That's true.