Hi there
I live out in the burbs and two of my closest friends live beside each other in town. I'm alone - they live with a SO. I feel as though everytime anything is organised it must always be at my male friends house. I have invited them a few times to mine but there's always an excuse like 'oh come to mine sure I have the chiminea out the back'. Because they are in close proximity to each others houses, they can meet up at no cost. For me it is £20 each way or more in a taxi. They have never done this for me. My male friend can be EXTREMELY defensive and unwilling to accept any 'blame' or even have an adult discussion. When I have brought it up with him in the past all he says is 'I have been to your house!' - he's been twice since I moved in a year ago.
I don't have anyone to share the expense with. I live in a nice house, it's clean, I'm willing to provide refreshments/dinner etc but they NEVER want to shell out to come to my side of town. It's leading to bitterness for me and there is a chance that I'm just going to say no to our latest proposed meeting (again I suggested meeting IN the town centre so I could at least take a train and that was vetoed), but I just cannot afford this kind of expense. They both have partners, and better paid jobs too. It's a really lonely time of year for me as my Mum died at Christmas a couple of years ago but I am getting really sick of the lack of understanding, even when I have expressed 'I cannot afford this'. I have a son to provide for too. I don't want to be sitting either holding a coke while they are getting happily drunk because they were able to stay in the comfort of their own homes.
Could use some advice!