I think many people everywhere are more particular about who they hang with, for many reasons.
Covid, politics, covid politics, and awareness that how each person handled this time (pandemic, election, insurrection) is a reflection of their personalities, quirks, insecurities, exhaustion, etc.
While many people couldn't wait to remove their masks and start socializing after the vax, many others realized socializing isn't that important, that we've managed and survived and reevaluated.
Going out to eat has turned into a treat like it used to be, rather than a weekly or monthly thing.
Going out for the sake of going out is not happening for me.
My town has resumed various free summer concerts. The first big monthly one was last week. I thought I'd go, but decided I didn't want to be around a large crowd, even outdoors. I also opted out of the weekly Friday music downtown. For years I used to go for a short time, always by myself, to say I'd been there, to see and be seen. I'd leave after I ran into someone I knew, so I wasn't anonymous.
As a loner by nature, I feel less need to socialize. And I've continued working in retail so I've had contact with others, coworkers and customers. I'm not totally isolated.
And as others mentioned, there is a natural attrition of friendships as we age. What and who we accept or tolerate or spend time with when we're younger changes as we age, and we adjust accordingly. We meet new people, make new friendships, and even reconnect with friends from our childhood and younger days. You have kindred souls here at DU.
Hope you enjoy the concert and your daughter.
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