Should I push myself to go out tomorrow

[Tuhlula]

I had a phase of pining for more friends. I put myself out there, started new hobbies went on meetups etc. I made lots of new friends some lasted, some didn't. Meanwhile I've got closer to two of my friends from years ago and tbh that seems to be sustaining me socially. I see one, twice a year due to distance, and the other around every two weeks as she's local.

Now I'm finding that if I get invited to anything else I'd just rather stay at home and read unless it's exactly what I would want to do. Another less close friend wants to meet for lunch tomorrow but it's somewhere that I don't like and she wasn't keen on my suggested alternative, so I just feel like staying in to read and wrap Xmas presents. I can't tell if I'm being too antisocial and should just meet my friends tomorrow, the purpose is to see each other not the place.

Am I turning into a recluse if I don't go? Am I getting stuck in my ways?

Is it friends or friend?

Sorry one friend. Not the either of the two I mentioned above.

I would push myself to go. I'm someone who enjoys their own company, and in the past, I would have cancelled or made excuses. However now I try to go to events and usually end up enjoying it. You can always go but say you can't stay long

I would go. It’s not the whole day and you can wrap and read at other points in the day. I always try to remember that friendship is a two-way street and it’s not just about what I get out of it but also what I can bring to the other person. You say you went through a phase of pining for more friends but need seems to have been met now but is it fair to then ditch people as they’re surplus to requirement now.

Also, if you’ve already made plans it’s pretty rubbish to cancel for no good reason. Different if you’d said no in the first place.

If it is an arrangement with one friend I would go.

Better to meet somewhere you both like, unless it’s more of a she’s going there anyway and you’re welcome to join thing.

You can read and wrap presents anytime, if you like her and want her to bother with you then I’d make the small bit of effort needed to go.

I did go and glad I did. Thanks all for the gentle push.