Ralph Warner is right, but what he fails to address is that work itself is a detriment to one's social life. First, you are locked into working with the same folks 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. This circle does not grow or change much. Also, the fact that they are your co-workers puts a limit on how deep the friendship can be. For instance, a co-worker and I used to go out for drinks. One time he got very drunk and then got mean and angry at the world. I wasn't offended because his diatribe was not directed at me, but he felt embarassed, so after that we stopped going out to the bars.
Another thing with work is that workaholics get all of the respect and thus dictate the terms that everyone else must adhere. I used to race bicycles, and it was a very fulfilling hobby. I got the exercise, the discipline, the friendships, and the competition I needed, but because bicycle racing is dangerous, I used to crash 4-5 times a summer, and after which I'd be out of commission for a couple of days. Road rash tends to put a crimp on your sleep schedule. Every time I'd fall asleep, I'd forget and roll under the road rash and wake up in pain. My boss finally told me that I would have to stop racing until the project is over. The project went on for 18 months without being "over". After that, I was so out of shape, I couldn't even ride 20 miles. I used to ride that much just get to the start of an 80 mile training ride. The friendships I built up through racing also fell by the way side.
Not only is your work detrimental to your social life, but your family, relatives, and acquitances also have to work their butts off, so that leaves precious little time for social gatherings. It's the American way, and as long as the health of our economy is measured in GDP growth and nothing else, work will always take center stage.
It will take a sea change in American culture before people can implement Ralph Waner's wisdom. Until then, those who try will always be looked upon as slackers.
