You liked them. They seemed to like you. You talked for long enough that somebody eventually had to say goodbye.
"We should do this again."
And then neither of you did.
Not every promising conversation becomes a friendship. But sometimes there was simply no next time. You both went home to lives already in progress, and seeing each other again became another thing to arrange.
A shared class became two calendars. The hallway became a text. The casual run-in became a plan someone had to make.
It helps to have somewhere you can keep showing up, without starting the planning from scratch each time.
This week's Trail Tale looks at ten things that can get in the way of adult friendship, and a small thing to try for each. Not ten things wrong with you. Ten places to look before deciding that is the explanation.
Let's dive in. 🧡
Sacramento brought the sunshine and a whole lot of personality. ☀️
Aveiro spent a sunny Saturday together, on the walk and beyond. 🧡
Seven new faces joined Columbus for walk #57, with the first autumn colors along for the walk. 🍂
(Don't see your city? We share more photos on Instagram and in each Meetup group. Otherwise this email would be longer than a CVS receipt.)
🏆 Sacramento's Saturday ended on the dance floor.
Megan and a few Sacramento walkers met up again Saturday night for a salsa class and the social dancing afterward.
Five miles in the morning. Salsa at night. A full Saturday. 🧡
🏆 Cheryl has a new home in Aveiro.
At lunch after the Aveiro walk, Cheryl shared a recent milestone: moving into her new home in the city.
Congratulations on the new chapter, Cheryl! 🧡
Why making friends as an adult feels so hard
Meeting someone is one thing. Finding a way to keep seeing them is another.
Ten common obstacles, from mismatched free time to invitations nobody sends, and a small thing you can try for each. No personality overhaul required.
Meet Ryan Atkinson.
Ryan is the founder and CEO of Spacebar Visuals, a video marketing agency that helps SaaS and tech companies explain what they do in a way people actually understand. At 24, he left his full-time job to focus on the agency. He also hosts entrepreneur interviews for UpFlip.
We talk about what he wanted settled before making that move, why he started asking what he wanted his life to look like, and how travel and a Steve Jobs biography widened what seemed possible for a kid from a small Iowa town.
Watch or listen: YouTube · Spotify · Apple Podcasts · Substack.
Recently on The Board Walks:
If there were a box of everything you have ever lost, what would you look for first? (Sacramento)
Which person who is no longer alive would you most want to meet? (Nashville)
How do you keep something familiar from going stale? (Columbus)
When is doing nothing exactly what you need? (London)
How do you build friendships in a new city? (Aveiro)
Screenshot these. Steal with pride. Bring one to your next dinner party to shift the conversation from "meh" to marvelous.
Quick hits:
💬 What keeps getting in the way?
Is it distance, mismatched schedules, or being too tired by the time the evening finally opens up? Hit reply and tell us what makes seeing people harder than it sounds. No names needed.
🌍 Know a natural host?
The person who makes an introduction and notices who is still standing at the edge may have more hosting experience than they think. Send them our host application. They do not need to be the loudest person in the group.
📸 Send us your Saturday.
Have a favorite photo or a milestone from your chapter? Hit reply and send it our way, with the city and a little context. Make sure anyone pictured is comfortable having it shared.
Give the conversation a next time.
The Board is our application-only private community, built to give good conversations somewhere to continue, even when you live in different cities.
Monthly Salons bring members together around a theme. Spontaneous one-to-one Spark Calls make room for a quick conversation when you are both online. Bring a question, celebrate a win, or talk through a decision. You can get to know people over time without organizing a gathering every time.
One less plan to build from scratch.
Saturday morning. Five miles. Free, in 20+ cities.
Come on your own or invite someone you have been meaning to see. Phones away, an opening circle, then time to walk beside people. Bring something on your mind, and check the local meeting point and route before you RSVP.
See you Saturday,
Elle & Cameron Hogan
Founders of The Board Walks
