How sociable are you?

I think when you first retire you want to fill your life with things and that's fine but after a while, as we age and realise we just don't have the energy we once had, its ok to cut back activities.
I joined U3A (lots of interest groups)
Volunteer in 3 places.
Teach a little (pottery to adults)
I still like to meet my friends so try to have at least one day empty each week.
I plan holidays too and invite people to stay.
I don't do childcare except very occasional.
Now to follow my own advice!
😃

On my own now I love cooking for others and am always. happy to host. I do find I need to delegate responsibility for the wine/drinks etc though otherwise it’s too much of a one-woman show!
I particularly like summer lunches in the garden as I have a big teak table under a pergola with grape vines growing on it for shade - let’s hope it’s not too hot (or wet) for that this year.

I would really like to be more sociable now I'm on my own and know it's good for mental health but having no friends locally to go on outings etc it's down to me to pluck up the courage to join something. I'm finding this very difficult. When I finally rang up an organiser to join a beginners pilates class I was told the class was already full, back to square one! Living on the outskirts of a village there's not much happening locally and no point joining something I'm not even interested in.

Try the National Women's Register, and the U3A, knspol? The NWR was set up to help women to get to know new people when they moved areas with their husbands' jobs. That is outdated now, but it is still mainly for getting to know new people, and is very welcoming.

The U3A is an umbrella organisation for over 50s (or is it 55s?) and covers all sorts of different interest groups. That might be worth looking at, too. Again, it is usually welcoming, and as people pick and mix which interest groups to attend there will be different people at different ones.

Thats a tough one knspol. Im my experience you have to be both determined and resililient to take part in this " joining things "lark.

Stick at it and eventually you may find a little opening. thats just right for you.

I find that now that I’m older I don’t really crave home parties, and going out as much. Part of it is that I’m still working. I’m exhausted by the end of the day. In the winter I’m in my jammies by 8 pm. When I get home I just want to make dinner for my husband and I, change from my work clothes, and relax on the sofa. 🛋️ I go visit my elderly parents often and I have only one child, a son who visits me often. I spend any free time working on my acrylic paintings and in the summer we travel.

I love Probus and spend a lot of time going to their various activities. Just spent 3 nights in the city with a group of 20. Lots of fun and laughter and because we are all over 70, not too many late nights!