DEAR ABBY: My fiance, "Gabriel," has a large network of friends who have known each other for a long time. We get together as a group a couple of times a month for birthdays, sports events, etc. Whenever we do, the men veer away into their own world of conversation, while we women are left to talk to each other and eat dips.
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Honestly, I dread it. These women are generally petty, hypersensitive and hard to talk to about anything of substance. We share no common interests in our jobs, musical tastes, television viewing, etc.
I don't want to skip the outings altogether because I have become good friends with the guys, and some of them will be in our wedding. But if I leave the women's table and join the men, I'm afraid I'll send a message that I'm clinging to Gabriel. That's not the case. It's that I prefer the men's conversation to what the women discuss.
Is there a solution? Must I learn to deal with what these women talk about? Can I join the men without the women thinking I'm a clingy fiancee? I would like to enjoy myself at these parties, even if it means breaking the social norm. -- BORED IN BUFFALO
DEAR BORED: Discuss this with Gabriel to see what advice he has to offer. I see no reason why you couldn't join the men. However, you should make a point of spending some time with the women so they won't get the impression that you are snubbing them.