:no:I read an article last week in Red magazine which had me thinking, and I don't do it often. It was entitled 'Mingle and loving it' and in a nutshell discussed how some couples give up socialising separately once they're married, whilst others mix it up by doing stuff separately, with the knowledge that they have their loved one to go home to.

The reason it struck a chord was that only last Friday gone I was due to go to a party in Brighton, but hubby wasn't in the mood/well and so I came within an inch of deciding not to go too.

I didn't feel comfortable socialising without him, which is really quite sad. Thankfully, in the end I decided to go out, hubby is more than comfy at home alone, and I had a great (if brief) evening, when I got home hubby had stayed up to hear all about it.

I did feel intimated going into the bar alone, indeed I nearly left when I saw the bouncers on the door, but once I went inside and caught up with a few familiar faces I felt fine. I was very quiet (couldn't get drunk as needed to make way to train station in time for last train), but fine. Indeed, I was soo fine that several of our friends thought hubby was just around the corner rather than 11 miles away.

See, so this brings me back to the magazine article, I know I'm not brill at small talk, I know I rely on hubby to carry conversations, but when did I become a total shy & retiring person. When did I stop socialising?

I kinda shoved the article in hubbys face, but he wasn't interested. He's never stopped me going out, indeed is often happy to finance me, so why and how did I get so stuck in a rut? I don't really know where this post is going, but it's nice to air my thoughts.

I've become lazy as I've matured, I've never got into politics or finances (other than my own) so the only opinions I have in this whole 'credit crisis' situation, and with the US elections coming up, sadly are just regurgitations of hubbys opinions. Isn't it sad?

So, somehow I bought the Independent and didn't even read it I need to start to understand politics. I need to broaden both my financial and business knowledge and i need to get myself back out there.

Astronut has suggested a walking club to meet people, and I am desperately scrabbling about trying to re-arrange a social life, but honestly!

Has anyone else found themselves slipping into this situation?

Is it just a 'female' thing?

And what have you done to reverse the situation?

Many thanks if you've read as far as this, and if you post any replies.

Loadsa hugs

Happy
x