On Friends and Couches

Friends are probably the hardest part about moving, on both sides.  Friends you leave behind that you want to stay connected with.  Friends you're supposed to somehow magically find in your new place.

Bah.  Ain't nobody got time for that.

My inclination is to cocoon myself within my home, take care of all the things that need taking care of, bake all of the things, sew all of the things, and watch a little netflix.  I'd watch more, probably, but we don't have a couch, and I'm finding that the lack of couch is a huge impediment on my television watching stamina.

The Sactional.
How I feel: <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
What I (sadly) know: $$$$$$$$$$$$
Note: More $ than <3 = bad strategy

I don't want to reach out to those I left behind, because that wound is too recent.  I don't call because I don't want to cry on the phone like a crazy lady.  And even if I didn't cry, what do I say?  How is the life I love but no longer have?  Isn't it great that I don't know when I'll see you again?  Yes, it really is 20* colder up here than it is where you are, isn't that rad??  These aren't happy conversations.  They're probably also irrational, because life has continued to happen and there are things to talk about, but I use these excuses to keep my phone in paperweight-status, rather than using it for its intended purpose.  Plus, I'd really like to sit on my couch and talk to them, but...

The Crema Modern Linen Sofa
Gorgeous goodness.
AKA - the couch that I would ruin, never-mind my toddler

I also don't want to make new friends because hard.  What if they don't like me?  What if it turns out I don't like them as much as I thought I did?  What if they come over and expect to sit on a couch and we don't have a couch.  What do I even say when I invite?  "Hello new possible friend.  Would you like to come over and sit at my small kitchen table for a couple of hours?  The seats are hard, but it'll be grand, so long as you overlook the dried applesauce at RG's end."  That doesn't seem like a winning invitation.

The KARLSTAD.
AKA - The one that we might end up with
AKA - The one on sale at IKEA
AKA - The one I had better have extra covers for

HOWEVER.  These things that I don't want to have time for, that I want to avoid, they are important.  They are life-giving.  So I am making myself.  This weekend, I'm going to call at least 1 friend from the sweet sweet south.  Even if the phone call is awkward.  I don't care.  It has to be done.  I'll lie and tell myself that the first phone call is always awkward and then sigh once I get it out of the way.  And this Friday, we're having new friends over.  For dessert and card games, both of which are traditionally accomplished at a table, which is good because we have no couch.  

ASIDE: If you can't tell, I'm having trouble with the no couch thing.  Think about it.  Imagine your life without a couch.  Where do you relax?  Where does the snuggling under a blanket happen?  The after-work conversations and the "I just need to sit down"s.  Where, for the love, do you watch Netflix marathons??? If you have no couch, hypothetically, you might sit at your table quite a bit, and wish for padded seats.  You might learn that a few blankets folded up and strategically placed against the wall make it almost feel like upholstery.  You might dream about hanging that hammock in the living room, just so you have a place to sit.  You might propose the family conference takes place in the bathroom, with someone perched on the edge of the tub and someone else on the toilet lid, just for a change of scenery.  Hypothetically.  And one day (SOON!) you might just crack and go buy that ding dang couch so that your mind can finally have a rest from imagining what it'll be like when you have one.

But anyhow, these new potential friends are coming over, and I don't know how its going to go.  I'm making caramel apple pie and possibly another dessert, because it is my believe that good food staves off awkwardness.  And if its still awkward, I'm going to take the same route I did with the phone call and lie to myself and say that next time it'll be less strange.

SO"DERHAMN
I'd have to sit on it, but maybe.
It also kind of looks like we're starting out with flat cushions, so it might go downhill rapidly.

How'd you meet your current friends, when you moved to the place you are now?  Any tips for me on conversation topics?  Alternate desserts?  PLACES TO BUY A COUCH!?!?

<3 M.