We have a long weekend coming up. It is going to be a hot one up around the mid to high 30’s (90-100F). I had planned to get in the garden and potter around but it will be way too hot for that. But the thought of three long days at home alone doing nothing much doesn’t appeal either.
So I have been busy contacting people I know to try to arrange some outings. So far I’ve managed to organise one friend for lunch on Monday. No-one else has got back to me or else they are busy. But I am remaining upbeat and chirpy because I am doing my damnedest not to be the pathetic creature who has no one to play with on the weekend.
One of my online friends told me to stop being a hermit, stop retreating from the world. I needed to hear that because it is a natural tendency of mine. And then I get caught up in my thoughts and my emotions and just spiral down from there. I NEED people, I NEED company. Even though I don’t always want it.
I’m not a social animal. I don’t enjoy parties or pubs or anywhere a lot of people gather together. I’m much more interested in small groups or one on one conversations. I’m very shy when I meet new people and only really loosen up with people I know well. I don’t have a wide circle of friends despite efforts to widen my social group. Somehow, for every one that comes in, two seem to go out. Not sure why that is but it has always been this way.
Sometimes I just throw my hands up in the air and say, “hey this is how it is meant to be”. But that is the easy way out. Sure I’ve tried but I need to try harder. I need to be more proactive in seeking social connections. I’m not looking for a partner, just for some new friends. I’ve already met a heap of you here online whom I consider good friends – but you all seem to be in the US or in the UK. I guess catching up with you this weekend is out of the question? 
I cannot even visulaize “too hot” that’s actually quite neat! I don’t have plans this weekend but I bet it’s a really long drive from your house to mine!
Well, I once drove to Alaska for a cup of coffee…..10,000+ miles….hmm
How far away are you
I know what you mean about the circle of friends.
I’m the same way. 3 super close, like they would do anything for me (and likewise), then ripples out in concentric circles of friends, outlying to just “friends”. For the most part I don’t like big parties or social events, the best being hiking or sking events with good friends, sitting around the campfire, that sort of thing.
It’s just nice to talk or share experiences with people one is close to.
One thing I’ve noticed is that I usually, when going to museums, run into strangers who are very interesting to talk to, about art and history and often end up walking around with an individual or even a group of people. Some of my friendships happened from simple encounters.
I’m sure great things will happen this weekend!
Alan, oh how I envy you the friends with whom you can go camping. None of my current circle are into those things. That was one of the special things about the guy I was with last year – he loved those things too, loved the outdoors, camping, cold, mountains, wild weather…
I find when I travel I have the encounters you mention all the time, but never seem to have them at home… perhaps I am not as open in my hometown.
But I do have plans now for two of the days… and after your post I think I may just pop into the art gallery again for some inspiration. We have some beautiful works here in sleepy old Adelaide (we are not the city of the arts for nothing)
10,000 miles for a coffee – now that is adventurous! I hope the coffee was worth it when you got there
(((Zen)))… sometimes I feel as if I am reading my life on your pages (with the exception of your travels and your gorgeous surroundings)…Your weekend sounds perfect….Have a wonderful time…
=)
Enreal, my weekend is panning out ok with quite a few social engagements booked in now
It is just so hot out there…(39C – over 100F)
We all seem to live similar lives in many ways, do we not? In essence if not in externals…