The Sociable Introvert

A few kind folk have voiced to me their concerns about me being ‘lonely’ now that now I am a home person/ housewife/keeper of my own company/ employment drop out. And yes, my interactions with fellow human beings has fallen, nay plummeted, since I left my teaching job almost six weeks ago. I have gone from working in an environment with lots of people to one where, if I stayed home all week, the only people I would see would be our lovely neighbours in passing (they are retired but have full on social lives) and the chap who delivers the veg box on a Tuesday.

But does that matter to me? At the moment, no. I am enjoying being in my own company, with cats, chickens and the radio for background noise (if I want it), furry snuggles and eggs (when I can find them.) When I do go out (because I do go out!) I can reassure myself people are still out there and the zombie apocalypse hasn’t happened whilst I’ve been doing my own thing in a home surrounded by fields.

Talking of eggs...here is where Mollie is currently laying, amongst some foxgloves. I found her nest because Tootsie was watching over her whilst she was laying yesterday shouting, ‘She’s here! Laying eggs in here!’ He does have his uses. Sometimes.

I’ve started frequenting the library again. There is a ‘stitch and chat’ group there on a Friday afternoon. I might pop into that, see what’s occurring. I could take a particularly difficult cross stitch I’ve just started which requires one to use a single thread each of two separate colours in some places. Who does that, for goodness’ sake?? It’s fiddly enough separating embroidery floss as it is, without then having to unite it with another colour. The chart is incomprehensible in places, too. I could get a name for myself in the group as ‘that angry woman who swears at her sewing.’ 

I chat to a couple of blogging friends on Messenger. I occasionally chat to people on the landline. I email old friends from way back and they email me. I FaceTime family. This form of communication seems to suit my social introversion. I have even joined a pen pal site called ‘Slowly’. It was a bit dodgy to start with as I kept getting messages from ‘serving soldiers in the US army’, all of whom had been ‘tragically widowed’ (wife lost in a car crash’ seemed popular) but were gallantly looking after their small offspring and were seeking ‘ladies’ with whom to form ‘friendships’ and could I send my email so they could send ‘some photos?’ Ha! And pah!! Not on your life, you weirdo. It’ll be a Ugandan prince next, with exciting news about a lottery win, please send bank details.  So I reset my filters to women over 35 and am now swapping chatty letters with other social introverts from Sweden and Germany. 

Ask me again in a month or so, and I might be going stir crazy for company. I’ve thought about starting an arts and crafts group like the one I started just before we moved here (terrible timing...🙄)  or joining a book group or yoga or something, because it’s good for humans to be in company with each other. We are social animals, after all -  like guinea pigs. And it is good to share face to face chat and cake with someone who has become a new friend. Oh, but overcoming my introversion to do so. There’s the rub...

At the moment though, please be rest assured I am happy. But if you are passing by, please drop in. There’s always cake in the tin and tea in the pot.