New account but not new to Reddit. I (38 - lesbian/bi??) only recently came out to my friends and family after the divorce from my marriage of 12 years. I moved to the Willamette Valley last Spring from Spokane to really escape it all and start over. My family is all LDS and my ex-husband has custody of our kids over the holiday break, so I'm all by myself with no where to go for Christmas. I am going to be alone and I welcome it, I really do. I'm not looking to meet anyone or asking where to meet others at. Seriously, NOT LOOKING TO MEET ANYONE. :) I recognize that I'm still kind of an emotional wreck and honestly, meeting anyone knowing where I am now would be a bad foot to start any new relationships on, even at the friends level. I want to be alone for the first time in my life and I know I need it. Thing is, I don't want to just board myself indoors for the whole month.

I do like going out on my own and don't have issues with going solo to a movie or club or for a hike. I just need to get out but at the same time, I just don't want to go to places that are slamming "HAPPY HOLIDAYS" down my throat. I don't mind driving but prefer to stay out of Portland as it's a bit chaotic lately.

I have been doing a lot of driving lately in the country side and that's been neat but I really just don't know what is safe and what is not around here. I stick to mostly popular, well-traveled roads, and places where there are a lot of people. I'd like to find areas where I can start to dip my toes in the water and see how much of the lifestyle I am prepared for. I want to lurk, lol.

Can anyone give me an idea of what it's like here? I currently spend most of my time between Portland, Salem, Independence, and Turner due to my work. I live out of my RV (not homeless lol - it's actually really nice and big - one good things I got from divorcing my Dr. husband). I'm able to move within a day or two notice and I was thinking of checking out McMinville soon so really anything that keeps me in this bubble would be fantastic.

Also, I don't know how to put this and please forgive me if I am being insensitive but do I have to "look the part" to be a lesbian around here? Ugh, I know that just sounds horrible but I don't know how else to ask and the only lesbians I have met definitely "looked the part". It's my fault because I saw them and knew they were lesbians so I talked with them as lesbians but I haven't found anyone else to talk with that is from this area that didn't "look the part". I'm so embarrassed and ashamed that I don't even know if this is PC or not. I am certainly not judging anyone for how they choose to look either.