I hear you loud and clear as well. Do you have a friend you respect for his knowledge and ability? If so see if you can get him interested to help you. At least once a week I am out giving a friend a hand with something he cannot comforatably cope with. Or just needs a hand. Or solving their problem with a phone call.

I gain many things from this effort over time. The expression you give you get does apply. Some of these friends and aquantences have serious skills in areas I am far from strong in. I can call in favors at any time if I wish. Sometimes I do either for myself or others. Never abusing the privliges I have established.

This system of skill exchange is far less prevelant in massive cities but still exists to some lesser extent wherever there are people. I grew up in a congested area of Toronto. I got so tired of the limits it imposed I prepared and eventually left.

We as a family never looked back. This may not be for everyone but it was for us. We wanted a better life. I actually feel sorry for some of my friends I left behind when visiting them periodically in Toronto.

There is another world away from big cities one can adapt to. For us as a family it was a much better and different world. I could and should write a book on our experiences and the differences. Since we only live once an individual should try to broaden their horizons.