Are You A Homebody, or a Social Butterfly?

I think as we age our social tendencies tend to slow down some, even if we’re the extroverted, social butterfly type.

At least that’s the way it’s been with me. After I left my ex, and started dancing, I would be out 5 nights a week, and weekends would consist of other dance socials, family get togethers, lunch or dinner with friends. That was in my 50’s.

That slowed down some in my 60’s, the nights mainly, it just got to be too much.

And now in my 70’s I’m happy to dance one night a week, but still love social or family get togethers on the weekends, going out to dinner with friends or just Ron, attending the various community events that abound where we live.
 

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I'm an introvert who happened to land in several sales positions. I loved being in one-on-one meetings and negotiating with accounts but didn't like the social aspect. I attended conferences with several thousand people and at cocktail parties I always sought out people I was close to, but I was always the first person to leave. I was comfortable with presenting in front of large audiences because the person on stage was a "persona", not me. When a conference ended, I always felt exhausted from being around other people for several days. When I retired, I managed a sales team. Being introverted paid off because I managed with an objective eye.

Since I've retired, I have a very small group of friends. I frequent the same places for errands (pharmacy, grocery store, dry cleaners, salon, etc.) and many of the employees there know me, so I chat with them. That's all the socialization I need these days.
 
I can be social, but after a while, people tire me out. Spending an afternoon or evening with a small group of people on occasion is fine. I don't like large crowds and avoid them. I'm comfortably content to spend long periods of time at home and find it easy to entertain myself.
 
IrishEyes said:
I can do both but I just need to be busy. Don't like crowds, like Vegas and the like,
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Did the kind of work we were employed at have any bearing on mixing socially? Reading all the comments jogged a memory. The industry that I worked in was a service industry, known here as "Logistics." It simply means the movement of goods. I was the head honcho working in a large warehouse with around 200 staff. It doesn't pay to be shy when making sure that policy is kept, discipline maintained and, often, addressing a gathering of staff.
The experience of addressing a gathering made it easy at a social event to tell a tale or joke. When you do that you are, of course, the centre of attention, understandably some are uncomfortable in such scenarios, it's something that I have always found relatively easy.
 
I don't think I am either!

In younger days, I was much more social but, as the years have gone by, I have come to regard home as a private space. I certainly would not be described as someone who appreciates lots of visitors :ROFLMAO:

On the other hand, I love meeting up with friends and family, I enjoy catching up, meeting for lunch and just relaxing with no clearing up afterwards!

Maybe the perfect scenario for me would be to have an entertaining house and a retreat! The best of both worlds :)
 
Oldeagle66 said:
Definitely a homebody. I love staying home......and by myself. I don't even like when people knock on the door. That means I gotta put pants on because once I'm in, boxer shorts are my uniform.
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I'm the same. Ocassionally someone will randomly stop by and I get stressed if it's close to 5:00 P.M., I just know they're going to stay and talk and that screws up my evening routine.lol
 
horseless carriage said:
Psychology Today claim that you become more intrverted with age. Theory or fact? Check out the link, you decide and tell us what you think.
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In my case I think I probably began as an extrovert but situations changed me, smothered me until I faced them and left them behind.
I became more interested in people and communicating. Getting a job as a waitress I do believe is what forced me to revert.
When you connect with customers you tend to make better tips as long as you don't intrude as you serve them.
I am just making up for good times I lost is how I look at it.
Example: when I go into Walmart I walk past the cashiers and note the one looking most out of sorts. That is the one I go to check out with, I always try to make them smile or laugh before I leave or compliment them on how they stand out serving the customers. That always brings a smile, everyone needs to feel noticed for something good.
It doesn't take a lot of effort to leave smiles in your wake.
 
Sometimes I don't leave home for 2-3 days, but my mail goes to my p.o. box, so I have to go check it now and then. I use those times to pick up anything I may need at the store, or run other errands. On those occasions, I often run into someone I know, since it's a small town. That satisfies my social interaction in the short term, but only works for awhile. I need to be with people, or at least one person each week or two - time to talk, eat out, etc. Phone calls and texts don't cut it. I'd still be in the house, and I don't feel staying home too long is good for me.
 
MACKTEXAS said:
Sometimes I don't leave home for 2-3 days, but my mail goes to my p.o. box, so I have to go check it now and then. I use those times to pick up anything I may need at the store, or run other errands. On those occasions, I often run into someone I know, since it's a small town. That satisfies my social interaction in the short term, but only works for awhile. I need to be with people, or at least one person each week or two - time to talk, eat out, etc. Phone calls and texts don't cut it. I'd still be in the house, and I don't feel staying home too long is good for me.
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I worked with a lady who liked living alone but, she said the weekends were lonely. She signed up for a Saturday morning cookery class at a local college and the students used to go for coffee afterwards. Just taking that one course she made friends.

The last time I saw her, she had what seemed the perfect mix of solitary/social. She lived in a busy town so there were quite a few opportunities to join local clubs and college courses. I don't know if you have these opportunities where you live but, I hope you can find some social things which you can enjoy when you feel the need for company. :)
 
Trish said:
I worked with a lady who liked living alone but, she said the weekends were lonely. She signed up for a Saturday morning cookery class at a local college and the students used to go for coffee afterwards. Just taking that one course she made friends.

The last time I saw her, she had what seemed the perfect mix of solitary/social. She lived in a busy town so there were quite a few opportunities to join local clubs and college courses. I don't know if you have these opportunities where you live but, I hope you can find some social things which you can enjoy when you feel the need for company. :)
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Thanks, Trish. Awhile back, I volunteered for our museum. One senior group I was in took day trips but not anymore, and yet, they have plans next month to go to a musical. And my church has a food distribution program once a month I'm vounteering for. One friend volunteers at the hospital but I can't handle that emotionally. Every Sunday after church, I eat out with a group ranging from a few to about 6. So, it's a small town, but we find opportunnities.
 
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