By Mandy W., as told to Analise Pendergast

Alison and I had met during our senior year at the University of Chicago, and we lived together in the city for three years. My job as an administrative assistant paid the rent, but it really didn’t float my boat. When our relationship grew rocky and we finally called it quits, I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t afford my own place, and I was sick of my job.

I called my mother and cried on her shoulder, long distance. Like Moms will do when their babies are in distress, she suggested I come stay with her for awhile at her home in rural New Hampshire, to nurse my wounds. It didn’t hurt matters to know Mom would make me chicken soup and listen to my tales of woe by the fireplace.

Mom and her partner Beth had moved to New Hampshire after I left for college. Beth owned some land there, and they’d always dreamed of building a house together. With Mom’s divorce final and me out of the nest, they went off to pursue their dream. While I’d visited at Thanksgiving, I couldn’t imagine living so far from civilization; no shopping, no dance clubs or gay bars anywhere to be found.[$MSN.ARTICLE.CTALINKS$]“How can you live here, way out in the boonies? Don’t you get bored? What do you do for fun?” I pummeled Mom and Beth with questions.

Mom assured me they had their hands full with work and the house. Hikes in the woods, a women’s potluck or coffeehouse concert were plenty to keep them amused.

I took the bus to New Hampshire, but after a week there, I just couldn’t see going back to Chicago and starting over, without Alison. So I rented a truck, got my stuff and moved into Mom and Beth’s guest room, just until I figured out what to do next.

The first few weeks weren’t all that bad. I got a job at a nursing home, and actually enjoyed the weekend hikes. But it became obvious there was no way I was ever going to meet any other lesbians my age, way out there in the sticks. Feeling isolated and lonely, I stayed home at night surfing the web and wishing for company.

One night I clicked a link to a gay/lesbian personals site, and a light bulb went off in my head. I ran a search for women my age in the area, and eureka! Within a few miles were several cuties I never would have run into in my daily travels. After being in touch with a few women who weren’t perfect fits, I met Meghan, a veterinary intern who was doing her internship at a nearby clinic. As soon as we met face to face I knew we had chemistry, and apparently the feeling was mutual.

Long story short, six months later, we’re in love. Her internship is up next month, and I’m going back to New York with her. We’re getting a place together, and I’m starting a graduate program in social work. Neither of us dreamed we’d find true love during our temporary stints in rural New England, but thanks to Internet personals, we found the proverbial needle in the haystack.

I’m sure mom and Beth won’t mind getting their peace and quiet back, and Meghan and I can’t wait to start our new life in a place where we can go out dancing every night of the week if that’s what we feel like doing!