We always seem to have the same debates whenever we plan a social gathering:

Do we invite the guys? We hardly see eachother, but we want to get to know the boys and for the boys to get to know eachother.

If we don't invite the guys, what do we do about our gay friends who we consider girlfriends?

What do we do about the girlfriend who has the annoying significant other?

Any thoughts?

Funny, after getting together with some friends for many years we have kinda fell into some habits.

There are some friends that you just leave the guys out. The spouses or boyfriends just don't seem to add anything to the group, or they don't click like the girls do.

With some groups we will do a little of both. For the most part the girls get together, and occasionally decide to do something that the guys would enjoy too. It is good to get to know the spouses, or boyfriends because when the girls talk we can get a better picture because we know the guys a little better first-hand.

Then there are some groups that are typically couples all the time. I guess it depends on how the group knows each other.

Wait until you have kids. Then you decide to take the kids for the get-togethers and it becomes a family thing. Which works too!

Then when they are teens they no longer want to go unless they think one of the kids in the group is "hot" or worth their time. That is when you have to get into convincing the teen the family outing is worth it. Sometimes it isn't, and you find yourself going full-circle and getting together with just the adults again.

Have fun deciding how to work it!