Do you have things in common with your friends?

Miss Retro Chic said:

My friends do not share my interest in vintage, but I don't really mind as they share other interests and I feel comfortable with them. Inside they are kindred spirits and that is more important in my opinion.

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Very well said. I hope retronista will find people who accept her and don't discourage her because of the interests in vintage. If they really get into it too doesn't matter so much. They just shouldn't make fun about it.

Sorry for vanishing, I only just saw all these posts now It's so comforting to read through your comments, as I've been feeling a bit alone lately. I don't mind that my friends don't share my interests, each to their own, but I've just grown tired of forcing myself to go out and party with them when all I really wanna do is stay at home with some black and white movies. So it really is good to know I'm not the only "weirdo" out there who appreciates the finer things in life

Oh and good luck Swing Motorman! I'm sure you and your lady will have tons of fun!

My friends?
[size=-2](now you made me think)[/size]
A friend or a companion?
..'cause a friend, to me, is that funny-faced (great sense of humor!) gal I meet every weekend for beer - or more than one. :cheers1: With her, except the ultimate understanding for each-others life/love problems.. I don't have much in common. She's my opposite: sleeps till early afternoon, goes out around 23:00, frequents the "DJ's blowing my mind with trance" parties.. and wears sneakers and jeans.. ONLY sneakers and jeans (unless she's seducing, but that's not the subject here)
A companion, on the other hand.. I failed to find. [huh]
No one accompanies me to the "afternoon-early evening" events (most of them give me excuses like "I'm washing my hair for tonight"). Right.. OK.. So, I usually accompany myself. There's not much vintage-supporters where I live. [size=-2]My friend's grandma and her spinster-sister don't count, they ARE vintage, literally.[/size]
If I ask the girls to come, and we'll have tea .. :hand: ..wait: TEA? "She was for real?!"
Yes, girls.. I love you to bits.. but your vintage-radar SUCKS. :tea:

Yes, we both like Me.
Although my friends and I do not share much in common, we do share the love of sports and making each other laugh as we can and are quite stupid (and stupid can be very entertaining). My best friend is my Lady and we do enjoy many vintage things together, but not necessarily equally. At some point in my early twenties, I decided that I would rather venture out on my own rather than miss out on life while waiting for some like minded person to show up. Fortunately, I found that wherever I went there was always someone to talk to if I so desired.

I lost my closest friend a year ago,he was a mandolin player,now I am left out in the cold rain and snow with no one to play together with.

In my twenties, my wife and I were into competitive ballroom dancing, but it was so cliquey. You weren't supposed to talk to so & so, if they weren't of a certain standard. I remember regaling my brother with some of the tittle tattle. His love is golf, he told me that the more serious you get at the game, the more cliquey it becomes. Life's too short for such absurdities.
My wife and I got into the scene by going to some jive-dance event, there all these people dressed up in period clothing, it was amazing, we were both just mesmorised. That was about thirty years ago. Nowadays, we have a small circle of close friends, all into the same scene, but there is a much wider circle of, well if not actual friends, friendly associates. We go to dances, vintage fairs, retro weekenders. We shop at specialist outlets, we make our own. My wife has learned to style hair in various period styles, she and her hairdressing partner are in demand at a host of functions. The whole scene has become a way of life.
Last summer, we went to the Uk south coast town of Bournemouth, where they host an annual air show. The highlight of the show was a WW2 flypast of the RAF's iconic Spitfire, Hurricane & Lancaster bomber. With stars like that in the show, you have to look your 40's best. We stood out in a crowd of fifty thousand, dressed in trainers, jeans, T-shirts and hoodies, stood out? we kept getting asked if we were part of the show

No one I know likes vintage life like I do, not even my hubby, but he does like the slower, quieter pace of life I try to keep going on at home. He does like my clothing as he prefers the conservative side of things...he calls my dresses, "Mrs. Cleavers"!
I do wish I had a gal friend who liked vintage life close by, that would be fun!

A.C. Lyles said:

I would suggest taking a deep breath and going it alone to various events and before you know it you will have aquired groups of friends in any particular area of interest you desire. I've been doing such for years and have gained entry into dozens of circles of interests. To be honest, your present group of freinds sounds a bit stifling.

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WHAT HE SAID

It's okay to have friends who aren't as into "it" as you-- as long as they respect it. Hang with those with similar interests and your circle of friends will expand and be more diverse. I felt "alone" with my vintage interests until I moved to LA in '03 & discovered a whole world of people with varied levels of vintage/retro lifestyles & interests.

Toronto must have a scene- and thank goodness for the internet to find international friends. You'll go through life and outgrow people!! It's okay.

I'm generally an extroverted person (if I have small doses of people; put me in a crowd and I tend to gravitate towards the wall) and surround myself with very openminded people, but no, I don't really share that much in common with my friends. I have maybe one who really enjoys the music I listen to, and a handful like the more vintagey look, but in general I'm alone when it comes to my interests. It can be a little difficult at times, because the group of people I do find myself around are big on music and that's really something they socialize over, but I have very little interest in going to concerts or events of their flavor. I'm fine with that though, because truthfully I don't mind being alone that much. I don't need to be constantly doing something with others to be happy.

For the most part, no, not really. However, I was extremely lucky to have made a friend in elementary school who shares many of my interests. We've remained friends for the last 40 years (approximately) and have far more common interests and likes than uncommon interests and likes.

This is a very interesting topic! A lot of good things have been stated, like that it's more important sharing values than sharing interests. And that it's wise to concentrate on what you got in common better than concentrating on what separates you.

I don't have any friends who love vintage things as I do. My boyfriend likes vintage, but he doesn't love it. That should be enough for me. I don't have many friends, anyway. I'm more of an anti-social couch potato and try to think it's okay (sometimes I'm really content with that, sometimes I'm not). Seems I'm my best friend and companion. At times, I feel like a weirdo because of that, but reading all your comments makes me feel a bit less weird.

Someone wrote about getting in touch with people who share your interests by going to dance lessons. I tried everything to find a place to learn Boogie Woogie (the only thing they offer is that modern sporty "who bounces higher" rock'n'roll which I don't like much). What a pity!

Once a year, I and my man travel to a 3 days "oldies festival" with loads of music, cars, flea market and dressed up people. That lasts a few months...