Waiting for the "Uh-oh..."

So, as a thirty-something dad who works full time and does some other stuff that uses my remaining free moments, I've become a tad insular. My days tend to consist of waking up (not having had enough sleep), going to work, driving home, playing with my daughter, putting her to bed, throwing some food down my face and then crashing out into bed. Aaaaand... repeat. 

Now this is fine - I don’t feel like I’m necessarily missing out on anything. I love my family and have some excellent friends. But I realise I don’t get put out of my comfort zone anymore, and I don’t meet new people. My thought for the week, however, is whether some of this is my own doing. I realise that I've become exceedingly private and don’t put myself out there. I’m still pleasant and sociable to people, but don’t make any particular effort to make new relationships. 

People in the UK seem to do this as a matter of course. I know (very superficially) my neighbours on each side of my home but move two doors away in either direction and I wouldn't recognise the people living there from a choice of one. That’s weird, isn't it? I spend all my time when I’m at home within ten metres of these people. We live, breathe, eat, drink, laugh and sleep together, within speaking distance, and each has no idea that the other exists. 

Some new neighbours moved in across the road recently, and came round to introduce themselves to the whole street, house by house (something I've never experienced before). They even had a house warming party that they invited everyone to. I made a pact with myself to go and had a very pleasant time when I did despite noticing how few of the street actually made the effort to turn up. Since then my family and I have been getting on well with them and I hope we can be good friends. But I find myself waiting...

... for the “Uh-oh...”

The "Uh-oh..." could come at any point and from any direction. It could be when the conversation turns to politics, religion, ethics, music, parenting, driving - anything. What if it turns out we disagree massively on a particular issue? What if they turn out to be steadfastly homophobic, aggressively racist, or fundamentally religious? How would we traverse these issues without it getting weird? How would I break it to them that, potentially, the "Uh-oh..." could be a deal breaker and we have to stop hanging out? 

I think this is why most of us keep to ourselves - to avoid this potential issue. Or, (more worrying), is it just me? I realise that I do this all the time. And it's getting to the point when I refrain from letting people in just in case this occurs. Which is insane. So - I'm going for it with this lot. There's nothing so far that gives me cause for concern. Let's just see how it goes.

It's going to be hard not to be on the lookout, though...