Blue Eagle

Not depressing at all, that’s a cool story. As the saying goes: “Better to burn out than rust out”. 😉

Thanks. That’s what I plan to do. And I find the opposite of that to be true sometimes, as well. As with the guy who is the reason for my original post, I learn things and see things from his younger perspective that I had either forgotten about or never knew in the first place. I grew up in a neighborhood with few other kids my own age close by, so I had to learn at an early age to get along with people much older or much younger. To me, it’s not strange to hang out with people of widely varying ages but I know that not everyone feels that way. Same. I’m normally quite reserved, or even aloof, as people have often told me. ‘Guess that’s why the whole friendship thing has been a challenge for me all my life.

Well…yes! That’s part of the problem. Having had this rare opportunity to actually reach out to someone who is happy, optimistic and strong in his faith, spending even just an hour or two around him feels so refreshing compared to people my own age. I now understand something about how my mother felt in her last years. After my dad died, mom would just mope around the house, staring out the window at the world going by. My sister and I would tell her “You’re only a few blocks away from the senior center, you could go up there and meet people for lunch!” And mom’s reply would be “Oh, I don’t want to hang around with a bunch of old people!!” 🤔😀 I was puzzled by that, but now I get it.

True. I find that being with younger people makes ME feel younger. And it's kind of cool hearing about what's going on in their lives, instead of listening to folks my age complain about their aches & pains, etc. 😉

Thanks. That's what I thought from the beginning. This guy seems to be so mature for his age, and on the same wavelength that I am on so many topics that I honestly didn't give much thought to the age difference at first. And I can't say that about many of the people my own age, which is why I'm so "friend deficient" in the first place. You're right. So what? Again, thanks for helping me clarify this in my mind. Peace!

Well not football or hockey. Or rugby. 😄 All of which are kind of strenuous. But I'm in good shape and have been working to stay fit for years. That's part of what we seem to have in common.

No, I don't get that impression. At all. I'm quite sure that it's strictly platonic. I don't know that he's in any sort of romantic relationship, though he's alluded at various times to having dates (with women) . As for me, he knows that I'm not married (and that I'm still open to it) but the conversation hasn't gone into any detail.

I’ve never been in this situation and I wonder what others think. I’m a mid sixty year old guy, single, and with no close family. I’ve always found it difficult to make friends (I’m something of an introvert) and the few I’ve had either moved away or are deceased. IOW, I’m lonely and could use a sympathetic ear and someone to occasionally do something with (meals, sports, etc.). I go to church regularly and often smile and nod to many of the people I see there but I rarely connect with anyone beyond that. A few months ago, a young man who I occasionally said good morning to was passing me as we were leaving Mass. I uncharacteristically stepped outside my comfort zone, smiled, held out my hand and introduced myself to him. We stopped at the back of church and ended up having a conversation that lasted for about an hour, talking about religion, philosophy, sports, fitness, our families and school experiences. It turned out that he’s only 30-ish: Roughly 35 years younger than me! We’ve had many such chats since then and I’m stunned that a person so much younger would take time to talk with someone who’s his parents’ age. (He introduced me to his father who occasionally comes with him, who’s also very friendly). My new friend has suggested that we might go for lunch sometime, or golfing and other athletic pursuits that we have in common but I’m wondering: Is this weird to have a friend who’s so much younger? I want to make it clear here that I’m NOT looking for some kind of “bromance” or anything romantic. I’d just like to have someone to pal around with once in a while. What do y’all think? Should I try to keep and grow this budding May-September friendship? Or keep looking for someone closer to my own age, even though I’ve had little success with that?