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How sociable are you?

(108 Posts)
grannyactivist Thu 14-Mar-24 01:23:38

This evening six of my husband’s friends came round for home brewed beer and (takeaway) pizza, then they watched a documentary film that they had been discussing (about Navalny). I spent a lovely evening in my art room.

My husband sorted drinks, made the dessert and salad, queued up the film - and my only contribution, apart from a quick meet and greet, was to pop out to pick up their pizzas. When the guys were leaving they all thanked me and commented that their own wives would have had very negative responses had they suggested such an evening.

Their comments have got me thinking. Even when we had smaller homes we always entertained a lot and my husband has always supported me in this, but as we’ve got older he’s really become much more sociable on his own behalf. (He meets up with different groups of friends several times in a month, for coffee, meals, a cycle ride, discussions etc.)

So it’s got me wondering - how much entertaining do others on here do? Are you more, or less, sociable than previously?

NanKate Sun 17-Mar-24 11:20:07

I’m sociable and go out 2 or 3 times a week. DH is happy at home or with the family.

DH and I have coffee out once a week.

Lockdown was my idea of Hell 😏

MissInterpreted Sun 17-Mar-24 11:22:13

NanKate

I’m sociable and go out 2 or 3 times a week. DH is happy at home or with the family.

DH and I have coffee out once a week.

Lockdown was my idea of Hell 😏

It was my idea of heaven...

Susieq62 Sun 17-Mar-24 11:24:24

I have just been away for three nights with 4 friends all women! I struggled with the constant chat , competitive talk, not being heard or listened to so this is my final time for this trip ! It was exhausting !!
I have been honest with myself that I cannot do big groups anymore, don’t entertain as I once did and like one to one or 4 is maximum! I realise I have been struggling for years and it is liberating to acknowledge my issues plus saying “No” is powerful !
My partner is not sociable ! I am in choir , WI, book groups etc but I can always go home to peace! Having been diagnosed with Mernieres recently doesn’t help but it is not going to define me! So I am friendly but only in very small groups

knspol Sun 17-Mar-24 11:26:37

Not at all sociable nowadays I'm afraid. DH had to be sociable for business but once retired we both preferred our own company and have also moved around a lot from one country to another and also within the UK. Retired to the outskirts of a small village and being a shy person have only a few local acquaintances but no friends as such so it's a lonely old life but I know it could be a lot worse.

biglouis Sun 17-Mar-24 11:34:30

My nephew and I both admit that we enjoyed the lockdown. Far less chance of some whinging neighbour turning up or someone wanting a favour. The ring doorbell filters out undesirables like sales people and chuggers. If youve not got an appontment and your not holding a package you can go forth and multiply.

marionk Sun 17-Mar-24 11:41:53

Having lost my DH 15mths ago I am having to work hard to establish a single persons social life in an effort to stave off depression/dementia, and it exhausting! I am an only child so am used to time alone and I need it to recharge after socialising. I don’t have a lot of close friends, DH was my best friend and I miss the ease of being with someone who knows you better than you know yourself. We used to love having people for dinner, but I do find myself anxious about cooking for people now.

twiglet77 Sun 17-Mar-24 11:48:15

I hate socialising. I live alone, I don’t have anybody in my house except my adult offspring and only then when they need me to look after their children or pets. I don’t attend social events. I walk a dog for a lady in the village and we chat briefly at her door, but that’s more than enough “peopling”.

When I was married my husband loved dinner or drinks parties, and having family round for Sunday lunch, and we had to attend lots of corporate events and trips away. I hated every minute and when he said he was moving out, one of my first thoughts was that I’d never have to host again as long as I lived! And I haven’t.

win Sun 17-Mar-24 11:52:37

Iam64

We used to regularity go 5 Mile walks with friends, then all return here to eat. We’d happily feed 12 or more, plus teenagers and various dogs.
Lockdown changed things and as we were getting our mojo back, my husband suddenly became very ill.
Since he died, I’ve cooked an occasional big family meal but tend to take friends out for lunch when they visit. I don’t seem to enjiy, or want to entertain groups of friends without him

I can so emphasise with this, I lost my partner in October and do not feel like meeting with people at all. I do a lot of voluntary work which takes up a lot of my time and somehow more and more. I am aware that I am hiding behind my work and it has become a bit of an obsession, but I always did work hard. I am hard of hearing so it is a struggle anyway to be with lots of people, takes a lot of concentration and. is very tiring, so I tend to do the organising and they enjoy the result. It would be nice to get out of the rot, but perhaps it will happen in the summer. This wet weather is not very encouraging. I have one good friend who visit a couple of times a week, but never says anything much, she would sit therein silence if I did not say anything. It is very uncomfortable and easy to run of of things today to her. I have known her for 50 years always been the same. She invites everyone and even almost strangers to her home just to have people around her even though she sees her family every day, but she is the same with them all, just sits and listens without commenting. It is as if she is in her own world. If we watch TV together she does not know what the programme was about afterwards so you can't discuss it. Most weird. I am wondering if she is showing signs of Dementia. I hope your life settles down Iam64 and you start to enjoy company a bit more. I hope that for myself too.

Matelda Sun 17-Mar-24 11:53:48

We are told that a good social life is essential for a long and healthy lifespan. My husband - always a rather quiet person - has now been in poor health for many years, so I have developed my own independent social life, volunteering as a guide in a historic property with friendly colleagues at least once a week. I also proactively call up acquaintances for coffee so that I have a network of possibles if I ever find myself in a jam - my family is spread far and wide. My sister and I have a particular timeslot online once a week and chat for exactly one hour and from this, I have developed good conversation skills. A while ago, I was learning languages online and got language exchange partners. Even though I stopped learning the languages, I kept the partners, and I now have longterm friends in a number of countries. We talk in English every week for exactly one hour, current affairs or matters of personal interest. With some of them I read books in English. I am now having a social meeting every night of the week and I thrive on it. As well as women, I talk to men. My husband does not mind, and they are often secretly lonely and appreciate even an oldie like me.

win Sun 17-Mar-24 11:53:53

marionk

Having lost my DH 15mths ago I am having to work hard to establish a single persons social life in an effort to stave off depression/dementia, and it exhausting! I am an only child so am used to time alone and I need it to recharge after socialising. I don’t have a lot of close friends, DH was my best friend and I miss the ease of being with someone who knows you better than you know yourself. We used to love having people for dinner, but I do find myself anxious about cooking for people now.

That is me to a T

Philippa111 Sun 17-Mar-24 12:14:58

I really enjoy having friends over for lunch on a one to one basis. It makes me tidy up! And also I make an easy but nice meal. My partner and I tend to be at home together a lot of the time with occasional visits from his sister and husband. I have my daughter and granddaughter over for lunch every second Sunday. I couldn’t be bothered with lots of people and all the work that would involve. Occasionally maybe.
The people I do spend time with are all very close and we are totally at ease with each other. Quality not quantity.

Aveline Sun 17-Mar-24 12:24:13

I really enjoy 1:1 lunches out with one or other of my friends. I'm not keen on parties or large groups. We do have neighbours in for drinks but only in small numbers so we can all enjoy the chat.
Due to my various classes and volunteering I have lots of friendly acquaintances and cheerful interactions related to the activity concerned. Suits me.

Goldieoldie15 Sun 17-Mar-24 12:30:29

I like being with and talking to people. Alas I find it quite exhausting. I think it’s all this talk of the imperative of maintaining “social connections” and so on that makes me feel I must. I enjoy my own company and am always doing something being busy without other people. And then reproach self for not making an effort. But sometimes I just cannot be bothered. I wish I was more enthusiastic about it all.

Harris27 Sun 17-Mar-24 12:30:32

Don’t have many people over as such to the house. But I do go out with my sister and some friends occasionally and enjoy it. Hubby and I are still working but as we taper it down we are spending more time together which is lovely.

pably15 Sun 17-Mar-24 12:43:54

we used to go out at least one night at the weekend, there was a group of us about a dozen, to a working men's club, but over the years our group has got smaller, now we never go out, we're getting older our family visit us .to tell the truth both me and my husband don't have the energy now, and are content to stay in

Hellsbelles Sun 17-Mar-24 13:00:20

My husband is a diy er but takes forever to fulfil a job that really someone else should do ( think putting up internal walls , and ceilings ) so as not to be embarrassed , I meet up away from the house.

4allweknow Sun 17-Mar-24 13:08:46

The only people I entertain are my DSs and their families when they come to visit and stay for a break.
I meet up for coffee with people in groups I attend but entertain, no. Friends are few and far between as having moved about a lot with 3 children due to DHs job and his irregular work hours and then going to work myself the time for socialising was quite sparse. Did manage the occasional get together when DH and his colleagues were at home at the same time. No family around for babysitting/childminding for girl's nights out either. Not unsociable, but just not able to.

Dempie55 Sun 17-Mar-24 13:25:24

I’m in a very small house now, so can’t really entertain much. I really only have my children and grandchildren to visit. In fact, this morning I was looking at my piles of dinner plates, casserole dishes and serving platters, wondering if I should just get rid of the lot!

Diplomat Sun 17-Mar-24 13:28:50

I think some people like their own company and space. Personally I don't, I am a people person. I only like the odd day in on my own.

Etoile2701 Sun 17-Mar-24 13:35:01

We are not at all sociable these days and my husband has become agoraphobic since the pandemic - as have I to a lesser extent. The only people we look forward to seeing nowadays are our immediate family.

Cabbie21 Sun 17-Mar-24 14:13:29

I enjoy meeting my choirs and church friends but we rarely socialise beyond the rehearsal sessions. It is lonely coming back to an empty house with nobody to tell what has gone on but I am glad to be home. I spend a lot of time online to connect with others but I also like to be at home. DH hated socialising though he got on well with people but never wanted to invite anyone home. Since he died I have felt freer to go to family meals which I enjoy. I don’t enjoy socialising with people I won’t know well. I am not a good cook so I don’t invite anyone for a meal. I would rather eat out. Maybe it is time to get rid of my dinner service etc.

Skydancer Sun 17-Mar-24 14:20:40

I find socialising very tiring. I would never cook for anyone except family. If someone does come round I usually do a cream tea - that's about it. I hate anyone staying and hope nobody ever does. Definitely getting more anti-social and even find it a struggle to meet people in town for coffee these days. We have been invited to a wedding NEXT YEAR and I'm already dreading it as I may have to talk to people I don't know. Truth is, I don't like talking about myself and am not interested in other people really. I sound awful. Is it an age thing? I don't think I was ever like this.

JaneJudge Sun 17-Mar-24 14:24:43

I'm not very sociable at all but the house is often full

Grantanow Sun 17-Mar-24 14:46:20

We used to have dinner parties for 6 or 8 people in the UK and France but we left France after Brexit (Grrr!). Most of those we invited in the UK have died or become less able so we do it much less now. And we are older so sometimes too tired.

Buffy Sun 17-Mar-24 15:09:36

I made myself become very sociable because I couldn’t stand the thought that nobody liked me or wanted to spend time with me. (I would never have been the first person invited to a party). So to prove to myself that I wasn’t unlikeable I was rushing around like a headless chicken, joining everything. Now I realise how pointless it is to socialise just for the sake of it. I do go out but spend more time at home enjoying my own company and that of family and a few friends. What a waste of time and energy trying to prove I was Mrs Popularity.