My readers were wonderfully supportive to me when I questioned whether I should move into a senior center.

While I could see some good reasons to do it, it’s a big deal to leave behind your own home and lifestyle.

Readers weighed in, telling me their advice is “just do it.” A few told personal stories about relatives that transitioned to a senior center. They were happy they made that decision and said I should do it.

Well, move-in day was two weeks ago and I am ever so pleased I made the move.

To me, the move has been better than good. It’s remarkably better than I ever expected.

Moving my household and getting rid of what would never fit in my smaller apartment was so much stress and turmoil. But all that quickly went away when I finally moved into my new home.

I was only there for a short while when two women came to welcome me with promises of getting together soon.

My daughter Andrea said she watched my face light up with joy when they popped in.

Indeed, having new friends and new activities was what I had hoped for. I needed to change from watching too much TV at night to having a more active lifestyle.

Now I feel like I found an entire new life with new friends and new activities.

What I can’t get over is how warm and friendly every single staff person seemed to be.

When I had one-on-one conversations with staff members they told me how much they enjoyed working there.

“The difference here is that everyone is so happy to be here so it’s a pleasant working environment,” said one desk clerk.

As a longtime journalist, I don’t just talk with one person. I keep asking questions, checking to see if other employees truly enjoyed their jobs. It seemed to be universal.

While I am quite pleased to have found what might very well be my happiness place, I know that’s only the background.

The rest is up to me. My own happiness depends on how I take advantage of all this place has to offer.

Yes, the basic ingredients are here. Every month there as at least a dozen regular activities and special offers every single week.

But if anyone sits inside without taking some of the activity classes there will be no gain.

I know we do have to push ourselves to create the new life that’s being offered.

To do this, I made a pledge to myself to try every class that might be interesting.

I enjoy dancing but I’ve never been a fan of line dancing. Yet, when that was the only late afternoon activity I joined in and was happy for the movement.

My byword has to be move, move, move. No matter what I do it beats sitting in front of the TV for hours.

I truly enjoy people. All kinds of people. I like listening to them and I found everyone has something interesting to share.

What is different at South Port Square, the place I now call home, is that most people are in the same boat. They want to be around people.

My girlfriend Jeanne joined the YMCA to meet new friends and enjoy the active classes together.

But she found people rushed off after class and she had to work hard to get to know them. But she did it.

Enjoying the same classes gives you something in common. Making friends normally takes repeated effort.

Not in South Port. If I walk by on the way to the elevator or mailbox I am sure to have at least one or two people that come to talk.

The difference is that most people here don’t have to rush home to cook or take of family.

Normally I would have been someone who had to go home to cook. Here, we just enjoy dinner together. All of us in the same boat makes it easier to make friends.

OK, lets do a survey: Do would find it easy to make new friends?

If not, what stops you? No time? No interest?

Before I came to South Port I found it easy to make friends with those who enjoyed the same activities as I do. That was especially true with our kayak club.

In addition to going on kayak trips together we went to dinner as a club every Wednesday night.

Through the years we were all close friends.

I must admit I was surprised when we drifted apart after I moved. When we no longer had our club in common, we drifted apart. A card at Christmas might be our only attempt to reach out.

So tell me this: Do you tend to maintain friendships with those who shares your interests?

When you no longer share that activity, do you still get together?

When I moved to Florida I was disappointed when my activity buddies went their own ways after I moved.

But I have to accept has just what happens. Nothing personal.

Do you tend to have friends that share your interests?

I would love to hear you take on these issues.

Email Pattie Mihalik at newsgirl@comcast.net