Some people are social butterflies, flitting to one event after the other, collecting sweetness and spreading seeds of friendship. But many of us are caught up in our busy routines and we hardly find time to sit and visit with friends. We need a reason to linger, and we have to schedule those times on a calendar. Unfortunately, those are often the first to be pushed aside when something “mandatory” comes along. So schedule your gathering with friends at something more inflexible, something that can’t be pushed aside so easily. Try an event hosted by a club or a business that allows you plenty of time to chat with your oft overlooked friends and offers something else in the bargain. Here are a few suggestions, courtesy of the WEEKender.
For ladies only, St. Maarten Yacht Club (SMYC) hosts a monthly “Ladies Who Lunch” and it’s always a hoot! If a friend of yours has a SMYC membership and brings you as her guest, then you should definitely take advantage of this special event which takes place on the second Monday of each month. Sometimes the group dines right at SMYC and sometimes there is an outing planned. There have been excursions to the Etna ice cream production facility in Rambaud on the French side, to Loterie Farm and many other special sites across the island.
January’s instalment of Ladies Who Lunch turned out to be even more fun than normal as the group loaded up on the Celine II and toured around the Simpson Bay Lagoon for a couple of hours. Food was served in courses and there were plenty of beverages to lubricate the conversation. Want to join the fun? Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Another reason to linger can be found at the Amsterdam Cheese and Liquor Store on Juancho Yrausquin Blvd. #26 (next to Chesterfield’s Restaurant). About once a month, this interesting store holds a tasting event to promote special wines and cheeses, or sometimes rums and cheeses. It is a wonderful excuse to get together with friends. You gain knowledge about the products’ varieties and the influences that affect the outcome of wines, rums, cheeses and more. The price is super reasonable and afterwards you can purchase the bottles you liked. Best of all, you have time to talk with your friends, and to make new ones! To find out more about this, send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Other possibilities include the library’s many interesting events, Axum Art Café, and the shows offered regularly at Dreams International Art Gallery and Auction House. Any of these can be followed in the events section of facebook. But of course the important thing to consider in all of this is the sentiment that we cannot allow ourselves to be too busy to enjoy our friends and a bit of time to linger in relaxed conversation.
