DEAR ABBY: A couple moved next door several years ago. My wife and I were welcoming and did some socializing with them (dinners, festivals, parties). We soon realized that we have little in common with them. When we’re together, the conversation is so difficult it is exhausting. They are nice people, but we no longer enjoy doing things with them.
The problem is, how do we make this clear to them? We have declined numerous invitations and offers to spend time together, but they are persistent. They have many other friends and contacts, so loneliness isn’t the issue. How can we get the message across without being rude? We are running out of excuses. — OUT OF EXCUSES IN THE SOUTH
