Joiner 

As mentioned in my previous post I live in an age restricted community.

There are many activities offered, from needle arts to pickleball. 

I’ve been living in the community for about two years.

Every once in a while, I scroll through the list of clubs I might be interested in.  

One time I did attend the weekly session of the knitting/crochet group.  I had met the leader of the group when I first moved in.

When I walked into the room that day, there was a group of about 25 women sitting around an L-shaped formation of two tables. They each had a project they were working on sitting in their lap. They were all chatting with each other as old friends who get together on a regular basis will do. 

I’m not sure how much knitting or crocheting was going on, though. 

The only person I recognized was the leader, the woman I had met before. She invited me to sit next to her.

 She and I chatted throughout the two hours.  Well, I should say she filled me in on the current gossip of the community. 

Now mind you, I’m not opposed to a juicy bit here and there, but it was a little uncomfortable when in hushed tones, she started to complain about certain other members of the group.

She told me that she originated the group about five years ago and decided that it would be nice to have refreshments at the meetings.  She proposed the idea and everyone was agreeable. 

The group decided that a nominal fee of $3.00 a month per member would be enough to cover snacks and such. In addition, at the end of each month there would be a themed fare.  Such as “Hello Spring” or “Happy Holiday”.

All sounded okay to me.

But, the leader, as most often happens, has been, in her words with a scoff, “stuck with getting the refreshments, setting up and cleaning up.  She also has to be the one to come up with ideas for the themed meetings. 

She subtly pointed out the members who rarely help and those who often forget to chip in the dues. 

I don’t know... there was something about the interaction, well mostly her monologue, that was off-putting. Was she looking for an assistant? Or maybe, for me, it was the thought of having to commit to something on a regular basis.  

That was the first and last time I attended the knitting group. 

It’s been my experience with groups that there are some who take the job of leader a little too seriously.

Perhaps one day I will find something suitable and the right fit for me. 

But for now, I guess I’m not much of a joiner. I’m okay with that.