My husband came up with this 2:2:2 rule - every 2nd week we go on a date. Every 2nd month we go away for a few days and every 2 years we go on a lovely long holiday. Our dates are on Saturdays as he’s working all week and we’re not night owls. We take turns of the restaurant we eat at. Never take-out joints. We go for smart dining. It has to feel special. After our lunch, we always have an activity planned: a drive, a wander around the little town we’ve eaten at or in September we went to Oktoberfest and Swiss Days. For our 2nd month rule, we go away for a few days…we’ve been to San Francisco, New York, visited friends in South Carolina, Las Vegas. Each time we plan ahead of some wild n crazy and fun things to do - we’ve taken a self guided tour in a motorbike and side car, tea at a cute place, a show. For the every 2 years holiday, well, that has been few and far between as it costs lots to do that. For Christmas this year, we’re going to South Africa. We have family in 3 cities. So we’ll be too busy for adventures. Seeing them will be enough.
As far as friends of different ages, I have them. I’m 60 and yet I still feel so young. 30 year old Ashley feels like my daughter but we have loads to talk about as we go for walks. She’s a crafter and artist and I am fascinated at all she creates. Mostly we complain about things in our neighborhood. Jeanine is my morning walking partner. She is 10 years older than I and truthfully, she feels like my mother. We have nothing in common really, but we get on so well. We go to the same church and so we talk about Sunday sermons. She likes to do word searches and I love my crosswords. She has grownup grandchildren and I don’t have any grandchildren. Yet. I love hearing her interactions with them.
As far as work relationships go, when I last worked in my 20s, I tried the friendships with them outside of work thing, and they were always a disaster. We’d get to know personal things about each other and then it’d spill over in the workplace and it always ended in disaster and then effectively working together became painful.
Thanks so much for these wonderfully insightful comments Charline. I love your 2:2:2 rule. And the lovely intergenerational friendships you enjoy.
I'm interested to know if anyone else has experienced what you did with your work friendships. That's never happened to me so I wonder how common it is.
Clearly your life has been filled with plenty of friendships that do work (pun intended!) wonderfully well.
On the subject of workplace friendships. I have been fortunate enough to make some very good friends over the years at work. I worked from aged 16 to 63(a variety of employers but the last job I was in for 35 years) so there have been many colleagues and friends along the way.
One very good friend is 87 now(14 years older than me). We met when I was 21. The age group is mostly 9 years younger than me. All youngsters at heart though. My other long term friend now lives in Canada but we stay in touch thanks to video links. Unfortunately as is life some very dear younger friends
have passed over the years.
Of course within the time scale our husbands have joined the friendship circles. So normally coffee meet ups and visiting involve 4 of us. 🥰🥰
My husband and myself have had 3 trips to NYC but due to health issues insurance is a no no for the time being. So days out for the foreseeable! Which suits us as our little 17yr old(puss cat) is pleased we are here I am sure. 🐾🐾
Not waffling at all lovely Carol! Thank you for all those responses. Am mightily impressed you were in the same job for 35 years - doing what? - and how fab that you made so many good friends along the way. Me too. Sorry to hear about your health issues. Hope they are resolved soon and that you can resume your travelling, even though your cat may not! Take care xx
My long term job was for a family owned Company and I started off doing Sales & Purchase 'ledger' (yep not on computer) Payroll for a small group of men working in the factory. At one time there were two companies each with their own accounts.
Then we progressed to computer accounts 🙄 haha, what fun that was. I loved my job there and throughput my working life met some amazing lovely people, but always small family businesses.
Hi Diane, I have some answers to your questions.
My husband came up with this 2:2:2 rule - every 2nd week we go on a date. Every 2nd month we go away for a few days and every 2 years we go on a lovely long holiday. Our dates are on Saturdays as he’s working all week and we’re not night owls. We take turns of the restaurant we eat at. Never take-out joints. We go for smart dining. It has to feel special. After our lunch, we always have an activity planned: a drive, a wander around the little town we’ve eaten at or in September we went to Oktoberfest and Swiss Days. For our 2nd month rule, we go away for a few days…we’ve been to San Francisco, New York, visited friends in South Carolina, Las Vegas. Each time we plan ahead of some wild n crazy and fun things to do - we’ve taken a self guided tour in a motorbike and side car, tea at a cute place, a show. For the every 2 years holiday, well, that has been few and far between as it costs lots to do that. For Christmas this year, we’re going to South Africa. We have family in 3 cities. So we’ll be too busy for adventures. Seeing them will be enough.
As far as friends of different ages, I have them. I’m 60 and yet I still feel so young. 30 year old Ashley feels like my daughter but we have loads to talk about as we go for walks. She’s a crafter and artist and I am fascinated at all she creates. Mostly we complain about things in our neighborhood. Jeanine is my morning walking partner. She is 10 years older than I and truthfully, she feels like my mother. We have nothing in common really, but we get on so well. We go to the same church and so we talk about Sunday sermons. She likes to do word searches and I love my crosswords. She has grownup grandchildren and I don’t have any grandchildren. Yet. I love hearing her interactions with them.
As far as work relationships go, when I last worked in my 20s, I tried the friendships with them outside of work thing, and they were always a disaster. We’d get to know personal things about each other and then it’d spill over in the workplace and it always ended in disaster and then effectively working together became painful.
Thanks so much for these wonderfully insightful comments Charline. I love your 2:2:2 rule. And the lovely intergenerational friendships you enjoy.
I'm interested to know if anyone else has experienced what you did with your work friendships. That's never happened to me so I wonder how common it is.
Clearly your life has been filled with plenty of friendships that do work (pun intended!) wonderfully well.
Hi Diane.
On the subject of workplace friendships. I have been fortunate enough to make some very good friends over the years at work. I worked from aged 16 to 63(a variety of employers but the last job I was in for 35 years) so there have been many colleagues and friends along the way.
One very good friend is 87 now(14 years older than me). We met when I was 21. The age group is mostly 9 years younger than me. All youngsters at heart though. My other long term friend now lives in Canada but we stay in touch thanks to video links. Unfortunately as is life some very dear younger friends
have passed over the years.
Of course within the time scale our husbands have joined the friendship circles. So normally coffee meet ups and visiting involve 4 of us. 🥰🥰
My husband and myself have had 3 trips to NYC but due to health issues insurance is a no no for the time being. So days out for the foreseeable! Which suits us as our little 17yr old(puss cat) is pleased we are here I am sure. 🐾🐾
Apologies, I think i have waffled!
Have a lovely week dear Diane. Xx
Not waffling at all lovely Carol! Thank you for all those responses. Am mightily impressed you were in the same job for 35 years - doing what? - and how fab that you made so many good friends along the way. Me too. Sorry to hear about your health issues. Hope they are resolved soon and that you can resume your travelling, even though your cat may not! Take care xx
Thanks Diane.
My long term job was for a family owned Company and I started off doing Sales & Purchase 'ledger' (yep not on computer) Payroll for a small group of men working in the factory. At one time there were two companies each with their own accounts.
Then we progressed to computer accounts 🙄 haha, what fun that was. I loved my job there and throughput my working life met some amazing lovely people, but always small family businesses.
Thank you for your kind words re health.
Xxx