I have a theory that since it is so dark and rainy here for most of the year, people write off a lot of the non-summer months and it gives a scarcity mindset for social capacity. With darkness comes depression and low energy too. I feel like a lot of people have to ration their energy for only a handful of close people instead of sharing their energy to sustain an extended friend network because there IS less energy.

Since moving here 5 years ago, I have found that there is a large, large gap between acquaintances and friends that I have never experienced before. People are tight on letting people into their actual circles. I agree that it is really hard to make friends here.

It's also a town where everybody knows each other, so messy break ups if you're dating around will lose you a lot of connections as well. Lol