New friend - odd?

Definitely her own person and not scared of a little adverse weather brilliant.

Proud pluviophile here - I love hearing rain and I am happy to go out and walk in it. I would not however sit on a bench (for any length of time) in it, or drink coffee in it - that's just a step too far for me. I do think that you maybe need to speak up more though, point out that you're less keen to meet in the rain, if you might consider a brief walk (or not) but make it clear that coffee or anything that involves sitting needs to be in a cafe or somewhere more suitable. It does also sound that maybe she's a bit lonely/needs a friend and so is willing to meet up despite the not so ideal weather! If you meet again then maybe you suggest something you enjoy and see if she's up for that?

Free refills!

Was it a dog walk? If so, that's slightly different as many dog owners feel the dog must be exercised rain or shine, so will ignore the weather. Still, sitting having coffee in the rain is v odd, dog or no dog.

Like someone else said maybe she just wanted some company, some people the rain doesn’t bother them, so yes you’re being judgemental, she’s a new friend give her chance.

Sounds like the start of some low budget movie where the new friend turns out to be a ghost or something!

she sounds deranged!

I love walking in the gentle to mid rain, I find it very peaceful and cleansing. Saying that, I would not sit on a bench in it unless I had my full waterproofs on (yes I love it not wearing them, but near to home so I can dry off somewhere and no where near my poor car).

walking in hammering down rain, not so much just because your visibility is poor and you could have an accident especially if on a kerb near a road, plus it starts to hurt a bit after a while.

If a friend asked to check what to do I would suggest meeting inside a coffee house, I understand not many others like the rain.

On a more serious note, some people who have suffered trauma or have sensory needs often like walking in the rain (sensation, perspective or the feeling of it), or with the windows open to hear it, often the heavier the better. So when I see people enjoying the rain my heart goes out to them.

Apparently the 145 people who voted that OP is being unreasonable 😂.

I love walking but not in torrential rain.

😂

If I did not know I had not met up with any friends I would think this was me.
I am neurodivergent and me and dc went for a walk in the torrential rain last week specifically because dc wanted to. I was absolutely soaked through and I also slipped in the mud. The rain does not bother me at all but people who saw us on the way back looked horrified.

I fully embrace that I am odd and quirky and would have just been grateful for the company so would have been happy to have taken the suggestion of somewhere else but I think you would need to suggest this first.

Lol is she a bit of a free spirit type?

She sounds mental but as long as she’s nice and you like her then it doesn’t matter.

Just maybe be a bit more assertive about what activities you do.

I like to imagine the rain-loving friend probably trumped as she fell over, at the very least

I think the point here is that you went along with it!! Who is more weird? I would have put the 'meet up' off or suggested 'driving to the nearest coffee shop for a chat'. She might think you were weird not suggesting just that. Perhaps she thought you would invite her into the car rather than her trying to speak to you through the window!!! LOL

We met at a dog show
We’ve met up before and I’ve always thought she was a bit “quirky” - she’s done and said odd things previous times we’ve met

I have to say… this does very much chime with my experience of a lot of people who are really into dog shows 🤣

She definitely sounds like an oddball but possibly also highly entertaining. I think I’d have been crying with laughter at the point where she was sitting down in a muddy puddle after falling over.

I bet if you did suggest a grown-ups-only trip to soft play, she’d be up for it 🤣

She was testing you!! 😂

This thread is amazing. She sat in the mud!

Next time take her to soft play.

HAHAHAHA she sounds excellent tbh

Hard to know, but my mum and I have very different rain levels. She will say "its POURING, you MUST take a coat" when I think "it's drizzle, I will skip the coat"

I’d walk in drizzle but not torrential rain, I would’ve suggested meeting in a cafe instead. It’s what I do with friends if bad weather forecast.
Def wouldn’t walk in torrential rain, no/one stays dry in that even in suitable clothing.

Having an autistic family member I've met and socialised with many nero diverse people through a group he belongs to and I too wonder if this is the answer as you say she is known for being quirky. Over the years I have learnt to embrace the difference, I now ask myself when something odd happens, does this matter, if the answer is no then I continue with the unusual situation and ignore any looks from other people. If the answer is yes, I'm getting cold and wet and I don't like it, I say that and state I will be moving to a cafe instead and my friend is welcome to join me if they wish.

Is she good company apart from the odd stuff? If so I would meet up again but make a firm suggestion of something that you have set the boundaries for next time.

Tbh she sounds more bizarre than quirky, OP! I guess though the main question is, are you enjoying each other's company?

I've only read your posts OP, but did you not comment on how strange it was to be walking in such torrential rain with no coat on? I mean, I can kind of see why you still went for the walk, it is just water afterall, but I would have been laughing about the strangeness of it all myself.