To just want to stay in my garden?

[JudesBiggestFan]

All my life, during the summer I’ve wanted to be out and about. Beer gardens, weekend trips to the beach (i live in the midlands), festivals, long walks in beauty spots near and far. I’ve just realised that this summer, at the age of 46, I finally can’t be arsed. I just want to go to work, take my kids to cricket matches at pretty local grounds and then sit on my ample backside in my back garden, sometimes with my feet in a paddling pool. The thought of the crowds, the expensive parking, the expensive drinks and ice creams, the slight edginess I feel in city pubs as soon as it gets warm because people can’t hold their drink…I can’t be arsed with any of it! Am I old before my time or is this a normal life stage?

My DIL bought an inflatable paddling pool this morning a big one. She's probably still in it now 🤣. No you don't have to go out in this heat for the day.

I love my home and I love being at home, being relaxed and just enjoying my peace with my lovely husband . We do go out but we both agree, home is lush.

I suppose we all feel differently. I'm 20 years older than you. Never went to "beer gardens" but certainly did everything else +.

I still go to gigs. Went to The Roundhouse last month to see The Waterboys and tomorrow seeing The Lightning Seeds.

I think you are too young to start feeling old, which is what I think you are saying.

Mint in Pimms is traditional….isnt it???

I thought that too! I’ve only ever had it with mint.

I've been like this since my late twenties. I think I got jaded early because I went out so much as a youngster. 😆

Ginger and lemon cordial? Do you have a recipe? Sounds delicious, @anyzee.

When I was a child we seemed to have to go on holiday every time school was off and I saw nearly every country in Europe before I was 9. Now I'm an adult I really don't want to travel more than about 20 minutes away. I like being peaceful at home.

Oh gosh this is my perfect life! We live in an expensive city in the South East - large apartment with sea views and balcony etc.

We’re planning on selling and moving to the countryside to do just what you’re describing (both teens desperate to do it too).

I've been like this since about your age OP. You know, many of us spend our lives making our home a haven - why wouldn't we want to be in it as much as possible. I loved making a home; it's far from perfect but it's my happy place, and there is nowhere I'd rather be than in it! Not necessarily in the garden, which I do enjoy, but just being 'at home'. I don't even like going on holiday - prefer my home and my Ddogs. I'm mid 50's now, and I can manage a max of 2 hrs out socialising, then I have to escape back home. My DC laugh when I tell them 'you know that little flip you feel in your stomach when you are going to the airport'? - well I feel like that when I go home on a daily basis 🤣 I seriously just can't wait to chill with my DDogs, in my haven, no matter where I've been!

We didn't have a garden until ds was 7 and now we have a big one and I love it. Never take it for granted and when I sit out there with my early morning cuppa it's utter bliss 😊

Just now with all the windows open day and night, listening to the bird song is a joy.

Like to do abit of both. Garden and going out.
Feel sorry for those with no garden in the Summer.

Im 35 and well I feel stuck at the moment. I dont have a garden yet to pottery around in (waiting on completion date for our house), I dont have children (in our TTC journey) and my OH works and has his own things going. I mean we go for drive sometimes or dessert but I dont really have a social life. All my friends are married with children so on weekends its family time for them and when my husband goes to work or makes plans for himself I dont know what to do with myself because I just want to do things with him 🤦‍♀️ my routines same daily - gym, work, home. Run errands here and there. Every other weekend will go see sister and the other weekend my mum. Otherwise I wouldn't know what to do with myself. People will probably tell me im being unreasonable when I have these absurd r3actions to my OH plans with work or friends.

@Pompom12 off topic, but try Lidl’s deluxe ginger cordial. It’s got ginger and chilli in it so has a real kick and doesn’t feel like drinking a kids soft drink.

I live for weekends with no plans! 😂Life is so busy Mon-Fri, alarm at 6am, its so nice just to chill (as much as you can with kids/chores!) and not have any demands on time/needing to be somewhere etc. I like socialising but also totally love plan free weekends. We’ve got a big garden and feels like a little oasis away from traffic, crowds etc.

I suppose we all have different levels of alone time that we need to recharge. I need some chill out time to face the work/school week again. Some people can have a totally packed weekend (I did in my 20’s) and then be straight back into the work week but sounds like thats not the OP or alot of people on this thread. I feel like I did years of that before the kids now appreciate beautiful walks (with a pub stop!), garden time, nice meals, family roasts so much more.

I’m 42 and being at home is my favourite place to be!!!

I hate going out and about when it’s this hot! I couldn’t think of anything worse.

I don’t even make it to the garden though…. I just get my favourite book and lounge on the sofa in front of a really, really big fan 😂

With you on this😊

This is me😊

I have my paddling pool and my parasol. I'm going nowhere. It's big enough for my inflatable rubber ring. So I'll just be floating about. 😁

I'm 36 and I feel like this! Unless I'm on holiday/travelling and then I do everything.

Sons back garden today, glass of wine, homemade pizza and three grandchildren with water pistols spraying everywhere. Bliss.

Cricket, I thought that’s what men went to watch to escape from nagging wives, you do seem like someone much much older, but if that’s what suits you, then you do you.

YANBU about city pubs and anywhere with traffic, big crowds, expensive parking etc! I'm still very happy to go to the pub or local beauty spots, but I live fairly rurally so it doesn't get that busy. I will never live in a city again!

If it makes you happy ... you do you. My hubby and I go on hols, we dont go dancing till early hours, we dont drink, we go for walks or sit in garden and read .. I love gardening ... all my friends same age still fo out drinking, still wake up with hangovers ... I can't be arsed myself. I'm 56 and live my life the way I want to .... not how people think I should 😀