Ariel Leve
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Getting older has advantages. Behaviour that was once unacceptable is becoming what’s expected. For instance, when I was 25 and wanted to stay home on a Saturday night, everyone thought I was a loser. My friends would nag me to join them: “C’mon, you’re young! Live it up!” I tried to explain to them that I was barely interested in living. What makes them think I’d be interested in living it up?
But people get very offended. The tension got so bad it resulted in a good friendship ending. My (now ex) friend Amanda screamed at me one night. “You don’t like to go out, you don’t like to party, you don’t like to drink, you don’t like to dance – what DO you like?” I thought about this for a few seconds. “Sitting.” I replied. I enjoy sitting. And I enjoy thinking. Sitting and thinking. Even better: sitting and thinking at home.
This wasn’t an activity we had in common.
Now that I’m nearly 40, I’m glad that the bar has been lowered.
Still, people need an excuse. 40 is a tricky age because you’re old enough to get away with not going out, but not old enough to get away with not giving a reason. When I tell someone I don’t want a late night the usual response is, “Oh, you must have to get up early for work, right?” Not really. Can’t I just want to stay home?
A few weeks ago I was invited to a dinner party. “Plan to get here at eight or so,” the hostess said, “We can all cook together.”
I hesitated. “8pm?” She laughed. “Yes! Not 8AM!” Perhaps she hadn’t heard the horror in my voice. Both options sounded incredibly unappealing.
I began the calculations. No one would get there on time, cooking wouldn’t begin until nine, dinner wouldn’t be served until 10 or 10:30. What kind of dinner party is that? We’re not in Spain.
I’m not a late night person. By 11PM, I’m done. I have nothing left to say, the meagre social skills I have are depleted and tolerance levels for small talk dip below zero. The only excuse for beginning your evening at that time is if you’re on drugs.
Or 17. Or, even better, 17 and on drugs. Other than that, I can’t imagine it. Even if my house were to catch fire, I’d still have to consider if it was really worth getting out of bed and going out.
Chances are, this isn’t going to change. I can’t see turning 50 and suddenly making a plan to meet someone at midnight.
So now, I’ve learned to make friends with people who hate going out as much as I do. It’s hard to meet people who I have this in common with though. Where do I meet them? We’re always at home.
My friend Sam is similar. When we cancel plans, it’s not a big deal. The other night she found a movie we both wanted to see but the only showing was 9:40pm.
It was Friday night so it might be sold out. Plus the thought of getting on the tube on a weekend night was a deterrent. And then sharing a cab home afterwards if we could even find one in Central London when the movie was over. I worried about that. By the time we were finished talking it through, we’d used up all of our energy. “Let’s skip it,” I said. “I’m exhausted.”
But when you’re older, people understand if you don’t want to go to the later movie. And showing up isn’t an issue; you don’t have to explain. I can’t wait. When I’m 80 I’ll have a ready excuse: I’m old.
Read more excuses for not going out
The Cassandra archive is here
Ariel Leve writes for The Sunday Times Magazine, specialising in investigative features, in-depth interviews and a humorous weekly column, Cassandra. She was awarded Feature Writer of the Year by the British Magazine Design & Journalism Awards in 2008 and in the same year Highly Commended in the British Press Awards, for which she has twice been nominated. Her book, The Cassandra Chronicles, will be published by Portobello Books August 6th (UK) and HarperPerennial (US and Canada) March 2010. Click below to read her Cassandra column
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I am not a late night person either and I am glad I read this blog. It validates my saying, "Unless we make plans to go out between 4 and 6 p.m. as a starting point and are on our way home no later than 9:30 or 10 p.m., I really don't want to do it. Mornings are great, afternoons are great, early evenings are great. Other than that, I cannot stay up very late and enjoy myself. Nor do I like to be lethargic the next day because I didn't get enough sleep. I am highly energetic but my clock runs from 5:30 or 6 a.m. and ends at 9:30 p.m. That's just the way it is. And, last, I am not a partier."
Lisa Bays, Westminster,
after years of going out every night, spending fortunes, drinking too much amd meeting mainly tossers. Meeting my husband and getting married at 34 was absolute bliss. I stay home now with him and the step kids (excellent excuse as no childcare). Dont have to worry about cabs home, ruining my shoes or getting rained on, getting mugged - nothing. Its absolute bliss, going out is very over rated. I still buy all the fabulous clothes just wear them at home. Buy why are the dedicated goer outers so scathing? My Mother calls me loser as she likes to come home from the casino at 6.15am. I know who I think he loser is.
sunita, northwood, middleses
So far the best excuse Iâve gotten in rejecting an invitation has been; âI canât go. I have to go to the White House and work at the state dinner for the French Presidentâ Iâve e-mailed her to find out how it went, so far no reply.
Phil , Washington, DC
Has Cassandra been booted out of the magazine for more advertising space? Very unhappy. They did the same with the back of the News Review and it hasn't been nearly so good since... Come home Ariel!
Georgina, London, UK
In America nowadays the older people are Professionally more wanted because of their experience, patience and success.
The younger generations has interentet but lacks in experience & patience due running very fast & expecting quick results.
They say old is gold, the old may not be wanted in the dark, into the Parties, wine, dine & dance but in the day light to lighten the work force due their vast connections & making stable success & pofit at large with patience.
Sattar Hakim, Pomona, USA
Have you guys ever considered that you might be suffering from depression? But then again, I live in Spain.........
Elizabeth, Valencia, Spain
I can sympathize with this lady, and her great article. I was invited to a friend's 50th birthday party at the weekend which started at lunchtime. Obviously, I was obliged to stay for the BBQ which would start soon. To me, 'soon' would be about 5 p.m. at the latest. (You have to understand, that here in the US, Saturday night for ex-pats starts at 8 p.m. with Are You Being Served, and other British comedy and finishes with Only Fools and Horses. ) Unfortunately, 'soon' came at 9 p.m. By then, you can imagine the state of most of the gathering, including the host. I managed to avoid a burnt burger and an equally revolting onion ring, and made a hasty retreat. I've been told I'm boring for my attitude to nocturnal events, but to me, an evening on the couch with either a book or the remote is bliss. Thank you Cassandra.
Al, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
Cassandra's problem is that she's not really a city girl. She should stick to the country, where the range of things people expect you to do after ten is more limited, and the range of excuses for not doing them wider.
Bill, Norfolk,
Dear Sir/Madam
In your Buisness section Nov. 11th an article on on-line dating quoted that Dating direct was the biggest dating agency in UK and part of Europes market leader Meetic. Please check out web site 'letsfixbritain.com' for comments from users of this site. Its rubbish where its almost impossible unsubscribe from membership. Your newspaper has a deserved high reputation and I hope you will do your readers a service by checking out this web-site and making a report on it. A lot of people are very frustrated with this site and it should be known what to expect when you sign-up for membership.
Regards
T o'dowd
regular reader for many years
tom dowd, sligo, ireland
please come back to the magazine, cassandra! i'm missing your neurotic self already!
Jack, York, UK
Well said and I totally agree. I have always thought sitting and thinking or reading at home are the best way to spend an evening. I am 33.
Sous, Bristol,
I have to say this is a very refreshing article to read, i am 38 and used to go out a lot in my twenties but over the past five or six years that has changed, i really can't be bothered to go out, i much prefer to have a glass of wine watch a movie or a chat show and put my feet up.
I just don't feel like going out much myself and to read an article on the thoughts of another like minded person has made me feel normal again. I was beginning to wonder if there was something wrong with me thank you-thank you-thank you... for making me feel this way...!
PM, West Sussex, UK
I was so disappointed today when I found The Sunday Times Magazine and jumped at it to try and find the cassandra article - its gone! It was the only regular thing worth reading in my view... will the article ever return?
Katie Anderson, Dumfries, Scotland
Hooray! I'm normal! It was such a relief to read this article. I hate going out in the evening and I hated it even when I was 18. Getting ready was exhausting, transport a logistic nightmare, and I was ready to crawl into bed by 10.30 pm, which ruled out any of the things my friends wanted to do. Oh, and I don't drink.
However, I'm not totally unsociable - I enjoy meeting friends for lunch. It's just this obsession with evening (or, worse still, night-time) activities which I object to. Why on earth would anyone want to be out in the dark and cold at 2 am? To say nothing of the dangers of being mugged or raped. My idea of a blissful evening has always been to lie on the sofa with a good book, followed by sleep at 11.
Alys, Colchester, U.K.
Excellent statement, i absoloutly agree. Please take it a step
further even though i am 32 yrs old. This is a stupid society
we are living in. The Notebook Age with Disco Ringtones
on your mobile. I have travelled the world and seen everything
human beings can see.
Keep on being critical:)))))
Peter Kniepkamp, London, United Kingdom
Back in the magazine please!
Mark, London,
I completely understand the joy of not going out... I now have several friends who share this view. I never see them, of course.
Annie, Emsworth,