Maybe someday I will figure out when it is appropriate to just say no and forget about something. I hope!

I joined what I thought was a social club, without doing a lot of research ahead of time. The membership application had a place where you could check off areas of interest for committee participation. I stupidly checked some off and wound up being signed up for those committees.

Long story short, I wish I hadn't signed up before I went to my first meeting. The people were nice enough, but much, much older. It's a senior citizen's club. I am the only person under 70.

Now one committee wants to meet before the next social meeting and another committee wants to meet after. One of the committees wants to meet to discuss when we can have our next meeting! I suggested we decide that via email, but no one responded.

I just wanted to go to lectures and have coffee with people who had the same interests. I don't really want to devote more time to this group. I am mildly interested in some of their volunteer projects, but I really shouldn't be committing to more unpaid work. I don't see this group broadening my social or professional network.

I am tempted to just tell them that my work schedule has changed and I can no longer make their middle-of-the-workday meetings or participate in any committees.

Why is it so hard for me to do this? I really don't get it sometimes.