Hermitude
Thursday, July 26th, 2007Right now I should probably be at my workplace’s Summer Party, but instead I’m staying in. I live about an hour away from there, and as it’s in London zone 1, I have to spend several quid to get there (which is okay when I’m actually being paid to be there).
That’s not the main reason that I’m not going, of course. I have not named this blog The Urban Recluse for no reason. I’m not going because I don’t want to suffer through tedious small talk with people who just see me as the Admin Monkey (no offence to administrators or monkeys).
I can imagine myself standing around on the outskirts of the gathering, nursing a glass of orange juice, my gaze constantly returning to the clock on the wall. Is it okay to leave after half an hour or an hour? I ask myself.
When the 59th minute finally approaches, I collect my jacket and head towards the exit.
“You’re not leaving now, are you? The fun is just beginning!” says some inebriated partygoer.
I mumble something about feeling unwell or having to meet someone, and slip away.
Why bother going in the first place?
9:56 pm on 26-Jul-07
I know exactly how you feel. I was very proud of myself last week when a friend/co-worker invited me to a big art fair in her city. My practice in the past was to claim another engagement, which basically meant lying. This time, I just said that I didn’t like crowds and left it at that. It was so nice to be honest about my introvert tendencies!
11:05 pm on 26-Jul-07
Sometimes it’s so difficult to be an introvert in a world of extroverts.
12:59 am on 27-Jul-07
I find that I like the people involved a little better if Idon’t go to these things. The discussions & behavior sometimes make me very angry/sad/disgusted.
3:04 am on 27-Jul-07
Feel exactly the same. I hate those things - always wish I could find a cranny somewhere and pull out a good book. It was liberating when I got to the point where I didn’t make excuses anymore but just said ‘no’ - to myself and to other people.
6:51 pm on 28-Jul-07
I’ve been to some pretty good work do’s, and some utterly crap ones too. I usually went when it was a good move to make from the point of view of office politics.
7:14 pm on 28-Jul-07
Thank you all for your comments.
Liane: I wish that there could be a designated reading corner at parties, it would save a lot of awkwardness, and could even be a place for starting conversation.
Nicholas: one of my concerns about missing the party was that it might have a negative impact on the way that I am seen at work, but I’ve decided not to care about that. Now I’d better start thinking of excuses not to go to the Christmas party!
(kidding, kinda…)