Your social life (or lack of it)

[caroljoyce]

Back in the 70's and 80's we had a great social life... going with friends for meals and to night clubs. You wouldn't catch me in before 2.00am on a saturday night. In the 90's it declined a lot. Friends died or moved away and things changed.

We do still socialise now and again but nothing like it used to be. Usually just local places... I hardly ever go anywhere to get dressed nice for.
Hows your social life?

[Rowan]

About the same as yours CJ. Unless there is a special occasion we are rarely out in the evening.

I am obviously not as fit as I once was to go out gallivanting but to be honest, I don't particularly want to any more.

[Lacemaker]

When I was a teenager I used to marvel that my parents were quite content to stay at home on a Saturday night. Once my daughters were in their late teens I used to wonder how on earth they could bother to go out so much .....

[mazzy]

I look back at photos of me in the '80's and 90's and can't quite believe it's the same person, especially when I look at some of the wonderful evening gowns that I would hire for dinner dances. We were out so much, with taxis picking us up, that new eighbours called us ' the party people'..................it's oh so different now!

Trev rarely goes out in the evening - maybe twice a year....my last evening out was a charity darts match with friends - local pub and a £5.00 buffet.

Glad I did it all then, but don't miss it one bit.

[Maywalk]

Yes same here once my son was old enough to take care of himself.

Hubby and I were always out ballroom dancing at the weekends and we used to have some great times.
Unfortunately like everyone else we got older and the rheumatics started to creep up on us so we gradually resigned ourselves to staying in and had friends round instead.
We cant even do that now because we have outlived many of them.
Since I have had a computer and had my websites put up its more or less made up for going out because with being able to keep in touch with folks worldwide it has opened up many portals for me and I have loved every minute of it.
Plus also getting to know some super folks on the net and of course have little havens to come into, such as the Rowan Tree.
Many thanks to all the lovely foks here for brightening up my life.
Bless you all.

[rocky]

[font=Tahoma]A couple people mentioned outliving many of the people with whom we once socialized. It's true, isn't it? And I've also found that many never venture from their homes except to the grocery and the doctor.

I'm not out doing anything needing fancy dress. No hubby. Used to have a fellow, just a friend, and we would be each other's dates for occasions. He died.

I really didn't think I'd become so old that I would outlive friends. Actually, I still don't think I'm that old.

Guess we all slow down, though, don't we?

Well, I might as well add this ... I'm not in the market to marry again, but I do run into Olde Pharts who are intent on getting married. They want a nurse. Without exception, they've got serious medical stuff going on -- and if they don't, they're looking for 20-somethings, maybe 30-somethings if they're sufficiently sexy..[/font]

[Rowan]

Not likely to get it either - unless they have a heap of money!!

[Penny]

Zero social life. cheers Penny

[Jann]

Well yes we do have a social life if you can call it that.......when my husband of a lot of years was diagnosed with emphysema 8 years ago we both had to give up smoking,we did this but really life is for living,so we made a pact that we would go out somewhere every afternoon which we do,either to the golf club,our local,another hostelry where we meet up with friends or often just on our own,we always meet someone to talk to....we do our chores in the morning,walk our dog,see to the cat,so in fact we are rewarding ourselves for just that.

We are both in our seventies and of course have a car,but as my friend who lost her husband says....." Get out together while you can " so we do.

[caroljoyce]

Good for you Jan.

[Jann]

This was attached to an email I received today,thought it appropiate to this discussion.....

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolf hound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, 'I know why.'

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation.

He said, 'People are born so that they can learn how to live a good Life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?' The Six-year-old continued, -

'Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.'

Live simply..

Love generously.

Care deeply..

Speak kindly.

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.


Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you're not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!


"Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass...it’s about learning how to dance in the rain."

[rocky]

[font=Tahoma]Out of the mouths of babes ...

Great story.[/font]

[toolip2]

Same as you CJ. In trhe 70's and 80's and up to 1995 our social life was great. I was working and I had lots of matesas did my husband in his job and there were outings and dinners (folk had dinner parties then) day trips, beanos, firms "do's" We retired in 1995 qand moved to another county and our social dropped dramatrically. we still have our friends down south and keep in touch and visit. We have not made any friends since we moved. One couple we met at the gym were ok for a while but they threw a moody onus so we dumped them. Have not seen them since.

I am very busy with community voluntary work and love it. Hubby loves the home and keeps it up to speed. we dont need friends now we are getting on a bit. I had some good pals and some pals from hell, some stayers and some fair weather ones. all the rich tapestry of life really.

[Rowan]

I have only made two or three friends since moving to Stirling. I still have the good friend that I've had since 1974, she still socialises a lot but its with some church or other but we still have our moments!!