I met my good friend when we were both single . We both moved into a new estate on the same day and we now socialise with quite a few other people who live on the same new build estate. It's really nice and friendly , but these are all couples .
My friend and I used to get together every Friday evening for food and share a bottle of wine , have a good catch up, have a laugh .
At the time we met we were both dabbling with online dating , she had a casual hook up she saw every few months , obviously when that happened I didn't go round . Friend has a child so saw date on her child free times .
She's recently met someone at a social function and has started seeing them all her free weekends , and I've encouraged her to just go with the flow after initially she was saying oh god what am I doing I don't want a relationship etc . He seems nice , we've said hi a couple of times if our paths cross . Obviously the time we spent together as friends has diminished since she is spending her child free weekends with the new man . I've been really I'll and it's fine as I've found myself enjoying being tucked up in bed by 8 watching telly with a hot chocolate.
But she said something yesterday that stung me . We ere chatting as our paths crossed , (as happens daily for 5 mins or so) and I asked how things were going , she started talking about new fella and then about her new found amazing sex life . I said oh lucky you , ( I've been single now for 4 years) and said I think Im done with fellas , can't see me going anywhere to meet anyone now. She tried to say course you will but the truth is it's highly unlikely, I work from home and if I do go into office my colleagues are all married , we only socialise with couples , all my friends are in couples , I literally don't know anyone single and that's to be expected as I'm in my 50s . I don't have anyone to go to the local with , or anything like that so my world has shrunken with regard to meeting singles , tried online and really really got burned several times , found men in my age bracket were not terribly i didn't fancy anyone anyway !
I'm off all dating apps but still have one date arranged for coffee with a guy but it isn't boding well already . So I basically said I've given up, because I have . She got back to the sex , then said "oh look at you trying not to be jealous!"
At the time it hit me but I laughed it off . Then her dd came out and gave me one of her school photos , so we chatted a little more and went into our respective houses .
Ive a coffee arranged with a fella this week but he's annoying me already. Messages daily , ringing daily, messages saying I can't wait to meet you you're amazing and I can't wait for that hug and a big kiss "
Today I messaged him and said right - I don't do kisses on first dates , I don't want to be fighting off a handsy octopus so let's get that straight .....he meekly messaged back with "I'm joking " but after the bloody gifs of dogs "kissing" and god knows how many sickly sweet messages I'm already icked out . Unless he's amazing in person I'm of the opinion there probably won't be a second meeting .
I've had to stop and ask myself am I jealous ? Well , I'm envious of anyone with companionship and a sex life they enjoy yes , would I like that? Yes . Am I desperate for it at any cost ? No. I'm single and for a reason, and that's because after hundreds of shit dates over 4 years I've decided I aren't settling . I'm not able to do casual sex as it just makes me feel shit about myself so I'm doing what makes me comfortable.
Was it a shitty thing to say ? Or am I taking it more to heart than I should ?
I'm sort of mentally relieved there is more distance between us now, but I'm still the first person she rings if she needs help with something. It's like I'm a mother figure , need first aid, ring Bernard , need something doing in the house , ring Bernard, need a spider catcher , a babysitter , a spare bottle of wine , a favour , a lift , etc etc ......you get my drift .
Never minded doing any of that . But why rub my face in being the only single person remaining when she knows I'm deflated and resigned to remaining single ?