How many people can you phone out of the blue to chat about nothing?

[HaroldBishopsMemoryLoss]

I did a search to see if there were old threads on this and I’m sure there are, but I couldn’t find any.

Sometimes if I’m walking to the train or en route somewhere, I like to call people ‘just because’. I’ve often thought there’s only really two people I can do this with - my DH and my mum. I’m lucky I at least have two and I know I won’t always have that.

I did think it was a bit sad though that at the age of 42, there are only two people I can do this with.

My dad and I don’t chat on the phone; my sister and I don’t have that type of relationship. I used to have a close friend I could do this with, but she moved abroad and there’s a time difference now. I do have friends, but if I wanted a chat it would be more normal to text and arrange it in advance, and nowadays people mostly just text. I don’t have kids either, and always think people with kids are likely always to be busy. I couldn’t just ‘descend’ on them with an unexpected phone call about nothing.

Is this normal, or am I a bit of a sad sack for only having two people in the whole world I can do this with?

1. I had to stop and think about that because in my teens and 20s I was constantly yabbering to my close friends, then we got into serious relationships, then had kids, then smartphones and FB came along so it was all short messages and now I just whatsapp people and never speak to them unless we arrange a night out. Shame really.

Quite a few actually. Sister, brother, mum, dad, two sets of grandparents. 5 of my closet friends.

I thought this was normal ?

Probably just my mom and my fiancé - I suppose there might be a couple of friends I could but I hate talking on the phone so I tend to avoid it as much as possible

Mum
DH
Aunts x 2
3 friends who I call often to chat about nothing.
3 more friends who I could call, but haven’t for ages.
SIL and a colleague - they both love a call, but it’s me who feels like there should be a reason to pick up the phone.
DB now he has children. He was only 13 when I left home, but we always got on well, and now I know I’m not impinging on his social life we chat quite often, lots of reminiscing.

None since I was a teen I'd say. I find it hard enough to think of things to chat about in person never mind over the phone. On the other hand I'm a good listener but it can be draining being peoples sound board! I do have close friends and family but none of us are really chat about nothing types. Messaging and social media have had an effect too though I think, it would be odd to receive a call these days to chat, everything is by msg.

Nobody. DH doesn't carry a phone and I've no friends or other family apart from adult DD - we're very close but we WhatsApp rather than chat.

None really

I have a few - my mother, brothers, sister in laws, friends ..... but as a PP said, I am wary of phoning 'just for a chat' unless I am sure it is convenient. A cousin phoned me yesterday (for no good reason) and I was mildly irritated to be disturbed.

Even with my own mum, we always say 'is it convenient' when we call each other - 3 or 4 times a week, because we are both busy people. Once we know it is convenient we can easily chat for at least an hour .

I hate chatting on the phone about nothing, and if people call me out of the blue it feels like a horrible intrusion. I speak to my mum 2-3 times a year, and DP most evenings (I work away for long periods) but usually that will only be for a few minutes before I've had enough. I'm turning into a right old hermit.

My mum before she died, DH, my sister. My teenage DS is great at chatting on the phone on the way home from school, but mono-syllabic at home. I have one friend I do talk to on the phone occasionally but she can talk for England, so never a quick chat. That is it.

When I was at school I spent hours on the phone to friends. My mum used to moan about it - you’ve spent all day with them what have you left to say? But it was lovely. I remember my best friend calling to say Princess Di was pregnant with William!!

How times change. Now I worry about calling as everyone is so busy. So text to arrange night out or drinks then talk for hours.