Hope is hearing the melody of the future. Faith is to dance to it. ~R. Alves

I have been feeling a bit blue as of late. I suppose I could blame my melancholia on the "February blues" (but that's an excuse I can't use for long). Or perhaps it's another wave of homesickness. At any rate, I can't deny the fact I've been feeling lonely.

I try to tell myself I'm being irrational. I work with some really neat people, some of whom I can have good, serious discussions with (and silly discussions too! Sometimes it's harder to be silly than serious...). I attend an awesome rockin' church (a rarity over here, and I am quite thankful that God placed this church where it is!), in which there are many seriously caring, loving people. I am part of a fellowship group that honestly misses me when I am away.

But...

...I miss having a core, close group of friends.

I am one of the rare "young'uns" at work who doesn't believe that drinking until you're red in the eye is a fun way to while away the hours. I am also one of the rare twentysomethings that isn't married. The workmates I get along best with during the day are also the ones for whom I babysit their kids at night. At church, while there are many great activities for the children and youth (and various adults, for that matter), there isn't a college/career/single twentysomethings group. In my women's group, I am the only one under the age of forty that isn't married and/or doesn't have children. I attend a university where the majority of the people my age are married. And the few that aren't are among the "red-eye drinking" crowd.

So...

I guess what I'm trying to say is I haven't yet found my niche. Not even after nearly two years of being over here. Or maybe I have found my place. Maybe I'm just that "quiet girl with the sweet smile who can usually be found with her nose in a book." Have I thusly sealed my fate?

Or can I still hope that I will meet someone (or many someones) whose way of thinking, believing, living, dreaming doesn't differ radically from mine (at least, just enough to make things interesting)? And is it too much to ask that it would be soon? And, while I quite enjoy having dear friends scattered across the globe, would I be pushing it to ask that it would be possible that they live within the same postal code?