Thinking about what I thought the empty nest would be like....

**PrairieRose** · 12-11-2004, 06:43 PM

I had always imagined that we would be busy with our 2 or 3 sets of friends who would also become empty nesters at around the same time. (we have lots of other friends but they still have children at home....somewhat *small* children) I imagined 2-3 Saturday nites a month where we would gather at someone's house to eat dinner and play cards or go out to eat, go to a movie, etc., with another couple or something. It seems that in the past 2 yrs. since our nest emptied out that we have either been too busy when our friends have time or they've been too busy when we have time.....etc... . Also some of our friends have taken on jobs that make their days off odd, like Sunday and Tuesday or Sunday and Thursday....makes it tough to get together when everyone is up to it. Sssooooo tonite, for the first time in a long time, we're having some of our best friends over for dinner and cards. I hope that lasagna turns out....fingers crossed. I'm really kinda excited about this...we used to do this sort of thing all the time when our kids were all small.
What things have you found harder to manage to do than you imagined, back when you thought about what life as an empty nester would be like?

**PrairieRose** · 12-11-2004, 11:36 PM

Carolyn, would you ever consider moving back "home"? I'm happy to say that most of our friends are near us....but I don't know if every one will be staying as time goes on.

**RuthNY** · 12-12-2004, 08:11 AM

My empty nest resulted in me moving out and leaving my husband. For the 27 years I thought I was taking care of the 'family' but after the 'family' became he and I I was still doing the work and decided enough was enough. The final straw was when he said he was retiring 5 years before I could and I know I'd still be working and taking care of him, I left.

So, if you thought YOUR dreams didn't work, just remember mine

**cau** · 12-12-2004, 05:01 PM

We had a few years of us both working and only 1 at home,she was 20 and busy with her own life. We traveled a lot and were busy with concerts and dinners with friends. Then my mom got sick and lived with us most of the time. I'm not sorry about caring for her but there went the freetime. Then oldest dd moved out of a abusive marriage bringing dgd with her so back to a full house.
Actually the house became to small and we had to move to a ranch for my mom and more room for the others. My mom is at peace now and youngest dd is married but oldest dd and dgd still live with us. We have made an effort to reconnect with old friends. cau