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It’s not easy making new friends. Sure, you meet people if you’re outgoing and upbeat, but I’m talking about real friendships. And here in the personal finance community, I’ve found no shortage of friends—real friends. It’s easy to make friends in the personal finance community because we all share the same values—and not just about money. We focus on family, friends, health, and nature. And I think we all agree that the best things in life are free.

So today I want to share a few details about the special people in the personal finance community I’m proud to call friends.

Bianca from Miss Mazuma

Bianca gives me the intensity I sometimes crave in a female friendship. She’s a magnetic force!  She’s the go-to girl to giggle with and hunker down with for a heavy chat-fest. Except—we’re pen pals. And when we get into a groove we’re like old friends (cousins, as she says,) firing off a flurry of lengthy emails back and forth for a few days—and then we stop. And then we pick back up again a month or two later whenever a topic arises from a comment on a post or some interesting tidbit we heard about. But mostly we discuss—men. Boyfriends, husbands (don’t worry Mr. Groovy, you’re not in the doghouse), and family members.

Recently, I took out the book The Stranger In The Woods from the library. Before I even had a chance to open it, Bianca remarked on Ms. Montana’s site (see below) that she was currently reading it and couldn’t put it down. When I told her I was just about to start it she was anxious to hear what I thought of it. We shared emails about our impressions of the book, which we each enjoyed. But we had mixed feelings about “The Stranger” himself, who was not the most honorable person. I later used the book for the basis of a post, Do You Live Your Life Like a Financial Hermit?

Jillian (Ms. Montana) of Montana Money Adventures

Jillian has a quiet, penetrating intensity. She gives me the serenity factor. Whether it’s through emails or Skype,  Jillian has an amazing calming effect. On Skype, when she smiles and nods her head, she’s mesmerizing. You just feel deep in your bones how wonderful life is. Jillian is like Mary, tossing her cap in the air in the opener of “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” How can anything be wrong in the world when Jillian is giving you a wide smile?

Jillian is one of the reasons Mr. Groovy and I are making our second trip to Montana this fall. Glacier National Park has been on our bucket list for several years but we haven’t pulled the trigger. Now that we have the added bonus of hanging with Jillian and her tribe (5 kids plus husband), I finally had the impetus for booking our flights!

I wonder if I heard correctly—Jillian wants us to look at some land? And take us camper shopping?

Claudia and Garrett Pennington of Two Cup House

About a year ago I reached out to Claudia with a legal question and she replied with details, resources, and tools—so much more than I could have hoped for! Since then we’ve built a friendship—and Mr. Groovy and I finally met the Penningtons in person this past winter! They’re the first blogging friends we’ve gotten together with in the flesh!

Mr. Groovy and I planned a road trip to the Berkshires for our nephew’s wedding this past winter and discussed a stop-over along the way. Claudia said we’d be passing “right by” them in Hershey, PA and we decided to meet up. Little did I know that a stop off the highway in Harrisburg, PA was more like a half hour from the Penningtons. It doesn’t seem like much of a distance but when you’ve been on the road for nine hours, it’s dark, and conditions are icy, it’s a bit daunting to navigate unfamiliar territory.

Claudia and Garrett were great sports about meeting us at our hotel and doing the driving. We went to dinner nearby at the Tomato Pie Café where I had—you guessed it—tomato pie! Later, we moved on over to a Mexican restaurant for sangria, umbrella drinks, and more conversation.

More recently, Claudia and Garrett planned to spend a night with us in Charlotte during Memorial Day weekend, in route to South Carolina. Unfortunately their plans changed. And they missed out on being the first guests on Talking Trash With Mr. Groovy.  But at least we have a great photo of Claudia doing her civic duty at Chickies Rock County Park in PA!

a picture of Claudia with stage blood in Chickies Rock County Park

Claudia, did you know the park is thought to be haunted?

And last week, Claudia really saved the day. More like saved our asses. She sent me an urgent message after reading a post on our website when it became apparent to her that something was terribly off with our site. After a quick Skype call, with Claudia’s help, Mr. Groovy and I were able to identify the culprit and quickly make a change.

By the way, Claudia is a digital marketing veteran and SEO expert. She created this course specifically for bloggers and podcasters.

JW and Lucy of The Green Swan

Here we are Mr. Groovy and I, old enough to be their parents, yet we enjoy spending time with our fellow Charlotteans—JW and his wife Lucy.

When we realized we were neighbors, JW and I occasionally left comments on each other’s blogs about meeting. Finally, when Lucy was days away from going into labor with Cygnet 2, Mr. Groovy and I met up with the Swans for lunch in Uptown Charlotte. (It’s a Charlotte thing—our downtown is called uptown.) Lucy and JW work near one another and Cygnet 1 was in daycare so it was a perfect opportunity. Mr. Groovy and I arrived first at the restaurant and I texted JW to let him know where we were seated—lunchtime in Uptown can get quite busy. Mr. Groovy and I felt like we were on a blind date!

The 2nd time we got together with the Swans was for a weekend lunch, less than 2 months after Lucy gave birth to their second little boy. And we had the pleasure of meeting both children! Cygnet 1 is an energetic preschooler, while Cygnet 2 is very calm, like his mother. He was awake the whole time, sitting in his carrier smiling and checking out the restaurant scenery. The one time he cried was when I held him—but luckily I grabbed a few minutes of joy before his discomfort kicked in and he wanted his mommy.

Laurie of The Frugal Farmer

I don’t think of myself as a very religious person. But in response to a casual comment I made on her blog, Laurie reached out to me. She tentatively questioned whether I was open to a conversation about religion and I was. We emailed each other a few times and then she asked if she could send me a bible. And I said “sure!”

After I received the bible I had questions, which led to more emails. And then religion led to other topics and before long, Laurie and I were in touch on a weekly basis. Laurie is extremely gracious in sharing blogging tips and referrals. And aside from personal finance, she’s a super person. She’s kind, funny, and very blunt! She’s home schooling her kids and has some wacky adventures. Her short notes about her family’s escapades are sometimes the highlight of my day.

My crystal ball tells me Laurie and I have many more conversations ahead—and that her husband Rick and Mr. Groovy will become fast friends when we finally do meet.

Fritz and Jackie of The Retirement Manifesto

And then along came the Fritzers, as we affectionately call them!

It all started when Mr. Groovy booked an interview with Joshua Sheets on Radical Personal Finance. Fritz previously guested on the show and we listened to his interview with Joshua during one of our walks. Mr. Groovy and I thought he aced it! He sounded so professional—surely we could learn something from him.

We sent Fritz a message and asked if he’d share some tips with a first timer—and he graciously replied with his phone number. During our first call, Fritz put Mr. Groovy at ease about the RPF taping. And from that point on, we had a friend in Fritz. We spoke on a monthly basis for almost a year.

We learned about Fritz’s wife Jackie, and the animal rescue and fostering the two of them do for the Barking Lot—part of the Tri State Pet Rescue in Blue Ridge, GA. Fritz excitedly told us about his daughter’s upcoming wedding. And Jackie and I spoke very briefly on the phone, once.

And when Mr. Groovy and I retired back in October—who dedicated an entire post about our retirement day 1?

Speaking of Jackie—let me ask you, what kind of woman goes along with her nutty husband in inviting two lunatic bloggers neither of them have met—to spend the night in her new home? The lovely Jackie—that’s who.

Last weekend Mr. Groovy and I visited the North Georgia mountains to meet the Fritzers for the very first time! It was wonderful—just like getting together with old friends. We stayed at the Great House but the Fritzers also gave us a tour of the Good House, which is up for sale. AND we’re the first bloggers, ever, to witness the World Headquarters of The Retirement Manifesto!

Saturday night we had dinner in the lovely town of Blue Ridge, GA. Sunday morning, while the men went out in search of litter (Yes! Fritz is the first guest litter picker upper on Talking Trash With Mr. Groovy), Jackie and I drank coffee on the huge deck of the Great House, and got to know one another better.  Dare I say it? (Well, Mr. Groovy already has.) Fritz—you married up!

There you have it—living proof of friendships made through the power of Internet. There are so many more folks I feel as if I already know—there’s Amy from Life Zemplified, who’s becoming a good friend and advises me on improving my nutrition. Mr. Groovy and I intend to meet her in Michigan, perhaps next year. And there’s Lila (@liladstudio on Twitter) who encourages us to expand our digital horizons. She’s a talented artist who occasionally creates images and infographics from Freedom Is Groovy to show us the possibilities—and she’s a full-time student.

There are so many more folks to mention and I apologize for leaving anyone out—but I’d be totally remiss if I didn’t mention the Rockstar Finance Forums. If you’re seeking friends just take a hop over to the Forums and you’re bound to find one.

Until the next time…I leave you with this random act of kindness created by My Son’s Father for Mr. Groovy and me.

Enjoy.

Lego figures of Mr. and Mrs. Groovy with speech balloons

 

64 thoughts on “An Unexpected Consequence of Blogging: Friends

  1. Wonderful list – it’s been awesome being a part of this community and I count many of them and you and Mr. G as friends as well. Hopefully we’ll get to connect in-person at some point!

    1. Thanks, Chris — Mr. Groovy and I count you as a friend, too! And we’re very impressed with your achievements.

  2. Love this one. I can’t believe how many interesting, diverse and AMAZING people I’ve met in my short time in the PF Twitter community. Very open and helpful. I’ve been given encouragement, constructive criticism, and leg ups.

    Hard part is finding enough time in the day to thank everyone!

    Looking forward to knowing everyone better and one day even meeting some my fellow bloggers in person.

    1. Everyone IS amazing — and a little wacky too! 24 hours is too short a day when you get caught up in the blogosphere. And you just found the Rockstar Forums? They’re addictive. At times I have to force myself to stay away.

      Love your writing — don’t ever lose your edge!

    1. We’re freakin’ excited, too! (I’m quoting Mr. Groovy.)

      I’ve never been inside a popup camper! Nice photo of it on your current post. Woo-hoo, we’re going to Montana! Can’t wait to meet you.

  3. Seriously that is so cool you get to meet some these PF bloggers. I just started blogging so i can’t wait to get to know more bloggers. It seems like a community with open arms and great inspiration.

    1. Open arms — just like in your logo, LOL! You’ll have loads of fun, Kris. Thanks for commenting!

  4. This is lovely. Not least of all because it gets harder to make friends after a certain point. A few of my really good friends moved away recently (cost of doing business when you live in an expensive urban area) and I feel like I just don’t have it in me to make new friends. I tell myself it’s part being busy and exhausted, and part just getting older. But that is a terrible way to think. Making friends should be a lifelong pursuit. I love this post.

    1. Thanks, Linda.

      Your comment made me think of my earlier life in Brooklyn. When many of my friends got married in their 20s, I became person non gratis. I wasn’t part of a couple and they lost interest. On the other hand, while Mr. Groovy’s friends married young, and he didn’t, they all remained friends to this day and many of them are still in NY.

      I agree that it’s harder to make friends as you get older and it should be a lifelong pursuit. But we get stuck in our ways. That’s why this community is such a blessing….you might recall a few months ago J$ posted a note in the Forum about another blogger who was going through a rough time, personally. He asked people to reach out to her, and her then-current post lit up like a XMAS tree. It was awesome!

  5. Awesome look at how you have made some awesome connections in blogging!

    As someone that is somewhat introverted and has trouble connecting with people in real life, the blogging community has been great. It is an opportunity to find similarities with people much quicker. I have been surprised at how quickly you can actually make real friends in the community.

    The support has also been amazing. Once you realize there is no competition between bloggers then it gets much more rewarding.

    I have also felt that without the support of others I would be far more frustrated with blogging and probably would not be as excited to do it. There is always someone willing to help or point out errors on your site. Not something that would happen to often in the real world.

    Thanks for sharing this!

    1. You hit on one of the strangest/nicest aspects of this community — there is no competition. Everyone pulls each other up.

      The Rockstar Forums have been a huge plus for new bloggers. For us, it was trial by fire on the technical side. And it was very frustrating, just like you said.

      Thanks for your comment, Cameron!

  6. I never thought that blogging could give me a resemblance of a social life. This isn’t just net working, this PF community (Rockstar’s specifically, can’t speak for others hehe) is basically a hive of similarity minded people with proper values.

    We can start up a dating website just from that! Money and relationship pairings.

    1. You could be on to something with the dating website, Lily. I’d love to see some pairings come out of the community!

  7. Ah, Mrs. G. You are the bestest! I’m glad we can call each other real friends. It can be difficult to make friends with like-minded folks, but PF blogging has made that a whole lot easier. We’ll get to NC soon enough, I’m sure!

    Also, I had no idea that park could be haunted. HA! Maybe that explains the stage blood I found? *cue dramatic music*

    1. I totally missed the connection to the blood! That certainly explains it. Now, if only you can find Bigfoot next time…

      You and Garrett are the bestest, too!

  8. I love the connections I’ve made through blogging! 🙂 In fact, I’m not sure I would have stuck with it if it weren’t for the friendships I’ve made along the way. It’s really great to meet up in person too. I’ve met a few at meet ups and am looking forward to meeting more at FinCon! Great post, Mrs. G! 🙂

    1. Thanks, Amanda. I’m not sure I would have stuck with it either. Finding the motivation is easier when you have the friendship and support of others in the community. FinCon should be an amazing experience!

    1. Thanks, Kevin. I’m glad I found yours, too. And I’m happy to see you joined “The Drawdown Strategy Chain” (for those unfamiliar — anyone who’s writing about their strategy for withdrawing and spending assets can join the chain.)

  9. The PF blogging community is a great place full of wonderful people. I met a few bloggers in person at FinCon and lots more in the digital world. Everyone is friendly and helpful and I’m glad you’ve found the same. PS I love the Legos!

    1. We’ve only met wonderful people, both digitally and in person.

      I’m happy you love the Legos. My Son’s Father is so creative!

  10. That was a heart warming post. It is cool that you have made such intimate relationships with so many people. The personal finance community seems to be made up of some great folks. I look forward to meeting and developing more relationships as time goes by.

    1. Aww, thanks Dave. The relationships came about very naturally. Mr. G and I are pretty much homebodies, LOL. You’ll definitely form bonds with others in the community in time.

    1. Not this year, Brian. Perhaps next year if it’s in the Southeast or at a location on our bucket list. I know y’all are going to have blast and I hope someone will be doing live Twitter commenting.

  11. The PF community really is the best. I’m more of a casual blogger but still feel like people have welcomed me with open arms. Everyone is so supportive of each other!

    Really hoping to make it to the next North Stars meetup so I can meet local bloggers in person 🙂

    1. That’s the beauty of the community. You can be a casual blogger or even drop out of site for a while and people are always welcoming.

      I hope you get to meet some of the North Stars folks! Thanks for commenting, Kate!

  12. So honored and happy to be called your friend! I look forward to getting to know you and Mr. G better and cannot wait to meet you!

    Thanks, Mrs. G (& Mr. G too) for welcoming me into the community and extending your friendship! You too are definitely a blessing.

    And those Legos – My Son’s Father is awesome! 🙂

    1. I (We) feel the same about you, Amy. Actually, after Mr. G saw your kitchen renovation and learned how many squats you do — he said “Is there anything Amy doesn’t do?” 😉

  13. Friendship is built upon mutual trust and interests….recently I have won a book from Jillian and enjoying reading it. I find her to be an online mentoring for her easy-going down-to-earth nature.:-)

    Thanks for sharing this.

    1. Down-to-earth is a good way of describing Jillian. She’s also a font of wisdom and a great mentor.

      Thanks for commenting, Tiffany!

  14. Haha oh please, you would have been early teenagers to have kids our age :)!

    Ha that did feel like a blind date didn’t it?! Cygnet #2 is definitely the laid back one so far. And if I’m lucky, the Cygnet’s will take after their mother in many ways.

    It’s nice having fellow bloggers so close by and I look forward to some trash talking with Mr. G soon!!!

    1. Oh yeah, right. Flattery will get you everywhere, JW!

      Lucy is about the calmest mom I’ve ever seen. Motherhood suits her so well.

      Mr. G would love to do a trash talking episode with you! What about Cygnet 1 — is he camera shy?

      1. Oh I’m sure he’d love to help out. We can make it a game for him!

        I do love the unintended consequences of blogging though…I wasn’t necessarily expecting so many friendships to develop when I started but the community is so great.

    1. Like-minded is key, Erik. That’s what makes it so easy to connect. We may all be nerds with the numbers but we know how to have fun, too!

  15. I cried. Seriously, cried. This is tremendously inspiring. I’ve had nothing but amazing experiences interacting with other PF bloggers on Twitter. Everyone is so friendly and welcoming! Great post. Need tissues.

    1. Aww, that’s sweet. It is kind of touching, isn’t it?

      You’ve been a great new addition to the community, Lady! Thanks for stopping by.

  16. Very cool. I’ve yet to meet any of my fellow bloggers but I can see the appeal. Maybe someday we’ll find ourselves down your way and drop you a line. We drive through there a lot on the way to South Georgia,

    1. We didn’t intentionally set out to meet people but it just sort of evolved.

      Sure we’d love to meet up with you when you head to South Georgia!

  17. Grah, I really need to meet up with more PF writers! This sounds like a damn blast. 🙂 I haven’t heard of some of these blogs before, so thanks for the new reading material.

    1. Grah — another word I had to look up in an Urban Dictionary!

      Glad I could introduce you to some other blogs, Mrs. PP!

  18. Awww – I love this! Thank you so much for being my cousins. I really enjoy our conversations and all the advice you give me. I am SO BUMMED that I won’t be meeting you both at FinCon but I have big plans to track you down to hug you at some point during this year. Bonus points if I can find you while with Jillian so I can bear hug her as well! 🙂

      1. Are you sure you can walk after the spill you took?! Just saw it on Twitter. So glad my Cuz is ok. Damn…I don’t want to meet the Groovy’s at a funeral!! Stay off the roof from now on. I still need a place to launch my AT hike from. 🙂

      2. Sure you can come, Fritz!

        And WHAT SHE SAID!!! (Bianca, about staying OFF the roof.) I’ve heard of DIY but I’ve also heard of a funky term for hiring others to do work — oh yeah, they’re called CONTRACTORS. You know, those guys that are hard to get a hold of? I know that’s why you want to do it yourself. Mr. Groovy’s like that too but there are some things you gotta leave to the pros.

    1. I hear Charlotte is still a major hub for layovers, yes? Even if it’s a quick lunch we can meet you. You’d need at least 2 hours so we can drive to a normal neighborhood.

      Bear hug. Was that a pun? I bet you didn’t know Fritz has a camera out in the woods by his house to catch a glimpse of the neighborhood bear.

    2. September…Montana. I have the pop up camper all set up in the yard for the groovies, but we have extra tents too! =) We’ll call it “pre-fincon”. That should be a thing. And it should be in Montana. =)

  19. Love this post, Mrs. G! And it is so true! I’ve met so many amazing people in just one year. And when we finally get all the renovations done and hit the road, I hope to be able to meet up with a bunch of folks. (And my aunt and first cousin live in Charlotte!) In my line of work (OK – my OLD line of work) – it was hard to have a lot of close relationships. As a principal, you couldn’t really “hang out” with teachers and there were few principals to hang out with! We have plenty of friends in town from our kids growing up, but these new friendships will be such an important part of “our next life” (to steal from Ms. ONL!) Ms. Montana just sent me two books – and they are AMAZING! (And so is she!) So many great things about this community!

    1. Start setting your sights on some Charlotte barbecue, Vicki! We’d be so happy to meet you.

      We’ve had difficulty making close relationships here. For instance, our subdivision is a mecca for families with kids. Parents get on our “Next Door” (online bulletin board) and discuss school stuff, or lace into neighbors for speeding in the development — speeding is definitely not cool but these folks go on and on, and get very petty about EVERYTHING. I have no patience for it. We have a few neighbors we can count on for watching out for one another, but otherwise we stick to ourselves.

      1. We had the “Next Door” invite a few months ago and we passed on it. We heard it was the same thing – people complaining about others, etc. We’re not into that drama either. We’ll definitely try to catch you on a southern route as we head to Sarasota. We’ll definitely stop in Charlotte to see them and hopefully you! (Or you can always stop and visit us further south too!)

        1. It’s good for a few things like lost (and found) pets, street closings and other urgent issues.

  20. The PF community is definitely one with open arms. Rockstar finance forum has been such a good place to meet people.

    I knew people were nice but after I met up with the North Stars group I realized what great people they were.
    I’ve even found friends in totally different situation half a country away!

    1. I forgot about the North Stars group meetup! That’s great that you were able to get a group together. It sounds like you’ve had the same experience we’ve had — people are just as nice in person as they are online.

      Thanks for your comment!

  21. Mrs G, I’m honored to be among the all-stars on your “Friend List”. I really enjoy the time we spend together, and consider you among my best blogging friends.

    The social aspect of blogging is something I never anticipated, and it’s my favorite part of this hobby. The network of bloggers is absolutely amazing, and I’m glad to have both you and Mr. G as friends!

    And, regarding Jackie, I absolutely married up! She’s incredible, I’m truly blessed. Between friends like you, and a wife like her, I struggle to think how life could be much better! Thanks for the shoutout, love you like a sister (or cousin, as Miss Mazuma would say!)

    1. Jackie’s a keeper! And her commitment to the doggies really touches me.

      We’re so glad to have you both as friends too. I can’t wait to hear about Maddie’s wedding!

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