If you're a potterer

[Bloodtuch]

How do you sound interesting in conversations?

I've taken early retirement and am loving it. I'm spending this summer working on my fitness and my garden.

A friend's just called and said "so what do you have annwd for today..?"

Erm, some weeding, ironing, a walk, I might clean the bathroom....

I do have days when I do more exciting things, but ftb, I'm mostly happy pottering about and recharging my batteries after "escaping" from a very full on job. I'm also an introvert who finds peace in being alone. I like people and enjoy company, but a rest for me is definitely time on my own.

Sounds like bliss to me. I potter a lot at weekends. If people ask, I just say that I have been pottering in the garden and reading and just leave it at that. I enjoy the peace.

Clearly I don't sound interesting as my colleagues have stopped asking what I do at the weekend! Tbh I'm happier without the pressure to make it sound interesting to them. I just ask them about themselves instead and then everybody's happy.

Surely you’re the best judge of your own interestingness? I mean, own your own pottering. If you’re actually perfectly happy ironing and cleaning the bathroom, just say that, surely. Or lie through your teeth and say ‘Skydiving in the am, followed by my tantric sexyoga class and an overnight with the local ghost hunters in a ruined convent! You?’

I wouldn’t worry too much about sounding “interesting” to friends. I went out for dinner with friends last night and we discussed everything from accurate presentation of mark to market losses on a reinsurance loss portfolio, mistakenly growing courgettes instead of cucumbers and what to do with several dozen unexpected courgettes, Beth and Rip in Yellowstone, one friend’s birthday plans, Thai cookery tips, right through to what our former and mutual other friends are doing with themselves nowadays - each topic just segued into the next without any of us actually having “interesting topics” to talk about or realising it was happening. I think most good conversations with friends usually go along those lines, rather than much regular talk of careers, daredevil hobbies, or world travel.

Your friends love you for you and your shared histories and personality quirks. And if you’re concerned about what to say to strangers - well, it doesn’t matter: either be true to yourself and tell them about your garden or make some wild shit up, for your own entertainment (this can be a great fun gig at big weddings and parties!)

I have a garden which I potter a lot in.
i don’t sound interesting but it’s surprising how many other people grow tomatoes/coyrgettes/cucumbers.

Surely, pottering is fine when you’re retired and you can do nothing if you want. Or spend the day reading, or sewing or any hobby you might have.

Some days it’s nice to go out, others it’s nice to be indoors. Some days it’s a proper housework fest, others, things just get a wipe round.

To add, I just remembered that one friend last night recently returned from safari in Kenya with her partner. We talked a bit about that, obviously; but I think we definitely spent longer talking about courgettes, and Beth and Rip!