Do people reciprocate your dinner invitations?

[Atticus Finch]

Jackie and I like to entertain. Depending on the season, we throw dinner parties, oyster roasts, football parties, fish fries, cookouts and almost anything else that involves cooking and eating. If it is organic and doesn't move quickly enough to evade us, we'll probably grill it.

But Jackie and I have a nice double income and we don't have kids at home.

Some of our best friends reciprocate, but most folks who come to our shindigs don't. It doesn't bother me in the least. Other people have kids and other obligations that we don't have. Many other people have to live closer to the bone than do Jackie and I. Many other people don't share our ability and desire to plan and execute food fests. It’s all good. I still like for ‘em to come when I invite ‘em....

AF

[Connery]

I entertain simply for the pleasure it brings. I do not care if my invitees reciprocate. I find that when I have social expectations I may be setting up myself for disappointment, so I enjoy my company and the dinner.

[PADDY]

Some really nice, measured and civilized answers given which has put me in the mood to have some folks round for Dinner

[Miss sofia]

I entertain simply for the pleasure it brings. I do not care if my invitees reciprocate. I find that when I have social expectations I may be setting up myself for disappointment, so I enjoy my company and the dinner.

Well said sir!

[Mike in Seattle]

As Connery said, we have friends over for dinner because we enjoy it and we enjoy their being here. If they reciprocate, fine. If not, equally as fine, because I feel the fun we have here is equal or greater than the effort & funds expended on planning and executing the dinner party, brunch, cocktail party, whatever it may be. I don't want friends to feel obligated to reciprocate - I know some cannot for various and sundry reasons and I don't care. I'm not keeping a ledger of social debits and credits. We all do what we can and have many ways of sharing. One makes the world's greatest chocolate chip cookies in her tiny apartment, and that's more than enough recompense. Another gives a great deal of volunteer time to some worthy organizations I also support yet can't boil water to save his life, and is always ready to jump in and pitch in when someone's in need of help. In some way, it all evens out. I love to cook, and there are things I like to make or would like to try that fills several mouths, and I'm glad to have the test group to try them out on and share with.

[Marzena]

Some really nice, measured and civilized answers given which has put me in the mood to have some folks round for Dinner

Me too! But I will make it simpler: to a tea party. Proper, civilised, scones, sandwiches and works. Not as much work with serving though as dinner party and therefore even less of a heartthrob should no one invite me back.

[Marzena]

BTW, what will you cook?

[Ethan Bentley]

"I entertain simply for the pleasure it brings. I do not care if my invitees reciprocate. I find that when I have social expectations I may be setting up
myself for disappointment, so I enjoy my company and the dinner."

Agreed.

[LoveMyHats2]

Food, friends, conversation. It is always nice to share an evening or even a week having people as quests.

I have never measured my own hospitality by means of tit for tat, on having people over!

[Mrs Chaddsley_Corbett]

I have finally resolved myself to the fact that some of my Fiends are incapable of entertaining, the last time someone asked me to Luncheon it turned out to be a bowl of Soup, really, I ask you?, soup is something you have at 3.00 am in winter when you come home from a Masquerade Ball!