answer:Congratulations on making this big transition. You don’t need anyone’s permission, @talljasperman, if you feel like you need to ease slowly into your new situation. But it’s my opinion that you would do well to start learning your way around as soon as possible so you can begin to feel at home. My guess (and it’s just a guess) is that the longer you remain aloof and act like a stranger, the harder it’s going to be to settle in. Maybe pick a starting point, a main shopping or dining area, a movie theater, or a library, and explore it with Google Street View so it looks familiar before you go there. You don’t have to do it all at once. Pick one easy, recognizable destination—say, a cafe or even a supermarket—and just go there. Come back and tell us how it went.