I have a small group of friends who live a train journey away from where I do.
I've known them for many years but we've ended up living in different places.
Because they all live near each other, I usually travel to them, but it isn't exactly convenient to do so. I do it because I want to see them and they suggest a catch up.
Anyway, the last couple of times we've been trying to fix a date for a meet up, I've had to put my foot down a bit with one of them.
Last time the rest of us had agreed to meet somewhere which was a journey across their city for them, but still within it. It was still an hour on the train for me, but not too bad. One friend said it was too far and she couldn't leave her dh with the kids too long (we have the same number of kids) so could we meet at a public park across the road from hers? We weren't invited to her house because her kids would be there and she wanted to have fun away from them. This doubled my journey time from one hour to two hours, so I said no, I'm not travelling that far to sit on a park bench!
This time, friends wanted to meet up for a night out in their city and I said I genuinely cannot afford a night out just now. I've reduced my hours at work to retrain so I am on a tight budget. I said I'd be happy to host them at mine though, which would work out way cheaper if they brought a bottle or something..
Everyone else said they'd come here for a change to help me out. Then the other friend chips in days later (she always waits till it's arranged, then says no after a couple of days) and says that's impossible till next year but if I'd come to her then she could do a Friday evening. I work Fridays and then collect kids from school and sort out their dinner before dh finishes work. Journey to her is two hours each way so I'd have to arrive at hers, stay about an hour and turn round and come back again on the last train home (which is vile on a Friday night).
I don't normally suggest the meet ups btw. It's usually someone else, but I'm happy to go along.
Aibu to have said fine, let's wait till next year then and to actually be a bit irked at this pattern? I feel like forgetting the group meet ups as they're a pita to arrange.