My old neighbour was a WW2 veteran and on the HMS Achilles and he could tell stories, sometimes had to shorten the conversation politely.
He lived in his house proudly until the last few months, you didn't want to try his cooking
Our family grew close to the old bugger and saw him up ladder a few times so would do want needed to be done.
One morning saw him motionless outside his front door thinking he had meet his maker only to wake him up and call ambulance.
He died at the age of 96 a few years before his wife but on the same day and saw so many of his mates drop away.
Another neighbour in her seventies was just a unhappy and known as "lemon lips".
As before in the thread its about your personality and seeing the glass half full.
I was going to move for work until found out my partner was pregnant and hard to move when her parents were 10 minutes away and her mum was former teacher an so good with grandkids, my mum was also reasonably close.
I understand how hard it is to visit relatives but important to invest time in family.
Its not until you become a parent that you appreciate your parents and all they did for you.
As your parents get older you end up being the parent and need to sort out power of attorney and when they get sick put your big boy pants on and visit them, Now my daughter has lost both grans and realise the quality time we had.
Point is suck it up, be polite and keep conversation positive and sometimes to the point.
Agree sharing a meal is good.
Most important make the most of every day.
Dr Phil over and out
