Dinner with Friends -- You Don't Have to Dine Alone

I have been talking with a lot of people about the benefits and challenges of retirement. Retirement can be very stimulating, but it can also be very isolating. There are lots of challenges -- finding a new peer group, keeping in touch with family and friends, staying healthy, starting over… So let's talk about finding friends to share our meals and start the conversation.


Retired people are as diverse and multi-faceted as any group of people I have known! It is hard to define the “typical retiree” because I haven’t met one yet. Everyone comes with their own years of experience, family dynamics, and expectations. But one thing we all have in common is the need for food and sustenance! People who live alone or live without a set schedule often cut corners when it comes to eating healthy meals. If you take the social part out of the meal, it’s just a chore to cook and dine alone.

Here’s what I am starting in my community. I am talking with several local restaurants about setting aside a few tables one evening a week for “Dinner with Friends.” We’ll advertise in our retiree groups, church bulletins, and word-of-mouth and invite people to come join us for dinner. The restaurant will set aside some tables (one table to start with, and maybe a whole section eventually) so that people can just show up and join the group. Have a seat, meet new people, order off the regular menu, separate checks -- relax and make new friends. The group could be different every week.

Imagine taking the chill out of the question, “What am I doing for dinner tonight?” No catch. Not a dating service. Not a fundraiser. Just a way to count on good company for a good meal …Dinner with Friends – where Conversation is the Main Course!

Our local group will start on Wednesday, November 9 at Saratoga Pizzeria in Springfield. If you are in the area, stop in between 5:00 and 7:00 and join us for dinner and conversation. You don’t have to be retired, and you don’t have to come alone!

Blessings,
Barb