I have been struggling with social contact. Zoe Girl made some comments about it, and I read an article about loneliness in the NYT. I’m curious about the amount and types of social contact that people have/consider normal.
I live with my husband and daughter who both work full time and have activities outside the home. I see them a few waking hours a day. Mostly during meals. Often dh is home one full day on the weekends, but more often two half days. Additionally, in the last week I:
Thursday: worked at the food bank - 2 hours of near constant face to face conversation with strangers and people whose names I know. No close relationships, even the people there who I like, if they died, I would be sad like I was sad when my rabbit died. In my life they are even more replaceable than the rabbit.
Friday: had heartdaughter and grandson stop by for about an hour on the way home from camp - cookies and conversation. Picked berries at my friend’s house while talking to her for an hour and a half.
Sunday: went to the grocery store - 5 minute conversation with checker and bagger
Monday: had heartgrandson here most of the day and his mom for half the afternoon. Picked berries again but friend only joined for half an hour. Also exchanged greetings with her son.
Tuesday: had a “conversation” lasting 7 e-mails with two coworkers.
that is a very social week for me.
i have been trying to reach out for more social contact. I am trying to schedule a visit from a new friend - so far no luck. And I have been trying to get in personal touch with my cousin - she has a very active Facebook page and I get emails from her that are clearly sent to her whole address book, but I can’t get her to answer her phone, return calls, or e-mail me back. It’s weird, because I would actually describe us as “close” and when Dd posted on Facebook about my new store opportunity, my cousin wrote a really nice note on the post.