I think you're seeing an extra level of what you call defensiveness here on this post moreso because the OP didn't identify themselves and asked a question that has been answered a lot both in well researched articles online and here, and it's an interesting choice for their first post.

We have Duel and really like it. We've had 7 Wonders for a long time and it's a quick and easy game but do agree that with 2 people it's awkward. Duel is different enough from 7 Wonders that it's interesting and is a good challenge to play. I hope that you enjoy it!

I just searched google and came up with LOTS of articles. Search "homeschoolers lack of social interaction" and they'll all pop right up.

A favorite game in my friend group is The Resistance: Avalon https://www.amazon.com/Resistance-Avalon-Social-Deduction-Game/dp/B009SAAV0C/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=avalon+game&qid=1607645593&sr=8-1 We mostly play that, but I do like One Night Ultimate Werewolf as well for a social game: https://www.amazon.com/Bezier-Games-ONUWBEZ-Ultimate-Werewolf/dp/B00HS7GG5G/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1XJ4KDHJGMKF&dchild=1&keywords=one+night+ultimate+werewolf&qid=1607645648&sprefix=one+night%2Caps%2C224&sr=8-2

I'm so sorry that you haven't yet found a group of women who have shown you that female friendships can be treasured. I have been called blunt before (which I took as a compliment after my passive aggressive upbringing), but I like speaking plainly as well (and much prefer this turn of phrase!) I find it interesting that out of my whole response this was the only part your responded to, maybe you missed my bolded comments in your original quoted paragraph. I do understand explaining the part that I questioned, and expected that, but really my whole point in posting was to suggest that you're overthinking the situation. From what you've presented here there wasn't anything to be offended by and you are choosing to be offended. You CAN choose to not be. What would happen if you chose this? From this response it seems as though you have some preconceived notions about how women work and respond to each other. Have you been in the homes of these women, or had more than a passing conversation with them? Any deep conversations at all? My objection to your original post is that you're throwing possible relationships out of the window based on one event that you weren't invited to (you weren't even home, you don't know if they knocked on your door or not!) and a perceived slight the next day. Is there more to the story? If not then the fact that it's this easy for you to go there suggests to me that you have some insecurities when it comes to friendships (most of us do!) and female relationships (maybe stemming back to your step-sisters?) My advice would be to not go scorched earth on the neighborhood friendships, but press in and try even harder. Some people take longer to warm up. Don't discount the pandemic and people being weird. Don't discount the fact that they have known each other longer and it may be more comfortable and easy for them to talk with each other. That doesn't mean they don't want to be friends with you, it just means that you don't know them yet.

Respectfully, you are waaaaaaaaay overthinking this one situation and making assumptions about people's motives when you have no idea about what they were. I get it because my first thought often is assumptions about people's motives but then I have to talk myself down and realize that what I'm thinking happened may not be what actually happened. Would it have been thoughtful of them to invite you over for the Santa thing? Sure, but there are so many things that could have happened to prevent this that don't involve you. Don't automatically assume that it's because they don't like you and definitely don't cut them off and count them as cliquish and not a good fit because of this one experience. Gently, you've said this has plagued you your whole life. Do you read into a lot of situations assuming the worst? I used to do that but have learned that my feelings and first thoughts aren't always trustworthy of being true. I hope that you are able to find some peace AND some friendships at your new place!

She's super talented apparently, and started a fire in the pot that came up and singed the cabinets over the stove. Thankfully I ran in and put the lid on the pot (to cut off the air) as she wasn't sure what to do. LOL! She's a loveable but interesting person. I didn't let her try to make it again. I do have a couple of jiffy pop containers in my garage! I may just stick to that as I can already see DH giving me the side-eye if I got another appliance/pot. 😂

Our kitchen didn't come with a microwave above the oven and our space is too small to accommodate a microwave on the counter. We've gone without one for 6 years and it's not been a big deal. If I want to reheat something I used to do it on the stove (and sometimes still do) but I did get a hotlogic casserole food warmer for those times I don't want to heat the house by putting something in the oven (I live in Florida). It's a hot plate that sits inside a cooler and it's pretty amazing and can be pulled out when needed (but you have to plan for it as it takes a while to heat). I got stainless steel measuring cups and melt butter in those on the stove and it's done really quickly. One of the things I do miss is an easy way to make popcorn but I might get myself a whirly popcorn maker (my MIL burned my kitchen cupboards making it in a regular pot so I don't want to do that again!)

Unfortunately Covid has changed some things financially for us and I can't see doing summer activities that cost money. We may be able to rack up more hotel points to do a trip next summer but it probably won't be Tokyo like we were supposed to do this year.

I'm so sorry to hear this. Does he have a favorite subject in school? Maybe Love Letter? It's an easy and quick game once you get the hang of it. We have the deluxe edition and really like it. We play it every day (not an exaggeration, ha!).

We own and have played Seven Wonders for a few years. I haven't noticed anything to put a bikini on!!! LOL!!!!! Tell me!

What does your DS like to do with his time? Asking for further game recommendations!

I would do a game like Avalon, Coup, The Resistance, One Night Ultimate Werewolf if you're going to be adding a couple of friends along the way (though you can certainly play with 4 people). Codenames, Pandemic (LOL!), Forbidden Island (or Desert). The last two are cooperative games where you all have to work together to beat the game. Might be good to use foster family relations.

It's confused further for me because I married into a University of Kentucky family (UK). LOL! I have to have DH and family clarify when we're talking.

I got mine about 7 years ago and that was to replace one that lasted me 10 years previously so the cost per usage for us is negligible. If I were going to get another one I'd probably get the cheapest I could find for the price because they all essentially do the same thing. This one looks good: https://www.amazon.com/Mueller-Electric-SpeedBoil-Borosilicate-Protection/dp/B07TZ5YHJN/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=electric%2Bkettle&qid=1606846275&rnid=1055398&s=kitchen&sr=1-4&th=1 ETA: We only use filtered water in our electric kettles. I don't know if it makes a difference but I don't have to descale it a lot and the water tastes better to me (may be placebo effect, however!)

DH is an airline pilot that uses this while on the road and he's on the road over 2/3 of the month. He really likes it and it's lasted well over lots of use since I bought it for him in June. It's dual voltage. I wouldn't get it as a main kettle, just because it's not huge, but it's great for travel as it folds flat. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WSTWJZ1/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Yorkshire is a county in the North-ish part of England and culturally is very different from London and the South. ☺️

Well to be fair, before I moved to the States I thought there were only 4: New York, Texas, California, and Florida. LOL! I was 10 but still....

I'm originally from Yorkshire but emigrated to the states with my family when I was 10 (they have since moved back). I can't tell you how many times people introduce me as being from London. 😂 I have relatively well educated middle class friends and you wouldn't expect them to make that mistake but they do. Apparently Britain means England and being from England (or British) means you're from London. 🤷‍♀️

Do you have a recommendation for good fake candles? 😲 You definitely need this in your life. 😁 You can use the boiling water from a tea kettle for a number of other things like instant oatmeal and ramen. You should definitely try it for tea, though! I hate the way tea tastes when it's made in a microwave. Do you have a friend who has one so you can try it? If after trying it you prefer it from the microwave, that's fine, but you've got to try it! LOL! An electric tea kettle is probably the only consistent appliance that I've had since moving out of my parents' house. We even have a travel one that folds down that DH takes on his trips to make coffee and tea! I'm originally from England, though, so realize that this is a bit extreme for most others. HA!

Thank you! I got two Christmas presents for myself, the instant pot recipe book and the literary cocktail book. LOL!

I live in Florida so every time I read this title I think of hurricanes, LOL! I think that you getting two bonded cats was a great idea!

Yes. You can always take it down if you get to the point where you don't need it but it's nice to have if you're a 40 year old overweight mom trying to heft yourself up there to hang with your kiddos. HA HA HA!

Yes, for walking or jumping, lol! We don't have attachments for it but I suppose you could hang a ninja slackline above it or away from it. We also use the slackline to climb into our camping hammocks that we put up in our trees. They're fun! I live in North Florida, so while it does get cold it doesn't snow. I don't know if that's a consideration for where you are. Really it's more from our laziness of not wanting to put it away then put it back up that it's been left out there. It really does still look like new and it's been up since December 2018!

We got this one in 2018 and we love it. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MZ67KQ0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s03?ie=UTF8&psc=1 We ended up keeping it up between our trees in all types of weather for the past couple of years and it still holds me well ( I'm 220 pounds, lol!) No issues!