DEAR ABBY: Fifteen years ago, after six years of marriage, my husband and I moved 3,000 miles away from everyone I knew. I wasn’t in favor of the move and never felt at home in the new city, but I tried to make the best of it. We struggled financially the entire time because of the recession and our large mortgage. I met some nice people but made only one real friend, who I’ll call “Gayle.”
Three years ago, I convinced my husband we should move somewhere else so we could retire and be more financially secure. We compromised, but it is still far from my old hometown. I have tried hard to stay connected to Gayle. When I reach out to her, she responds, but usually with only a few sentences and often complaining about her own circumstances. She never reaches out to me or asks about me and never tries to extend the conversation.
I know from experience that Gayle’s not happy, and I worry because I think she might be drinking too much. I’m sad that she doesn’t seem to want to stay connected, but it’s painful to keep reaching out and getting so little back. I’m tired of trying but unsure if I should tell her how I feel or just give up. Please advise. –– LONELY AND FAR FROM HOME
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