The Gym is not a social place

[pacificwar]

You would think that a group of people that get together, on a regular or a fairly regular schedule, would actually engage in some sort of socialization, but after so many years I have found that this is not the case.
Unless, of course, you already work out with your established friends.

Maybe it's just me and I need more of a social outlet since I am an extrovert.
And, of course most of the gym activity is done in isolation and focus and concentration are required with no interaction except with oneself and/or piece of equipment or apparatus.

In my gym, the men's sauna is a great place for socialization, but I assume it is because of the confined space. Some of the older gentlemen spend a lengthy time "hanging" out there, no sexual pun intended.

[digger]

In an episode of Will and Grace (no hate mail, please), someone calls the gym Gay Church. Although that was meant as a joke, I rather like the similitude.

While I don't chit chat all night long at the gym, I do know a lot of people there by name and more by face (they get a quick "hi" or a nod of the head). And there is enough restrained chit chat within some inner circles for us to know the latest news and dramas in each others' lives.

A few of us socialize a little outside of the gym, but not often. Mostly it's lifting partners. And there is more texting with these closer friends than actual face time. (I'd have no problem inviting some of them to Thanksgiving.

But I don't go to church (I'd be the world's worst atheist if I did) and the social network at the gym does a nice job of replacing the connections that other folks get from their weekly church gatherings. We just chat between sets surrounded by weights instead of in a fellowship hall and it's several nights a week instead of once a week.