Newcomers not welcome here

SO ANNOYED. Such a crap night.

I got home from work and was reading the local rag and noticed that there is a club called the Santa Barbara Newcomers that meet once a month, and they were meeting tonight. Excellent - thats EXACTLY the kind of group I need. So i put my brave socks on and rode down.

On the way I got a flat tyre. Is this a sign? No Sherry, don't look for excuses. So I just chained up my bike and walked the rest of the way. I was running a little late, but thats okay. I get there, they are so warm and kind and friendly and do so many social things together. And quite a number of youngish people too which is great. So I talk to someone about membership - which is $100 for 2 years, I wanted to see if I could say pay $50 for 5 months.

And they WOULDN"T ACCEPT ME AS A MEMBER because I'm here for too short a time! I said that i plan to make SB my home while I'm here, and that I dont consider myself a tourist. They said it would be 'unfair' to other people who met me and made friends with me, only to have me leave a short time later. Stupid crock of committee secret squirrel shite.

I told them it was thier loss, as i would have been a fun and active member! (So ner!) I wanted to stay and chat to people anyway, but I left early because it was all I could do to stop myself from bursting into tears.

I just feel so rejected. Here was a room of 30+ people, all who know what its like to move somewhere new, and they REJECTED ME! I just wanted to die.

And to top it off I had to walk 2kms back to my bike, then walk the bike 3kms home. It was just such a hard night. It would have been so good. And I'm so surprised that a group who are specifically for new people left me feeling this way.

(I thought twice about posting this post... but I was reminded today how important it is to record memories, good and bad.)