Are We Having Fun Yet?

For all that the early days of Covid were terrible, they did serve to bring certain areas of life into sharp focus. For me, the biggest area was what I considered “fun.” Anyone who knows me will tell you that I am not an extrovert. Still, I used to try to align my fun and entertainment with what the mainstream was doing. It’s no fun being left out of the conversation about current movies, attractions, and restaurants, so I would force myself to go places and do things that were supposed to be fun. I spent money accordingly, all the while asking, “Are we having fun yet?” because so much of it didn’t seem like fun to me. 

Covid changed all of that. Suddenly being an introvert was all I (or anyone) could do. There was no pressure to see first-run movies or try the latest dining spot. No pressure to go to parties or hotspots. And it was glorious. My natural tendency to hermit away was finally rewarded! But beyond just giving in to my desire to live in a cave, Covid really made me think about the fun and entertainment I am willing to pay for going forward. And the answer is, not much. 

Maybe it’s because I’m an introvert that so much of what seems fun to others is not fun to me. But I don’t think I’m alone. I think if more people really sat down and asked, “Are we having fun yet?” they would discover that much of what society calls fun is anything but, and their spending would drop accordingly. Even before Covid and the associated staff shortages and general nuttiness that have made many public places difficult, dangerous, or dirty, I found myself dissatisfied with most of the entertainment options around me. Some examples:

Movies? I love movies, but I don’t love paying a premium price to listen to some joker yap on the phone for two hours or have the texters in front of me light up the darkness with their screens. 

Restaurants? Even pre-Covid the service was poor in many places and it’s worse now. The food is often not worth the price you pay. I can make meals just as good at home for a fraction of the price. Add in the poor behavior from the public and the only remaining appeal of a restaurant is that someone else does the work and cleanup. And that’s not worth the premium price to me, at least not often.

Live music/theater/sports? I l enjoy live music, sports, and theatrical performances, but tickets are so expensive. And by the time I pay the extortionate fees and parking, the whole experience is soured for me. Couple that with the traffic and general poor behavior (at the last play I attended before Covid, the performers stopped the performance to ask for quiet because a group of people would not shut up), and I’m done before the event even gets started. 

Attractions? It depends on the type of attraction, but even those can be unfun. Museums can be ruined by poor public behavior, but at least they generally don’t cost too much to enter. Theme parks? I used to love them, but many have made so many cutbacks (even pre-Covid) that much of the value is lost. So many attractions have gone so far down in quality that they aren’t worth it. 

And so much more. I realize that this sounds like the ramblings of an old fart, and I’ll own that label. (Get off my lawn.) Perhaps it’s simply where I live, and maybe there are better options elsewhere. But Covid forced me to take stock of how I was spending my time and money and the takeaway, for me, is that much of what I believed was “fun” was anything but.

My limited experiences now that things are open again have only reinforced this. Service is so much worse in most places due to staffing shortages. People in general seem to be angrier and less courteous. Places are dirtier and options are greatly reduced. Any fun is long gone from most public spaces and my desire to spend has evaporated accordingly. 

But that’s okay. I’ve realized once and for all that I don’t need to force myself to have society’s definition of fun. I knew this pre-Covid, but I often gave in to peer pressure and did whatever the group was doing on any given night. But now? I’m far pickier about my fun, and more willing to suggest alternatives. 

Instead of eating out, why don’t we do a potluck? Or a picnic in the park? That way no one person has to assume responsibility for all the food. Instead of movies at a theater, why don’t we set up the outdoor screen in warm weather? For sports, why don’t we try the minor league team instead of the major league? The experience is less costly and more intimate. Instead of bars, can we choose a cocktail night at home, or at least drinks at an intimate pub where we don’t have to shout at each other? 

Just applying some conscious thought to the fun process makes a world of difference because it isn’t just about the money. Yes, it’s nice to save money in a general sense, but even if money were no object, I’m tired of paying to be dumped on. I’m much more conscious of the value of fun, and there’s no value in a poor experience. It’s ceased to be about quantity and more about quality, about avoiding frustration and anger. Fun should be good for mental health, not make me want to stab the person in the next booth with my fork. 

Even if you’re an extrovert and you crave “mainstream” fun, ask yourself if whatever you’re doing is really fun. Are you really having a great time? Is it really worth the price you’re paying, or are there other things you’d rather be doing with that money? Or are there different ways of accomplishing the same thing? For example, there is a theater in town that shows first-run movies, but they have a zero-tolerance policy for phone use. The policy is on the ticket. Violate it and you’re out. If I have to see a first-run movie, that’s where I’m going. It costs more, but I know I’ll have a good experience. 

If whatever you’re doing is super fun for you and you can afford it, by all means, carry on. Don’t let this old fart introvert tell you what to do! But if you feel like you’re spending money for the privilege of being treated poorly, maybe it’s time to reevaluate your fun. There are plenty of ways to spend time with friends and family that don’t involve going out to costly venues and subjecting yourself to bad behavior. Rethinking and re-strategizing your fun can be good for your wallet, and your sanity. 

Read More:

• How to Save Money on Your Entertainment
• 10 Less Obvious Family Entertainment Ideas
• Should We Cut Out Entertainment During Difficult Financial Times?
• Tips to Save Money While Still Having Fun

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Jennifer Derrick

Jennifer Derrick is a freelance writer, novelist and children’s book author.  When she’s not writing Jennifer enjoys running marathons, playing tennis, boardgames and reading pretty much everything she can get her hands on.  You can learn more about Jennifer at: https://jenniferderrick.com/.