{"schemaVersion":"1.0","guide":{"id":"quarterly-friendship-check-in","title":"A quarterly catch-up with room for real conversation","published":true,"publishedOn":"2026-10-10","collection":"traditions","label":"Traditions worth repeating","setting":"anywhere","description":"Choose a quiet setting and a small group for a catch-up that goes beyond quick updates. Share prompts in advance, with permission to skip any question; the gathering should support friendship without becoming an amateur therapy session.","tags":["traditions","traditions","quarterly","friendship","check","in"],"answer":"Choose a quiet setting and a small group for a catch-up that goes beyond quick updates. Share prompts in advance, with permission to skip any question; the gathering should support friendship without becoming an amateur therapy session.","duration":"Suggested: About an hour","budget":"Optional refreshments within a cap","budgetDetail":"Optional refreshments within a cap. Agree the total before purchases or bookings. This is a planning suggestion, not a live price or availability quote.","goodFor":"Small rituals with shared effort and an easy way to come back.","considerInstead":"A casual activity with conversation alongside. Less direct reflection, which may suit friends who dislike formal check-ins.","options":[{"name":"A quarterly catch-up with room for real conversation","fit":"Take turns listening and ask before offering advice or moving to a personal topic.","cost":"Optional refreshments within a cap","tradeoff":"Do not record, pressure disclosure or share another person's story afterward."},{"name":"A casual activity with conversation alongside","fit":"Less direct reflection, which may suit friends who dislike formal check-ins.","cost":"Confirm any food, travel, supplies or entry costs for this alternative.","tradeoff":"Agree the change with the people joining before replacing the main plan."}],"steps":[{"label":"Before inviting","title":"Choose the practical details","detail":"Agree on time, privacy and whether food is part of the plan."},{"label":"The shared part","title":"Give the activity room","detail":"Take turns listening and ask before offering advice or moving to a personal topic."},{"label":"A good ending","title":"Finish at the agreed pace","detail":"End with one optional way to stay in touch between gatherings."}],"details":[{"heading":"If the first version doesn't fit","text":"A casual activity with conversation alongside. Less direct reflection, which may suit friends who dislike formal check-ins."}],"checks":["Do not record, pressure disclosure or share another person's story afterward.","Confirm the date, meeting point or call link, and spending with everyone before committing."],"faq":[{"question":"What should we arrange first?","answer":"Agree on time, privacy and whether food is part of the plan."},{"question":"What is an alternative to this plan?","answer":"A casual activity with conversation alongside. Less direct reflection, which may suit friends who dislike formal check-ins."}],"sourceIds":[],"related":["friendiversary-small-ritual","first-cool-evening-autumn-tradition","first-summer-picnic-tradition"],"seed":"A quarterly catch-up with room for real conversation. Agree on time, privacy and whether food is part of the plan. Date and time still to agree.","modifiedOn":"2026-10-10","reviewAfter":"2027-04-10","situations":[],"taxonomy":{"collection":"traditions","activities":["Time to catch up"],"company":"Friends","format":"In person","occasion":"A recurring ritual"},"images":[{"src":"https://www.hanglater.com/guide-photos/real-tea-2.jpg","alt":"A teapot and cups on a wooden table","caption":"A teapot and cups on a wooden table · illustrative photograph","credit":"Thomas Berg from Oslo, Norway","source":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cup_of_green_tea_and_tea_pot_on_table.jpg","license":"CC BY-SA 2.0","licenseUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0","width":960,"height":638},{"src":"https://www.hanglater.com/guide-photos/real-dinner-0.jpg","alt":"A table set with plates, glasses and flowers","caption":"A table set with plates, glasses and flowers · illustrative photograph","credit":"Annie Spratt anniespratt","source":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Elegant_dinner_table_(Unsplash).jpg","license":"CC0","licenseUrl":"http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/deed.en","width":960,"height":1442},{"src":"https://www.hanglater.com/guide-photos/real-bread-0.jpg","alt":"Fresh bread and butter on a table","caption":"Fresh bread and butter on a table · illustrative photograph","credit":"Brooke Cagle brookecagle","source":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fresh_Bread_and_Butter_(Unsplash).jpg","license":"CC0","licenseUrl":"http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/deed.en","width":960,"height":640}],"url":"https://www.hanglater.com/ideas/quarterly-friendship-check-in","startUrl":"https://www.hanglater.com/groups/new?guide=quarterly-friendship-check-in&idea=A+quarterly+catch-up+with+room+for+real+conversation.+Agree+on+time%2C+privacy+and+whether+food+is+part+of+the+plan.+Date+and+time+still+to+agree.","sources":[],"evidence":"Original editorial planning suggestions. Durations and budgets are suggested choices. Not live inventory, a booking or a completed outing.","access":"Anyone can read. Creating a room follows existing organizer-access requirements."}}