To ask whether or not you have missed your friends during lockdown?

[HotSince82]

I must say I haven't. Lockdown has made me realise just how little I rely on them/how antisocial I am. Granted, as a keyworker I am getting to go to work and I suppose socialise with colleagues to some extent. I do work in healthcare though so work hasn't been exactly fun or as jovial/relaxed as previously.
To be perfectly honest I am content to just be at home with DH and the DC. I am pining for my mum, we are extremely close and she is still currently shielding so no bubble as yet for us.
My SM feeds are full of friends stating how much they miss each other. I truly can't even be arsed to call my friends for a chat, nevermind look forward to meeting up with them.
So come on, am I just a miserable old trout or are some of you, like me enjoying the forced isolation a bit too much?

@Guttersnipe firstly I love your username, it was my choice of insult during the summer of 1999, many happy memories so thank you

I agree, my DH is my closest friend so I don't feel I'm missing a confidante or somebody to get pissed and have a laugh/talk about current affairs and what a monumental cock up the world is with right now.

@HotSince82 I didn't think it was insensitive! Just a different perspective/experience to mine.

I miss my friends, but I'm a SAHM who's lost all my filler activities whereas many of my friends are extra busy at work/ WFH. Some friends, I'm remote from anyway but I've also missed the casual aquaintences that fill my time on the school run, volunteering, and activities.

Added to that, while I'm sociable and need a varied social mix, I also need time to be alone and I haven't had that either as DH has been working from home for 3+ months and the DCs are around.

It's very unbalanced being simulataneously socially over and understimulated!

I also haven't seen any family in 4 months. DM was in poor health in the spring, DB WFH supporting her with a young family, rest of the family too far. BiL too law abiding to put 2 x families of 4 together.

I have all that with my DH too. But there’s a reason my friends are my friends... it’s because they offer all sorts of different (lovely) things. And I’m missing that.

@BogRollBOGOF I hope your mum's health has imoroved recently and that you can see her very soon.
@Drivingdownthe101 maybe I shouldn't put all of my eggs in my DH's basket but I enjoy his company much more than any of my friends'. I don't think I ever realised that until quite recently.

@gobbynorthernbird oh thanks I had an 'oh shit' moment when I read your post and felt like quite the insensitive arse.

I hope this relaxing of the rules is helping you feel less isolated.

God no, I haven't had a chance, they all seem to want to zoom constantly. We normally meet about every two months but we suddenly must, must, must catch up weekly. I ran out of excuses very quickly...so now I use blatantly shit ones

That said I'm very aware that I'm lucky to be living with dh and dc that I like (most of the time). My brother is overseas, living alone and had just started his new job when everything shut down. He's only learning the local language and is very isolated. I really feel for him and people in such situations.

Yes, I have missed my closest friends. WhatsApp has been a godsend.

I'm working really hard and long hous from home. I'd love to see some of my friends and have a drink or a meal together.

Yes. We're friends with a couple and we meet up at least once a month for food, chat, maybe a few drinks if they can get a babysitter. I'm really missing them. FaceTime isn't the same.

Yanbu to ask.

I only have 1 friend really and seen her twice.

Have couple acquaintances but would only see them 2-3 times year anyway

I have few friends, and none locally.
I miss having friends all the time tbh, not just in lockdown.

@Toponyornottopony well following lockdown I hope you take the opportunity to find new friends in your area.

I think lockdown has given us all a chance to evaluate what was working or not in our previous lives. If you want more friends I am sure that they are very much within your reach.

I didn't think I had, but five of us went for a run together last night and it was ace. I didn't realise how much I'd missed it.

I think I've realised there's no one outside of DH, DC and my parents I really "need" but there are others who contribute to my quality of life.

Honestly not really

No, I haven't. I have very little contact with my friends anyway since I became a sahm 2 years ago. I was only keeping contact with them through SM but I've given up logging into that now as it was too exasperating reading their posts. I've been enjoying spending time with DH, and getting out every day with my toddler, but we rarely talk to anyone else. I do a zoom call once a week with my family, but to be honest it's a bit of a burden, I only do it because I'd feel bad for my mum otherwise.

I feel quite relieved to not be so socially dependant on others. Introverts like me are often seen as weak but this situation has revealed there's kind of a strength in being content with one's own company.

I'm fairly antisocial and don't meet friends regularly so haven't seen a big difference there. I'm still working (NHS) and have DH and 2 teens at home, so not too isolated. I've quite enjoyed connecting with a couple of old friends who dont live near me electronically. I'm missing my parents and brother and sister a bit. Not local enough to just do a short garden visit so havent seen them since March.