We have lost the art of the pop-in. I petition we revive it

September 16, 2026 — 5:00pm

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On a recent trip I happened to be driving through the suburb where an old friend lives. It was an average Thursday, at about 4pm.

Mikayla welcomed her first baby this year and, still being on maternity leave, I figured she was likely home. Even if she wasn’t, I had nothing but a few minutes to lose. So I decided to pop in and see her.

The pop-in is an unplanned visit to someone’s house without notice. It’s reminiscent of the time before mobile phones, when you couldn’t ask if someone was home while you were already out and about. Instead, you’d rock up unannounced and try your luck.

Ask any twenty-something, or thirty-something for that matter, when was the last time they made such a detour and you’ll likely receive a blank stare. It’s a lost art but one in desperate need of a revival amid our current crisis of loneliness and social isolation. It won’t solve these things but it will help.

Take, for instance, how difficult it is to make plans with friends as adults. The internet is full of articles on how to schedule time with your mates like it’s a business meeting, and memes about how........

© WA Today