The other.

A single friend was none too happy at 'losing' a regular movie buddy, who has been spending all her time with the new man. She asked if couples had no wish to continue socialising with other friends. I thought that couples spend most (but not ALL) of their time in each other's company -- after all, this is your Significant Other for a good reason. And this exclusive arrangement works for certain people -- introverts who don't usually socialise much. Anyhow, the new couple is still in the honeymoon phase and most probably just need a bit more time before they settle into their 'normal' routines again.

(Perhaps it's just that her friend had managed to hook up with someone from the same outing that both girls had attended, while she hadn't.)

Is there a social etiquette to observe when a Significant Other makes an appearance? Does one graciously make way for one more person in the social booth? Is there an unspoken agreement about the honeymoon phase, and that even after the hormones have settled, the regular nights/weekends spent hanging out together might now have to become weekly or fortnightly outings, supplemented with emails and phonecalls?

Would you begrudge your friend (for whatever reasons) your 'lonely' nights/weekends?

- - - - - - - - - -

Time flies, doesn't it? Three more months to the end of the year.