I can't outrun it, I feel LONELY. It happens every holiday. I have lived in China for 9 years. It has been so lonely. It is difficult to maintain friendships (people are always leaving and the locals see you more as a curio). I am far from where I need to be financially to leave myself. 2026 for me. I am not close with family at home and so I languish every holiday. Summer is fine for the most part, it is the cold long nights of winter that really get me.

I don't know if others can relate. What are some good methods of tackling lonliness...mixing and mingling in person or at events is simply out of the question. I am tired of quick hellos and quicker goodbyes.