Evening everyone-Mind if I jump into this conversation? Char-I can certainly relate to feeling lost and without purpose. After 35 years of taking care of husband, home and family, I felt I was lost in limbo when my husband died. For all those years, I never questioned my purpose in life, I knew where I belonged and what I was supposed to do. Then suddenly, I was rootless, without purpose (I thought). It's been almost 3 1/2 years now, since I lost Mel, and it's taken awhile to find my new purpose on the planet. I figured out what I wanted, what I knew how to do, upgraded my skills a bit and jumped in feet first. I don't have a degree either, but I'm not going to let that stop me; I figure I have the equivalent of at least an associate degree in life. So far, I've had some small successes, just enough to whet the appetite for more. I'm working right now on my book about being a widow and how to cope with making a new life without a husband. It sounds like you've already found a way to distract yourself, get out of the house and make some new friends. And of course, you have all the new friends here as well. Welcome to the group!