Making Friends

ClassicRockr

ClassicRockr

Well-known Member
Do you find it hard to make friends with people in your age group? For us, yes.
Do people, that you have met, in your age group act too old? To us, yes.

Do you have specific things you look for in people?
For us:
Married couple (man/woman)
No smoking of any type
No swearing
Light drinker
Have a great "sense of humor"

It has been extremely hard to find married couples that like what we like.......boating, target shooting, playing poker. As for me, I have a great "sense of humor" that some older folks just don't like. I am somewhat sarcastic w/my humor and some people just can't handle that. We don't act nearly as serious as some do in our age bracket. Music is another problem. I'm a "Rocker", so you know what kind of music I like. One thing for sure, most of the time neither of us act like we are in our mid 60's! Oh, heck no!

So, how are you at making friends?
 

We don't have many close friends. The ones we have are not really like us, but they're the sort we could call on them if we needed.
If I wanted to hang out with someone, they would have to have a good sense of humour. No problem with married/single/straight or gay. The odd bit of swearing is OK and drinking is fine as long as it's not over the top.
 
Our choice, but we would only want to know man/woman married couples and swearing, especially the "f" bomb and words like it would definitely be out. And, since we are Christians, using the Lord's name in vain is OUT as well.

See, we do things, like buying costumes/dressing up for Halloween, that we know not many couples in their mid 60's do. There are some, but the younger generations are more into costumes than our generation. Another thing, we like playing our Wii Game and that's not to popular with the older folks.

I remember, a couple of weeks ago, we were in a local pharmacy looking at Halloween décor and this lady showed us this electronic Halloween item. Her husband was with her. Next thing we know, we are chatting away with this couple, who are also in their mid 60's. Talking Classic Rock, among other things. They told us they had grandchildren they see often. We didn't ask them for their phone number, but did give them ours, along with our e-mail and FB name. Never heard from them and really don't know why. Anyway, all we could say to each other is "Oh well".
 

:lol: ClassicRockr.

I'd be wary of someone I'd just met who gave me their contact details.
You might be psychopaths masquerading as nice folks.

That said, there was a time when travelling overseas that we accepted an invitation to stay in the home of a couple of people we had met on the Isle of Wight. They were staying in the same hotel as us and had taken us on a tour of the island's historic public houses (over here we call this a pub crawl). We ummed and aahed about whether we would take them up on their offer to contact them if we were passing through Nottingham.

We took the risk, made the phone call, and received the most generous hospitality you could ever imagine. We were shown all around Nottingham, met their family and friends and when we left we were farewelled as if we were long time friends leaving to live abroad.

But they could have been psychopaths. You never really know. Sensible people exercise caution.
 
I have the same problem of a sort. I feel there is a younger person inside who is hollering let me out, but she is shy and self-councious around people and afraid of being laughed at if she trys. No I am not schizophrenic. I just spent a childhood being judged. So if I ever learn to relax I might be a real fun person. I am a tee-totaler but secretly would like to cut loose.
 
I have no need to make friends as I like my own company. However, for some strange reason people seem to want to be friendly with me!
 
Sucessful friendships can be made with those who are like you and those who are polar opposites to you. I have friends a lot younger, same age and some older. Some are hell raisers, some are of a religious nature, some are home and garden nuts, some don't cut the grass as often as they should.

We're a tight knit group and in spite of our differences when we get together Saturday nights we have a camaderie that others envy and wish they could join in.

But we are selective.....we don't let in normal people :D
 
Ha!! Lee, that reminds me of the off quoted remark from Groucho Marx that stated..

“I DON'T WANT TO BELONG TO ANY CLUB THAT WILL ACCEPT ME AS A MEMBER”...and you know what?.. I kinda know how he felt. ;)
 
Justme said:
Yes really, for instance my daily walks usually take longer than I intendas people are keen to engage me in conversation! It must be my scintillating personality!:D:D:D
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Same for me, but I have found that most are interested in my dog!.. lol!! no seriously, people always stop me when I walk IZZY... they have even come out of their houses to ask me about her.. What kind of a dog she is, where I got her.. etc.. Dogs are a great conversation starter.
 
We don't have a dog anymore. We had plenty when the kids were young, but I was the poor idiot that always had the job of walking the things. When the last one turned up its toes in 2002, I refused to have anymore, too much hassle.
 
Dame Warrigal said:
:lol: ClassicRockr.

I'd be wary of someone I'd just met who gave me their contact details.
You might be psychopaths masquerading as nice folks.

That said, there was a time when travelling overseas that we accepted an invitation to stay in the home of a couple of people we had met on the Isle of Wight. They were staying in the same hotel as us and had taken us on a tour of the island's historic public houses (over here we call this a pub crawl). We ummed and aahed about whether we would take them up on their offer to contact them if we were passing through Nottingham.

We took the risk, made the phone call, and received the most generous hospitality you could ever imagine. We were shown all around Nottingham, met their family and friends and when we left we were farewelled as if we were long time friends leaving to live abroad.

But they could have been psychopaths. You never really know. Sensible people exercise caution.
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***From red outline above*** We'd have no problem taking a couples contact details. Actually, anyone/anywhere could turn out to be a psychopath! I know it's that "day and age" thing of how much people are scared to talk to a stranger and how some folks think that it's totally weird when a stranger says something to them, but I just happen to be a FRIENDLY type person.
 
We think when we get our Shih Tzu, we will make friends then. Yes, dogs seem to bring people together.
 
Yes you do CR..people with dogs, people without dogs who pet yours...taking your dog out at the same time every day and you meet people who also do..I met an old lady with a massive dog, her legs were a bit wobbly, so I used to call in when I took mine out to collect hers and take him also..
 
Yes I do find it hard, but then I don't try any more. My former friends disappointed me and turned into jerks (men)
and I usually find that friendships are very conditional with many ifs ands and buts. Everyone claims to be very busy
which I think is usually BS. They won't even do what I want to do--. Intellectuals are wrapped up with their
books and often with their ego. It seems easier for women to make friends and keep them. They try harder at it
and it does not look gayish.
 
It can be difficult to make friends when you are older. Join clubs, then you get to know people before making snap judgements about them is probably the best way forward.The main thing I have found over the years is not to expect too much from people, cut them a bit of slack. We ourselves may not be the 'best' friends from time to time.Meeting other people out dog walking is easy, but they are generally wary of any further contact, which is why I suggest joining a group.
 
Twixie said:
..people with dogs, people without dogs who pet yours...taking your dog out at the same time every day and you meet people who also do..
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Now I understand something. I live in a college town and never could figure out why the students come here and first thing they want is to buy a dog. It's a 15-20 year responsibility. The parents probably end up with them eventually.
 
Twixie said:
Yes you do CR..people with dogs, people without dogs who pet yours...taking your dog out at the same time every day and you meet people who also do..I met an old lady with a massive dog, her legs were a bit wobbly, so I used to call in when I took mine out to collect hers and take him also..
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What a lovely thing to do Twixie! So thoughtful and I'm sure she appreciated the favour.
 
While going to a Bible Study at a local church we use to attend, we thought we might meet some nice Christian type couples. Nice, yes, party/some drinking, no. And, I could tell, buy talking to some of them, listening to Classic Rock or other music we like, was out. They didn't even know any of the bands/singers that I talked about. Just TOO quiet, reserved, low-keyed for us.

When I met my wife, she had a girlfriend she met in Singles Square Dance Class. They went to square dances together and a few movies. However, this girlfriend wasn't into Country dancing and some horse-related activities that my wife's niece and nephew were doing. Also, at that time, she wasn't seeing anyone. Anyway, after meeting me, she basically dropped her girlfriend b/c I liked doing more than square dancing. In other words, we really "clicked" together. I didn't have any real guy "buddies" either. We wanted to make some friends, but didn't want any single friends. Some folks just can't handle my personality/humor, so that didn't help either. Great thing was, my wife loved my personality and humor.

Anyway, we will see what happens when that doggy comes.
 
I think that, for the most part, people attract to them others who are like what you REALLY are like... but might not admit to! :rolleyes: Sometimes it can be all a bit funny, actually. I find that I have little patience with people that are 'overly ANYthing'-religious, political, etc...but make an effort to be respectful towards them (unless they suddenly get my Irish up :D )I tend to like people who are kinda weird...cuz I can fit right in! :) heh! A conformist I am not...
 

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