Are male friendship groups easier?

[Iloveclamp]

DH is 45 has a group of friends who he’s known all his life, from his home town. They meet maybe once a month for a drink, and are in regular contact at other times.

A few months ago, one of them bumped into someone who they’d been to school with and who was part of the wider group they used hang around with in their late teens. He got invited to the next drinks and is now a firm part of the group.

I’ve also noticed DH finds it really easy to reconnect with people. Recent example was a Uni housemate who he hadn’t seen or spoken to in over 20 years - they’ve met up once, and have an activity booked together later this year.

Is this normal for male friendship groups? It seems quite a contrast to my female friends where groups seem a bit more closed off to newcomers. Any thoughts?

Your dh sounds much more like me, than like my dh.

I suspect it is personality rather than sex.

It's definitely personality.

I have two separate groups of friends.

One group are very easy going and the 'more the merrier' types. They'll sometimes come back from the bar with a few strange women, because there's been no seats so they've invited them to sit with us 🤣🤣

The other group is rather reserved, not 'snooty' at all but you have to take a while to get to know them and they'd be aghast if you asked a stranger if they wanted to sit at our table.

I imagine it depends a lot on how much free time you each have and what caring (or other) responsibilities you may have. I would love to go to the pub once a month with old friends, but a) I can't afford it and b) I'm a single parent and don't have the childcare options and c) I'm bloody knackered all the time and would probably rather have an early night these days anyway!

I just remembered.

One of my friends was a hairdresser but unemployed as the shop she was working at closed down.

We came out of a club one night, popped across the road to the kebab shop, she got chatting to a stranger who also happened to be a hairdresser, and ended up getting herself a job before the kebabs were wrapped 🤣

That was around 12 years ago and she's still at the same salon now.

In general, much. I have 2 female friends. The rest are men. Its just so much easier.

My closest and oldest friend has been living 100s of miles away for years, I haven't spoken to him in at least 6 years. I know I'll get a call at some stage from an unknown number asking if I'm free and it'll be like we were never apart, we'll reconnect like we saw each other just last week. It's effortless.

Even in new workplaces, the men are generally more accepting and inclusive than the women and less prone to forming cliques. My favourite workplace, I was the only woman for a year and a half. And it was peace and fucking harmony.