To not want to bump into people I know when out

[Summerisracingby]

I love making arrangements and meeting up with friends, but I hate having a day out just us as a family, then seeing friends and their families and having to do the whole sitting together, chatting etc…am I weird?
It happens a lot in playgrounds and at the beach and so on…playgrounds not too bad, the beach…bad
Aibu to just want to have family days out just us?
Its starting to stop me going certain places where I know people will likely be

Narrowly missed bumping into someone when on holiday. Spent last few days looking for them so we could avoid them!!

@MollysBrolly I see people we know all the time, it’s nothing personal, I like these people, they’re friends and we often do set group meet ups, but when it’s just us and random, I’m not keen 🤷🏻‍♀️I’m not always in the mood to be *On or I don’t feel like chatting away but then obviously have to
Is this odd?

*Random bumping into

@MollysBrolly Horrible isn’t it 😂

Me too. I hate it when it's unexpected because usually I've just popped to the shops or out on a walk and I'll look like I've been dragged through a hedge 😂 guaranteed to bump into someone when I've not made any effort to get ready. The days I look nice I won't see anyone!

@Giraffe1123 There’s that too 😂but also, do you join them/them join you? It’s a bit awkward as possibly none of you want to join each other but feel you have to

I couldn’t get exercised about this. You meet people, you chat to them a bit, you’re on your way. No drama. I certainly wouldn’t avoid people.

I voted YANBU. Sometimes you just want to keep to your own household.

@AdoptedBumpkin Exactly

I don't understand why you feel you have to sit with people at the beach?
Just say hi, move on and spend time with your family.
The local park should be a place you literally expect to bump into local parents so you should be prepared.
YABU.

I’ve got so bad for this, sometimes not even to avoid someone joining us or taking over a day out but even just to avoid the small talk conversations. I found myself sitting waiting in the carpark of my local (small) supermarket last week waiting on someone I knew who was in there to leave. It’s a small shop so I knew they wouldn’t be long. All just to avoid the pretend surprise of ‘omg hi, I had no idea you were in here’! I’m a teacher and I absolutely hate if I bump into an ex student and their family and have to do the big over the top act when I’m out with my own family and just want to eat my lunch in peace 🤷🏼‍♀️

@Circumferences If they’re sat on a lounger and we come to sit on a lounger or vice versa, it feels rude to sit a few away from them and not be sitting with them..it’s just odd

@Xcv 100% get you!

Totally get what you’re saying about not wanting to be ‘on’

I definitely sympathise - it's very annoying to feel you have to "socialise" unexpectedly. But the worst thing is passing someone then SPOTTING THAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO PASS THEM AGAIN ON THE WAY BACK 😵

Many is the annoying detour I have had to make to avoid that 🤣

Me too!!

Hahaha, I get you, so many stories, probably far to outing tho. Living in a small town I’m forever darting down side streets and back out of shops…sometimes you just need to crack on 😂😅

I think it’s important to build the confidence to say hello, have a brief chat, and then move on. No one should expect any more than that. If you feel it’s weird to be near but not with them, try doing it a few times. I’m sure you’ll realise it is making a mountain out of molehill. Starting to avoid places isn’t healthy!

@Circumferences yes I’ll caveat park/s but not say parks in paid attractions!

I wouldn't join in with another family (or agree to them joining us) in those circumstances anyway.
Just exchange pleasantries and say "Oh well, it was nice to see you" then walk further down the beach.
I'm quite sociable, and often up for a chat. I think it is nice to unexpectedly bump into people, but meeting someone doesn't = forming one big group with them. That would just be odd.

They probably don't want you joining either.

@ThatFraggle Yes, I said that above