Antonia
Having a 'tribe' is so important. Companionship helps with maintaining good health, both mental and physical.
I fear that our online lives, although pleasant, can't compensate for real life people.
I don't like driving (although I am able to) and often get into a conversation with people about my age at the bus stop. I nearly always find they are pleased to talk, and it might be the only conversation they have that day, apart from with sales assistants.
I know precisely what you mean about talking to people I am always striking up conversation, having a laugh with people, as you say that one moment of 1 to 1 conversation might be the only tine in the day they have spoken to anyone.
I love, love charity shops because you have a real good chinwag, proper 1 to 1 conversation, you don't get that in what I call 'normal' shops hahaha.
Yes, online chat is great, I am not knocking it at all, but nothing beats that face to face chinwag ....
My 'aid' ALWAYS instigates a laugh. I have MS and amongst other pieces of equipment, i have a pushchair that I use as a 'walker'.....
So, picture the scene , there I am breezing about with my pushchair, MINUS THE BABY hahahaha, I have my stick tucked down the side of the pushchair but all ppl can see is an EMPTY PUSHCHAIR.... hahaha. So the number of times people have passed me with comments of I think you're missing something! is far, far too many to remember BUT its brilliant because it instigates a laugh, a conversation, let me point out that the reason behind the empty pushchair is for my mobility and NOT to get chatting to folk hahaha but I am just making a point of how absolute uplifting it is to stop and chat to a complete stranger and both of us stand laughing.
FANNNNNNNTASTIC ....



