How to be a Hermit

Recently my social life has consisted of not being at work or going out to dinner with one group or another of old hens that I've known forever. This is not working. There are never any men. One grows dull for the lack of men to talk to. And all this eating out is turning me into one hefty grandma. I thought that Walk Away the Pounds was helping me, but even Leslie can't overcome lasagna and fajita nachos with a couple of frozen 'ritas.
Being with most of the people I know right now is a test of holding my jaw clamped while they bemoan our fate if "That One" gets elected. They all know that socialism is lying in wait and their vast estates are going to be commandeered by the government to feed the raggedy-ass masses which they so deplore. I have no patience.
People that I have known and loved for years suddenly seem suspicious of me because deep down inside they sense that I don't agree with them and I'm going to vote for the black guy.
I do have a lunch group at school that is sympatico. A whole table full of old teachers who know what the rest of America is going through because we've been having a hard time making ends meet for our entire careers!
But this is the red state that gave the world W., so it stands to reason that I might feel like a voice in the wilderness. Most of my friends don't know who Christopher Buckley is, so they haven't gotten the idea that being a conservative doesn't mean that you have to follow the Rovians into the abyss.
So, I'm not getting out much. Retail therapy is down due to the financial crisis. I tipped the mariachis a $5 Friday night because I haven't had that much attention from men since August. No one has even written on my Facebook wall this week. It might be time to explore some other options for meeting interesting people.
There is a bright spot on the calendar at the end of the month. The Munchkin is coming for a Halloween visit. I haven't seen her except on Skype since Labor Day, so she has lots of new tricks to watch, and hopefully I can capture two months worth of hugs and kisses in only two days.