Spontaneity | Pad Patter 9.30

Oh my gosh, Jan, that sounds like so much fun!! Even though you're looking at things undone, I'll bet you're really glad you went! My motto is "they'll be there (chores) when I get back". I was totally spontaneous when I was younger and still am pretty spontaneous. I remember, once, some friends just stopped by and asked us to go out to dinner with them. I had dinner in the oven and when they saw that, they figured we'd say "no". I said, we'll have it tomorrow night - I'll have the kids put it in the fridge when it cools off. Let's go to dinner. They laughed about that for years, because the woman (wife) was not spontaneous at all. Her husband said, at the time, "Judy would never do this! I think it's great that you have that attitude."

 

Yes! I would have done that. I'm like Cheryl -- the chores will wait. And I'm pretty good with being flexible and going with the flow. Glad you had fun!

 

Depends. If I've already got my mind set on doing some "me" time stuff like scrapping or reading OR if I'm not feeling very "peopley" I would probably decline. But if the timing is right and I have no introverted plans, I have been known to be spontaneous.

 

Not really, but now I'm wishing I had been more spontaneous with my kids. It was rather hard when one was a skater and the other a scout, their time being highly scheduled. But it definitely would've made me be a lot less stuffy with them!

 

I'm not very spontaneous but I do make an effort to not automatically say "no" so much and ask myself "why not?" before I decide. I am an introvert so I kind of have to mentally prepare myself to go out and do stuff -- which makes it harder to just pick up and go spontaneously. I know exactly what you guys mean by not feeling "peopley".

 

I was very routine/scheduled in the past. Very uptight, didn't budge as much, and stuck to my guns. Now, I think about it, and talk myself into it! As my kids get older I plan less, and we fly by the seat of our pants more often. I would have done the same as you! I am like Dawn that I have to get myself ready, but I know that I usually will have a good time, and weekends are perfect for doing stuff, and having a day to recuperate, lol! Plus, people make the difference - if I like them, then it's all "Let's Go," and if not, then I might lean toward the no more or add some rules, lol! (like we need to leave at xxx).

 

I definitely lean more towards being a planner and struggle with fly by the seat of my pants plans... especially during the years that required me to find a sitter for my boys. That was sometimes more work than it was worth if someone wanted to go out randomly. Now that my boys are old enough to leave alone, I'm MUCH better and winging it. Sounds like you chose wisely and what a fun idea for an amusement park to do a Halloween theme. I'd love that!

 

^^^this^^^ Before kids I liked being spontaneous, or simply saying "Yes" to things. Heck, it didn't even seem like "being spontaneous": it just seemed like "doing stuff" lol!

 

I’m definitely NOT spontaneous, but the best decisions I’ve made in my life were the spontaneous ones. Such as my one year in Canada: I had decided to do this but it took so long to find a match with a job, I had already given up. Then I got the call on Friday, had to decide that day (home alone, of course) and flew on Monday.
I really should do it more often. I really try but my introverted mind and autistic traits (I’m not diagnosed but I’m definitely above average) don’t help me in this.

 

My oldest has conditioned me to be spontaneous because she is last minute everything, so that's when I'm notified about things. On the other hand, my younger one lets me know way in advance and is a bit of a planner. I go both ways when needed.

 

Nope! We are a planny-plannerson team here! The hubs & I are both type-a sort of personalities. The biggest spontaneous thing we do is usually a local unplanned dinner or gathering with friends. lol!

 

Same. If it's one of those lazy weekends that I don't want to be bothered, I might not have went. However, you can't beat a little family time. Sounds like you had fun Jan

 

I'm always up for ditching the household chores for something more enjoyable. If I get a phone call with an invite to go somewhere or do something, I rarely turn it down. The chores will be always be there but the memories won't.

 

Being autistic, spontaneity causes me anxiety. I always need some warning and planning when possible.

 

It's funny, I am really not good with change--I mean like really not good. I carry medication for anxiety in my backpack. But, I am known for spontaneous family trips. Our 1st San Diego trip was booked the night before. A couple of weeks ago, I rounded up the males & we had a day out in San Francisco. There was a streetcar celebration & we got to ride on a 100yr old streetcar. I do that a lot when we have free time. I go to sf.funcheap.com & see what's going on in the area. We've done all kinds of neat stuff, like the steam festival with really old steam powered machines. Maybe I'm only spontaneous with family outings, I'm not sure.