WOW--- I was...
It's incredible, isn't it Ginger? I'm still early enough on the journey (2+ months out) to where it is still hard to believe for me. You're time is coming up really soon too - how exciting!
As for the local buddy - if you can't find someone to talk to in person, don't forget about us here! We may all be only online and a distance away, but we all share a lot in common!
Dina