be more social

I was a social animal this evening. I went to a work friends leaving drinks at the office this afternoon. I know her quite well, and I knew most of the people there, but hadn’t spoken to the majority of them in over 1 year (because I have recently spent a lot of time out of the country). Anyway, I caught up with a lot of old friends. Then we decided to move to a bar. There I got speaking to a lovely lawyer, and that was going well, but then her boyfriend turned up ;-) We moved to another bar (Rakinos – top Jazz bar in Auckland), had a couple of drinks there, and this random girl just came up and started talking to me. It was great. Eventually she decided that she needed to go and spend some time with her friends who she was there with, but asked for my number – and I gave it to her. It’s the first time I’ve ever been asked for my number – and I’m 27. Crazy. I guess for the past ~8 years I’ve been keeping myself out of situations where I would be asked for it, but not anymore (see this goal for background). Anyway, I met a number of new people, rekindled old friendships, and got the number of a lovely girl. I’m calling this a successful evening.

As my friend Brodie puts it; I’m in the game.

Got a BBQ at a mates place to head along to later this morning. that should be good. I think there’ll only be a couple of people I know there, so it will be a good opportunity to be more social with strangers. Then, it’s off to Groove in the Park

That should be a good gig.

Urg, I’m feeling the effects of being too “social”. Beer is bad. Well, that’s what I say right now.

Out tonight again with a workmate – one of my friends at work has invited me to a BBQ at his place tonight, but then he remembered that he didn’t have his car at work, and that I don’t have a car anymore (I’m going car free!). Also, the BBQ was for one of his friends who has 2 kids, so it wasn’t going to be an especially large affair. So, we went out for a couple of pints after work – we talked about work, issues with the organisation, specific learnings we’ve each had from working at the big V etc. I should be going over to his place for lots of meat and booze this weekend. I’m glad I went out – I really enjoy that spontaneous going out type event.

I’ve been invited out by a ex-workmate this evening. He’s leaving the country, and this will be one of the last opportunities I have to say goodbye to him. He left work when I was on holiday, and his leaving party fizzled out early – I was supposed to attend, but I didn’t fly back into Auckland until late in the evening – when I landed it was all over.

I don’t know if I’m going to know anyone else who is going. I was thinking earlier that I wouldn’t go, but then that wouldn’t be helping me acheive this goal.

So, I will be going out this evening, and I will be staying for at least 3 hours. Fingers crossed I meet some new people. Lets be more social.