<p>Last night was the first "meeting" - really just an outdoor grill/dinner occasion. All of us are now empty-nesters, and knew each other through our kids, who are now all off to college. Over wine and dinner, we gave updates on our kids and their whereabouts, talked about the loneliness of the empty nest, about dropping our kids off at college, and also talked some of the future (retirement, selling homes to downsize, etc). It was fun. We'll "meet" monthly or so, rotating houses for dinners. I recommend it.</p>
<p>I love it! We do something similar with the parents of my older son's friends. And now we're about to start doing it with my younger son's, too. </p>
<p>Sniff.</p>
<p>Here's an idea to make you feel wanted: You should adopt some neighborhood teenagers who could hit you up for cash and throw parties in your homes when you're out of town. :D</p>
<p>We have adopted a couple of teenage boys from across the street. They get the handout now and again--for minor chores. They go to the gym with H. We take them to movies. We have also adopted a couple of pre-school boys. Took them to their first movie the other day. What a laugh. I forgot how real animation could seem. </p>
<p>But I love Empty Next. We zipped off to a mountain lodge Sat night and a few hours of hiking on Sun. Locked the door, gave instructions to feed the dog to one of abovementioned pre-teens and we were away! Fun!</p>
<p>Came back and invited a few friends to Sunday dinner. More fun--and all things I couldn't do with teenage boys who might accidently invite a few hundred guests to my house.</p>
<p>My girlfriend (lives two doors down) and I get together for wine every once in a while- both of us have two boys off at school. It's a combo-session...talking about the kid's college life, husband/boyfriends (I'm married/she's single), work (mostly I listen, vicariously enraptured- she works fulltime- I get to be a part of the soap opera :)), girly issues (we're both at that "age"), and then there's the "reliving our past lives" thing which is always fun. Guys just don't know how to live!</p>