Socializing

[prunella]

Warning: I love this thread!   
I may have done the nerdy thing of providing too many details. Likely, this post is the extent of my social interaction for the day.   

One of my best friends and constant companions is NPR (National Public Radio).  I contribute to our local station and love the relationship that offers intelligent conversation that I don't have to participate in.

By nature, I have always been introverted, preferring my own company much of the time, but not always. Now I have even less energy to do social stuff.  I like to work in my gardens and have some fiber arts hobbies. I can spend tons of time in my studio making felt from wool, listening to audiobooks.

BTW: I think of introverts not as anti-social, but as people who "recharge their batteries" by being alone.  Extroverts get energy from interacting with others.
I wonder if other Sjogies would agree.  I am not sure whether I think one's intro/extro tendencies are fundamental to their nature or change over time. 
I do know that I interact sociably with others at work, go home feeling tired, hate to use the phone  for chatting, and do not feel a need to do social things at night.

The idea of meeting social needs by joining structured, purposeful groups, such as a book group, or committee is great because timeframes for meeting are usually clear cut and time limited.   It reduces the need to decline invitations or to attend events that seemed like a good idea on a day when you felt well. 

I never imagined myself doing this, because I don't usually enjoy card games. But I belong to a mahjong group that meets approximately monthly.  I live 45 minutes away and haven't hosted yet, because the thought of hosting is overwhelming. I try to bring good food to the potluck that always precedes the games.  On mahjong days, usually a Saturday night, I have to pace myself and save up "battery power" for the drive and the gathering. Sometimes I have had to cancel due to fatigue.

I have a few women friends, who I see every few months. And there are two couples that we (DH and I) occasionally meet for meals out. DH and I used to bike ride with one of the couples, but they have surpassed our energy levels. DH and I walk  nearly every day with our dogs.  We also try to take bike rides, but that depends on energy levels.   DH is taciturn by nature, seldom initiating social events.  I doubt that I could be married to an extrovert.

No large events in my life.  But I never was a schmoozer. 

[Jellyb]

Hi there,
This thread hits home with me on so many levels.

I used to be the one who was always cooking and entertaining. Good food, wine, music and friends over at least twice a month. Not to mention the additional hungry teenagers always an extra one at the dinner table.

But about eight years ago I started to get tired, and not care about all that. I just didnt have the energy anymore. I know staying at home gets is difficult for my husband and he would like me to have people over again. But I just dont have it in me anymore.