Dear Abby: Residents at retirement village demand that newcomers take sides

DEAR ABBY: My wife and I live in a small town in the Northwest. After many years here, feeling that a warmer climate may be better for us, we decided to retire and move to a 55-plus community. We researched and visited several, and recently bought a home in one with about 5,000 residents and a lot of senior activities.

After closing, we stayed around for several days to get better acquainted and got a rude surprise. Everyone we met was very friendly, but quite a few seemed to have a grudge about at least one other person in the community.

We’ve always made friends easily. What can we do or say to be able to be friends with neighbors who have grudges against each other (“If you are friends with them, you can’t be friends with us”)? — NOT TAKING SIDES IN THE SOUTH

DEAR NOT TAKING SIDES: It appears you not only moved south, but also into an “elementary school” complete with playground politics.

Do not allow yourselves to be shanghai’ed into an exclusive relationship with anyone who tries to blackmail you this way. If your neighbors can’t get along with each other, let it be their problem and see them separately. And when they put down the people they don’t like, change the subject.

DEAR ABBY: My boyfriend and I have been together for two years and are in a committed relationship. Yesterday he told me he isn’t sexually satisfied. I was shocked.

I thought our sex life was good overall. However, he says he feels he’s doing most of the work and I’m not “adventurous” enough.

He’s not looking for anything crazy, but I have limited experience and lack confidence in this area. How do I get my confidence up and meet his needs? — UNSURE IN ILLINOIS

DEAR UNSURE: Have a talk with your boyfriend. Tell him you are glad that he was honest with you about his feelings. Then ask what he meant by “adventurous” and what he would like from you.

It could be something as simple as you initiating the sexual encounters more often. But if it’s not, it will be the beginning of an important conversation.

DEAR ABBY: I received an invitation to a “belly and bells shower.” The bride is expecting (belly) and her wedding shower is included (bells).

Having never received an invitation that honors both events, I’m not certain how to respond gift-wise. Do I buy two gifts? She’s registered at two sites, one for baby and one for bridal. — CONFUSED IN MICHIGAN

DEAR CONFUSED: Yes, two gifts are what’s being requested. What those gifts should be is up to you — although you will get some idea of what the couple will need by visiting the two websites.

After the shower is over, the rule of etiquette is that you should receive a wedding invitation. If you choose to attend, another gift will be in order, so don’t put away your checkbook.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at http://www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

Good advice for everyone — teens to seniors — is in “The Anger in All of Us and How to Deal With It.” To order, send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $7 (U.S. funds), to: Dear Abby, Anger Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.)