What’s up with the ‘out and about’ brigade?

[Nayouknow]

You know the ones. ‘I like to be out and about’ brigade. The ‘I’d be climbing the walls if I didn’t leave the house every day’ crew. The people who view time spent in their homes to be ‘wasted’ and time spent outside it to somehow automatically be more rewarding/interesting/energising/virtuous/insert positive.

I’ve only really come across this sort of mentality on MN and I find it fascinating. What’s their deal? Do they not like their homes? Do they have no indoor pursuits that they enjoy enough to be occupied for one day? Is it the actual outside air (not to be confused with the air in their gardens, as those of them who have gardens are generally very clear that hanging out in the garden isn’t sufficient)? Are they hardcore extroverts?

Like everyone else I know, I like to go out and I like to stay in. Walks are nice. Activities are nice. Spending a weekend at home cooking/reading/watching box sets/playing with DS is also nice. Based on their comments, the aforementioned crew would consider the latter a ‘wasted weekend’.

Yes, that’s who is being discussed and lots of them have posted on this thread saying as much. What are you questioning?

And the specific comment you responded to was about people drawing energy from other people. Yes, those specific people are extroverts - that’s what an extrovert is.

Some people draw their energy from interacting with other people

Then you’re not who is being described, here. Those people are extroverts.

I’m pretty sure most people commenting aren’t out from dawn until dusk every weekend and evening, who can even afford to eat every single meal out? If you read the comments most just say they like to get out at some point. So if it’s the tiny proportion of humans that send zero time indoors except sleeping, is that even worthy of a post?

I’m just pointing out that most people are in the middle. It seems that OP is at the far end of the scale.

If you think that, you haven’t RTFT.

You also don’t seem to have read the OP. Like everyone else I know, I like to go out and I like to stay in. Walks are nice. Activities are nice. Spending a weekend at home cooking/reading/watching box sets/playing with DS is also nice.

That doesn’t sound like the far end of any scale to me.

I’ve read a lot of the replies and I still don’t agree that many people are out every second of the day 😅 The OP says she likes going out, so I just don’t see the problem or what she’s on about tbh. All the things she mentioned can be done in addition to going out. Post makes no sense

Well I don't know but this thread has inspired me to pack up the Dcs (even the moaning revising for GCSEs one) and go to the beach for icecream.

I don’t think I’ve ever had a conversation this frustrating. I genuinely give up. 😆

Really - only the gym, dog and food get you out of the house? You exaggerate, surely (I hope)? That sounds like borderline agoraphobia to me, it can't be good for you.

I wonder where pedants draw their energy from

Probably the same place where they get their sense of superiority.

Really - only the gym, dog and food get you out of the house? You exaggerate, surely (I hope)? That sounds like borderline agoraphobia to me, it can't be good for you.

I only leave the house to go to work most weeks .. I'm fine, thanks.

So 'psychological' energy is not energy? Mmm

I wouldn't say that, but it's a very different thing from the physical energy derived from food, but people often seem to refer to them as though they are the same thing.

Why don't you do a mix? Some weekends you go out by yourself,with friends, etc you do your thing. Some you stay in. Some you do stuff together as a couple/family. Then you both end up doing what you enjoy more.

I am an introvert, and so is my husband. We are out and about all weekend - running, cricket, swimming, playground with the kids, bike rides. We have so much more fun when we’re not trapped in the same four walls for the whole weekend. I firmly believe in being out and about 😂 sorry!

They feel pretty similar in my body, I say that as a very energetic person

I knew someone who would never stay in her house. She had a child and from day 1 was out and about with him all day long.

Come lockdown, the now 9 year old couldn't cope. He had no idea how to entertain himself, how to play, how to just BE at home. Him and his Mum were climbing the walls.

I'm a homebody, happiest in my house with snacks, books, boxsets and the chance of an afternoon nap. I hate the weekends I have to spend dashing about. I don't mind an occasional event, meal out or whatever but not all the time..

Plus, I'd never get the laundry done! As I'm out at work all week..

That's lots of laundry

"Why don't you do a mix? Some weekends you go out by yourself,with friends, etc you do your thing. Some you stay in. Some you do stuff together as a couple/family. Then you both end up doing what you enjoy more."

Oh believe me, I'd love a mix but it doesn't happen as dh never wants to go out.
Today, I've already been out for a coffee and a walk with a friend, I'm about to go to the garden centre with Dd (her request) and a bike ride when we get back.
What does dh want to do? Potter around then go to the gym.
Gym is enough for him today.
Wash the car, mow the lawn, go to the gym. That's it for him. I don't let it stop me but I would have loved a dh who had a bit more enthusiasm for life than a tired old man.
Granted he works all week. I work part time so do all the housework, manage the dcs stuff and pretty much do everything else so it's just his personality.

I have just read that Joe Wicks changes his clothes 3 times a day on Sundays, so literally everybody's Sunday is more interesting.

Yup! 5 people, DH wears a clean uniform every day, 3 school uniforms plus 3 PE kits and my work clothes. Add to that 4 lots of martial arts gear, two swimming kits, towels, bedding etc. Takes a full day if I can line dry on a hot day, if tumble drying or drying indoors it can take 2 days.

2 plus 2 equals 4 not 4,000 😅 personally, I like being married to an extravert. It pushes me to do things I don't feel comfortable doing and end up enjoying and vice versa.

This becomes a problem when he retires because you're both impacted then. Speaking from personal experience and those of friends!

As a recent retiree - I love being able to do my home-based hobbies and enjoy the garden - part of the indoor stuff is voluntary work which keeps my brain active. However, I do think it's bad for my mental and physical health to stay in every day, given that I no longer go out to work. Sadly, there's time to do that when I can't go out physically, so I want to make the most of it while I can

Emotions are weird things, they aren't rational - hence the word emotions. I shouldn't feel guilty but I do. My choices are to ignore that feeling at home or to ignore it while out, it is easier to ignore when I am out, so I go out

Pre kids I would happily mooch at home all weekend. Now have 3 young boys and honestly they need to be OUT a lot. If we don’t wear them out with an activity or two at the weekend they are all in bad moods. We are quite a sporty family though and love getting out for a bike ride in the morning and etc. I’ve got used to being out and about a lot now as it makes for a happier family all around.

Well, this has progressed! Haven’t had time to engage, as we’ve been out. 😁 Now sitting in the garden awaiting Pimms.

It’s interesting that some people don’t seem to have actually read my OP, so seem to think I’ve said ‘going out is bad, staying in is good, leaving the house is silly’. Thankfully, these people are in the majority.

To everyone else, thank you. Your answers have been interesting. Particularly those of you who have explained that you feel bad/unwell/sad/guilty if you don’t leave the house. I’ve often thought this might be the case, but you’ve explained it really well, so thank you.