How do we create a community for ourselves? How do we find those like-minded individuals who share a passion, a hobby, a life style, or other interests with us? This question has been a common theme in my life for a long time, and one that I think many other people ask themselves again and again.

A community gives us encouragement, feedback, a sense of belonging, and a home base. Community used to be much easier to find, when neighbours knew each other better and we weren’t all so busy in our individual lives. For those within a church or lifestyle, often the community comes from those beliefs or lifestyles. I see friends who are involved in their church and I appreciate the community they have surrounded themselves with.

With only one child and not much in the way of extended family we have tried to create a community around us. We have become friendly with our neighbours, our librarian, and others in the community at large. But community is also finding like-minded families and individuals, and that has been hard here.

For myself, I have discovered a sense of community here on the internet. And I know we don’t really know one another when we have never met face to face, but it is a sense of community none-the-less. (Think pen pals.) Artists who are interested in playing as I am. Parents raising their children and finding common ground in our approaches or styles. Knitters (oh the world of internet knitters – Ravelry you amaze me) who are so open and are as passionate about this craft as I am. The sense of community this brings is real, and though perhaps it is not a substitute for the real one I am creating here in my physical world, it still gives me comfort and encouragement and inspiration and many other things. So to those who visit, and to those whose blogs I visit, a heartfelt thank you. Thank you for being part of my community.