It’s really hard to accept help sometimes.

Our family went through the ringer the first half of this year and we had an outpouring of people offering support and help. It’s not that I didn’t need it, I just didn’t think I needed it at the time. Looking back on even 6 months ago, I was pretty dumb for not delegating some things that would have taken a lot off my plate that I didn’t need to deal with at all.

If you’re in a new place around new people, one way I’ve found that works sometimes is just asking someone for help with something really trivial, but not something that could easily be done yourself. Something that could just use another set of hands. It’s kind of an ice breaker and the other person might feel more inclined to be able to ask for some help next time.

Anyway, you seem like good people, I wish you were my neighbor. Don’t let people stop you from continuing to be a good person.

Except what? That was exactly my point.

If you’re in Europe, you can cross multiple countries in 3 hours. A 3 hour drive in any direction barely gets me out of my own state.

So I can understand why OP’s asking Americans. We’re pretty much secluded over here on our own plot with Canada and Mexico. Madrid to Moscow is about 4000 km as I understand it. Or 800 km less than it is from NYC to LA.

I’ve been to 44 States, Canada, Mexico and two other continents. Bad shit can happen anywhere. I will say that the best times I’ve had were hanging out with complete strangers from completely different backgrounds than mine and trading stories with them about home.