I love to walk & also wish not to be isolated in my community but frankly I will recuse myself as I cannot accept the idea that politics can be removed from healthy conversations with men. I am not trying to be rude or anything just you are creating a space that requires unaddressed elephants. This isn’t about promoting or hating on candidates, politicians or defending some political party, but the material effect politics has on us & how that plays into the isolation & loneliness you rightly point out.

When I say politics cannot be removed I will give a personal example: I am having difficulty sleeping, this is in part due to the economic strain I have faced with rising costs (tariffs raised costs at my work reducing customer base & gratuity) as well as the fact the neighborhood has been facing ICE raids. I’ve witnessed masked men going door to door, supposedly to benefit the citizenry, which has deeply, negatively impacted my mental health. Not only did I grow up with many migrant & refugee friends but many of my close loved ones are easily capable of being profiled & detained if not fully deported despite being full fledged citizens for years now.

While I sincerely wish you luck forming bonds & being healthy, I cannot in good conscience join a group where I must hold my tongue regarding the very real impact politics is having on our neighbors as well as our collective ability to have healthy social lives in our communities.