How often do you socialize?

[Dick Whitman]

It just occurred to me this morning - Mrs. Whitman and I were talking about how we need to make more of an effort to see friends - that the last time I saw another grown-up socially that was not a family member was August 20, for beers before a concert. (I did run twice in the morning with a high school friend, if that counts, this fall.) So four months. That might actually be kind of sad.

How often does the rest of the board socialize?

 

[Moderator1]

I try to do something once a week, usually doesn't work out that often. I have a friend I get together with for dinner every six weeks or so. I did a hockey game with another friend this week, actually have TWO events planned for today (one too many for an old guy but I'll survive). I usually eat lunch at my desk but once in a while I'll grab lunch with a friend.

Single Guy With Dog Syndrome limits the number of hours I can be gone (but I wouldn't trade it). If you make the effort, though, you can find time.

 

[cisforkoke]

Sometimes, while the cookies are baking, I'll give the middle finger out the window to the neighbor.

 

[MisterCreosote]

We try to get together with our best-friend couple about once a month, but that mostly involves the kids too. The husbands/dads are usually good for a get-together every 6 months or so.

Other than that, most of my really good friends live a few hours away, so once a year, if that.

A few weeks ago, I went to happy hour with a buddy from work for the first time in more than two years.

 

[QYFW]

Never.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

Sporadic. Two good friends coming over to dinner Saturday. Had get together with neighbor friends two weeks back. Average maybe once a month. When you're retired, you lose work contacts, so your social circle shrinks.

 

[Ace]

Never.

Dang. I had the under.

 

[JC]

Does this include activities such as your own individual sports? If that's the case, 3 to 4 times a week.

 

[Dick Whitman]

Does this include activities such as your own individual sports? If that's the case, 3 to 4 times a week.

That's what I was wondering, too, which is why I included going on a couple runs with a friend.

 

[cisforkoke]

There was a guy I used to run with. Then he stopped. Then he moved. Then I called to see if there was a day we could meet for a meal or something. Then he said he didn't want to pay for both meals (somehow he misunderstood the question). Then I said F you.

Haven't heard from him in a while.

 

[da man]

Since mid-October, pretty much never.

 

[JC]

That's what I was wondering, too, which is why I included going on a couple runs with a friend.

We have a unique group of friends where it seems there is something every weekend where people are getting together with kids, or just going to the local pub for a few. Watching games, bbq's any old excuse.

I have found a lot of people's socializing starts to change when their kids start playing sports or outside activities. Seems the socializing is centred around the parents you meet at these events.

 

[Ace]

There was a guy I used to run with. Then he stopped. Then he moved. Then I called to see if there was a day we could meet for a meal or something. Then he said he didn't want to pay for both meals (somehow he misunderstood the question). Then I said F you.

Haven't heard from him in a while.

He thought you were inviting him out for dinner so he could pay? When you were running with him, were you holding a tin cup and a cardboard sign or something?

 

[HC]

JR and I rarely socialize. Dinner with his family a couple times of year and we get together with Huggy and his Mrs once or twice a year. There was a couple we go together with semi regularly but they moved to Italy last year.

 

[MisterCreosote]

Does this include activities such as your own individual sports? If that's the case, 3 to 4 times a week.

I have a friend who is an elementary school principal, and he'd open its gym up to us every weekend to play basketball for a few hours. And our kids would come and stay occupied in one of the classrooms the entire time.

It was perfect. Then he got a new job and moved. We haven't played since. Asshole.

 

[cisforkoke]

He thought you were inviting him out for dinner so he could pay? When you were running with him, were you holding a tin cup and a cardboard sign or something?

He listened to the voices in his head.

 

[LongTimeListener]

I have found a lot of people's socializing starts to change when their kids start playing sports or outside activities. Seems the socializing is centred around the parents you meet at these events.

This is absolutely true.

I socialize a lot more than my wife does. I end up going out once or twice a month, she usually doesn't have a lot of interest and in one case the group is a bunch of much younger people that I used to work with and she barely knows.

I also recently began the classic old-guy move of going to Saturday morning breakfast. Once you get past the fact that the average age is WWII, it's a nice relaxing break.

 

[Bronco77]

I get together with three male former co-workers for lunch once every month; it's become a tradition. The other three all are 65 or older, making me the "youngster" of the group by almost 10 years.

The wife is considerably more outgoing than I am and gets together with various friends of hers a few times a week (they usually have a "girls' night out" Friday).

As a couple, we might see mutual friends once a month. My nights/weekends schedule makes it challenging to find a good time to get together with people who work "normal" hours.

 

[MisterCreosote]

I also recently began the classic old-guy move of going to Saturday morning breakfast. Once you get past the fact that the average age is WWII, it's a nice relaxing break.

You mean, by yourself? That sounds glorious.

I just can't begin to imagine how I'd pull it off.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

We have a unique group of friends where it seems there is something every weekend where people are getting together with kids, or just going to the local pub for a few. Watching games, bbq's any old excuse.

I have found a lot of people's socializing starts to change when their kids start playing sports or outside activities. Seems the socializing is centred around the parents you meet at these events.

Our best friends in Lexington are still the parents of my son's friends from when he was a Boy Scout. All his set made Eagle. He's 32 now, and some of the parents have moved away, but we're still friends and still socialize.