Looking for people to meet up with in Hampton Roads

Hi. I'm looking for WLS people (especially Lap Band, or anyone who doesn't care which surgery is "better") to meet up with in and around the Hampton Roads area. I'm in Hampton  and would like to meet up with people between Hampton and Williamsburg. or the N. end of Suffolk (I don't like using the HRBT! LOL). I moved here from California (and Oregon) and haven't found many friends. I could be wrong, but I think it's because I'm liberal and not religious! I'm in the wrong area! lol Another obsticle in meeting people is that I don't work, so I haven't had the opportunity to meet people through a work place and the hours I generally do things is during typical work hours. I'd love to find someone who was close enough to work out with. My husband is military, so I can go (and take people with me) to the gym for free. I also love art, so anyone who wants to look at or make art would love to hang out with me. There are some inexpensive (and very cool... like glass slumping/fusing) art classes I would like to take, so that's something else someone might want to join me with. If it's art, I'll probably be into it. The other things I do are, garden, travel, read, and lots of playing with my two boxer dogs. I was a member of the SCA for a long time, but haven't found my niche here... but medieval history (especially costuming) is an interest too. Oh, and although I spend time with people from kids to retired people, I'm 33 if that matters to you. So if there's anyone out there anything like me, I'd love to meet you!

Hey Stacie! Welcome to the boards. There are alot of us from the HR area, unfortunately I'm from Virginia Beach and hate the tunnel too so I rarely venture over there except to see my surgeon or go to support meetings. We get together over here at least once a month incase you do want to venture out. I'll post a notice. Next month we're getting together on the 25th and that's going to be a special event because the northern peoples are coming down too!  I'm sure you'll be hearing from the Hampton girls, there are a few of them! Again, welcome!

Hi, thanks for messaging me! I've been here for 2 years now, and I'm not traveling enough anymore to ignore the fact that I don't have anyone to really hang out with yet! That's not like me at all! I will definitely look out for the meeting next month. Is it a support meeting or a 'for fun' meeting? Where do they usually take place? Thanks again for posting! Stacie

No problem. We usually get together for fun. We also get together to walk/exercise and to go to Support Meetings. We all have different surgeons so it opens up to plenty of support meetings. I know nothing about slumping bottles but it sure sounds funny! We usually meeting for dinner [Outback/Mexican/SmokeyBones/etc.] It's a great way to have fun, talk food/exercise and find out where everyone is in their recovery. I'm learned SO much from these ladies about various surgery things and about life in general.  Hope you can join us!

lol, it does sound funny! This is glass slumping with bottles... a cute idea really: http://www.crestmolds.com/images/glasphotos/Wine_bottle_tray.jpg Their main site has some good examples of simple slumped/fused art glass. If you're interested at all in this kind of stuff, let me know and maybe we can work on some together. They also have classes on framing, pottery, and stained glass. I'm very interested in making it to one of your meetings. Do I need to look at back posts or is it something that is posted closer to the meeting date? I'd love to find good Mexican food! I'm from California, and I really took the cheap and abundant Mexican restaurants for granted! Where do you usually go for walks? I ask because I just can't go on walks without bringing my dogs (it just doesn't feel fair to them) and I can't take them on the beach between Memorial Day and Labor Day... sadly :(

We tend to usually meet on the last Saturday of the month for dinners. Next month is August 25th, there is a post from Tinkerbelle about it.  It's hard to find good mexican food on the east coast, at least that's my experience. I used to live in Washington State, Cali, AZ, NV, etc. We can walk around Mt. Trashmore, can you bring them there???? I think Jill would know more about this, I'll give her a buzz about it.

Hi Stacie Well I'm a Beach girl but wouldn't mind ocassionally coming up your way! My hubby is military too...Navy. I actually have wine bottles that I have been saving to take a bottle slumping class! Check out my profile. I have a few friends from your area..afwife0825...soldierswife...Tiawna J.  Jane M--I think she's in SCA. Hope to meet you!

Hi Jennifer, thanks for messaging me! I can't believe I didn't think of this sooner! The slumping class is at Langley and is $35 plus a few dollars for glass and supplies if you don't already have them. I don't know if they do bottles when you take the class, but we could certainly ask. I'm thinking there might be a firing temp issue with different glass. The good thing is, from what I understand, once you take the classes you can come in and fire stuff on your own. I'm also looking forward to taking the stained glass classes. I just bought a house and I want to make things like slumped/fused glass light fixtures and do some custom stained glass windows. Thanks for the list of people who are on my side of the water! I don't mind coming over to VaBeach every so often either, especially if it's to meet up with someone who knows where they're going! Hope to meet up with you sometime soon! Stacie

OK .. first ..Who cares what surgery type ya had .. ya had it .. and that is all that matters... you had balls enough to take charge of your life and get healthy .. Nuff said right ??  Liberal ... Conservative .. Religious ... or Not ... we are all Obesity Survivors ... all those things really go out the window in this group .. as we do not tend to talk much about politics or religion ..  In the south you will get many people who are religious .. but for the most part .. here we pray for ya only if ya want us too .. and what you do in your world is not for us to judge....  Here you are in the RIGHT place ... whether you moved into a community that embraces your lifestyle now that is not for us here to say .. All we know here on the Va Board .. is we will support and encourage ya .. .give ya a kick in the arse when needed .. ( Again .. only when asked for )  If ya need to whine .. I will bring the cheese .. Here everyone is entitled to a whine and cheese party once a month ... LOL  My point here is .. we are who we are .. and in this group .. Just being here is what matters .  Take care ..  Check out my post for the Va Beach get togehter .. would love to have you come out .  Tink

Hi, thanks for posting back to me! For the sake of this board, I agree with you. I posted all the personal stuff, because I am hoping to find some friends I can hang out with more often. I was thinking this could be a good place to find some people to connect with because A) Most of the people I've 'met' on OH have been really wonderful! and B) surrounding myself with people who can relate to my weird eating habits  and weight loss goals is always helpful. The only reason the type of surgery matters, and not really all that much, is because it's somewhat different than restrictive+malabsorbitive surgeries... but seriously I would love to hang out with anyone that is fun and also conscious (not necessarily obsessed) about weight loss, health, and fitness, among other things. I'm hoping there's someone out there! :) The "liberal" thing is important to me because it is a big part of my life. It's not the only part, but it's a big part and would LOVE to find someone here I could hang out with without having to skip over so many topics (or argue about them... which I just don't do anymore) that are very near and dear to me. The liberal thing is much more than politics for me. I would like to feel free to talk about my gay best friend or my volunteer time with different liberal organizations if it happens to come up. It's a lot of what I do, and skipping over it for the sake of avoiding uncomfortable moments is skipping over a huge part of my life. I want to be able to talk about those kinds of things with friends in my life without upsetting people or being judged. I want all that, a work out buddy, a WLS support friend, and an artsy craftsy companion all in one! LOL I know, a tall order! You can't blame a girl for trying! I sure hope I didn't offend anyone with bringing up religion. It's not like I'm a Satanist or anything! LOL I'm not even that edgy! I just am not a church goer, don't plan on being one, and have had a hard time here with a LOT of people on this one. I really am a good person even though I don't go to church. I've met so many people who I believe honestly like me and who also REALLY want me to subscribe to their church/religion. It gets really uncomfortable. I actually love, respect, and admire a lot about most religions, I just don't subscribe to one. You hit the nail on the head, I have moved to a community that does not embrace my lifestyle. I understand that the OH boards aren't here to fulfill that... and my intentions are not to go around posting about religion and/or politics... I was just hoping there was someone on OH that lives nearby who would read my post and identify with me. Most of the people I've met in VA are good people, just vastly different and hard for me to click with much deeper than a friendly "hello" and "how about the weather." I hope all this came across the internet with good intentions! You just never know how it will come out on the other end. Thanks so much for extending yourself to me!! I will definitely try and make it to your get together in VABeach! I truly appreciate the support offered. I love OH; great people!