One of the biggest surprises in ER has been the result of reaching out to old friends and reconnecting with them, some of whom I haven't seen for over a decade. The process started slowly, but really picked up speed once I settled into ER and started being more pro-active.
The interesting part is that in the process, I have been meeting their friends and building new relationships with these people too. It has led me to a whole new peer group of fascinating people who have been vetted by my friends, and who have been introduced to me because of our shared personal and creative interests (none of which have anything to do with my past career).
It almost feels like being in college except for we all have a lot more experience and resources to share with one another. For the past 3-4 years (less lockdown), I've been getting together with another group of incredibly creative new friends to play music every Sunday and hang out. In early July, I traveled with a different group of new friends to an old friend's place in Hawaii for a week-long guy's retreat of hanging out and relaxing together on the beach. It's been quite a social Renaissance, much to my surprise. It has become the most fulfilling part of ER to grow my social circle in completely unexpected and fascinating ways; and has completely changed my retirement expectations and plans. I tend to be more introverted than not, but I do love hanging with my homeboys.
Has anyone else had a similar experience? Do you find yourself gravitating towards old friendships, or do you leave the past in the past? What's been the most pleasant lifestyle surprise in ER that you didn't see coming?
The interesting part is that in the process, I have been meeting their friends and building new relationships with these people too. It has led me to a whole new peer group of fascinating people who have been vetted by my friends, and who have been introduced to me because of our shared personal and creative interests (none of which have anything to do with my past career).
It almost feels like being in college except for we all have a lot more experience and resources to share with one another. For the past 3-4 years (less lockdown), I've been getting together with another group of incredibly creative new friends to play music every Sunday and hang out. In early July, I traveled with a different group of new friends to an old friend's place in Hawaii for a week-long guy's retreat of hanging out and relaxing together on the beach. It's been quite a social Renaissance, much to my surprise. It has become the most fulfilling part of ER to grow my social circle in completely unexpected and fascinating ways; and has completely changed my retirement expectations and plans. I tend to be more introverted than not, but I do love hanging with my homeboys.
Has anyone else had a similar experience? Do you find yourself gravitating towards old friendships, or do you leave the past in the past? What's been the most pleasant lifestyle surprise in ER that you didn't see coming?
