New friend - odd?

[BeelziBob]

I recently made friends with a woman and I’m starting to think she’s a bit off but maybe I’m being judgemental??

Anyway we arranged to go for a walk yesterday morning in the park and then go for a coffee. Half hour before we were due to meet its pissing it down so I assumed the walk was off … I messaged her and put “have you seen the weather? What do you want to do?” And she replied with “park? It might stop soon and I don’t mind the rain”. Ok, neither do I but it was really coming down.

So anyway I set off, arrived in car park and it’s now torrential rain, really hammering off the car. I messaged her from my car to ask if she was there yet and she replied saying she was sat on a bench and she’ll walk up??!! I couldn’t even see out of my car window!! So I put my rain coat off and went to meet her. She walked up absolutely wet through, no coat on, rain literally streaming down her face, sandals on. We walked for a bit and then she said we should sit and have a coffee … great … expect she meant get a coffee from a kiosk and sit on a bench!!? I said I didn’t think that was a good idea due to the torrential rain we were currently stood in. We carried on walking for a bit, she fell over, finally got back into my car absolutely soaked and she is stood next to my window wanting to chat!! I told her to get in the car!

isn’t all this a bit weird or am I just a wimp with the rain?

I love walking in the gentle to mid rain, I find it very peaceful and cleansing. Saying that, I would not sit on a bench in it unless I had my full waterproofs on (yes I love it not wearing them, but near to home so I can dry off somewhere and no where near my poor car).

walking in hammering down rain, not so much just because your visibility is poor and you could have an accident especially if on a kerb near a road, plus it starts to hurt a bit after a while.

If a friend asked to check what to do I would suggest meeting inside a coffee house, I understand not many others like the rain.

On a more serious note, some people who have suffered trauma or have sensory needs often like walking in the rain (sensation, perspective or the feeling of it), or with the windows open to hear it, often the heavier the better. So when I see people enjoying the rain my heart goes out to them.

she sounds deranged!

Sounds like the start of some low budget movie where the new friend turns out to be a ghost or something!

Like someone else said maybe she just wanted some company, some people the rain doesn’t bother them, so yes you’re being judgemental, she’s a new friend give her chance.

Was it a dog walk? If so, that's slightly different as many dog owners feel the dog must be exercised rain or shine, so will ignore the weather. Still, sitting having coffee in the rain is v odd, dog or no dog.

Free refills!

Proud pluviophile here - I love hearing rain and I am happy to go out and walk in it. I would not however sit on a bench (for any length of time) in it, or drink coffee in it - that's just a step too far for me. I do think that you maybe need to speak up more though, point out that you're less keen to meet in the rain, if you might consider a brief walk (or not) but make it clear that coffee or anything that involves sitting needs to be in a cafe or somewhere more suitable. It does also sound that maybe she's a bit lonely/needs a friend and so is willing to meet up despite the not so ideal weather! If you meet again then maybe you suggest something you enjoy and see if she's up for that?

Definitely her own person and not scared of a little adverse weather brilliant.