I may be an extrovert, but I enjoy solitude, too.

[randomness]

I've always been a little bit skeptical of the strict introvert/extrovert duality. There's really no doubt that I personally display some of the classic extrovert characteristics. For example, I can be quite low-energy and ambivalent about going out to socialize, whether it be to a party or to dinner, but once I'm there, I generally become more energetic than when I arrived.

On the other hand, I definitely like having time to myself. I have quite a talent for making my own fun. How much of that is because of the particular circumstances of my childhood isn't clear to me, but I'm certainly good at it now. Many of my preferred leisure activities aren't really things I do with other people.

I was thinking about this tonight as I had a series of activities, starting with going out to dinner alone and ending up in a house in the suburbs with only the two cats for company. I'm not the first to observe that dining out alone is unusual. I do it quite a bit, particularly when travelling alone. While digitalemur teases me about being that Asian taking photos of dinner, I find that documenting my meal helps me focus on the food, even if I decide later the meal wasn't worth blogging about.

It was a bit odd doing my physical therapy while the orange tabby stared down at me from his perch on the arm of the couch, though.

Comments

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

I agree with your skepticism about that hard-line duality. For example, I become more or less introverted in my social life depending on the level of sociality required by my job; even over a two-week vacation, I saw myself become more extroverted with my friends when I didn't have to deal with smiling all day at assorted people, but when I had a job where I saw only the same ten people (eight of whom were twits) I was very extroverted socially.

I like dining alone too, even though I also love eating out with others. *contemplates photographing my dinners*

[digitalemur.livejournal.com]

I have thought of you taking pictures of food multiple times over the past couple of days, and have smiled fondly each time. I very nearly took a picture of my shawarma this evening, because you know how long I've been wanting shawarma.

[mizkit.livejournal.com]

I'm right there with you on the introvert/extrovert thing. It annoys the crap out of me, really.

[muffyjo]

I think it may come from mixing up the meanings. Introversion and extroversion has more to do with how you process information rather than whether or not you enjoy your own company. Extroverts process information on the fly and are invigorated by the influx. Introverts find "real time" processing a challenge and need more time to internalize it.

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

I find the easiest way to tell an introvert from an extrovert is that extroverts dispute the label :-).

Isn't that just obvious situational bias, though? You won't run into many introverts because they're only being dragged out into public, and then those who do won't participate in a dispute over the label. :)

Less flippantly, it's a multi-dimensional continuum of predisposition, preference, and presentation, much like gender. With fractal boundaries.

Indeed, we're in agreement here.

It's also like race.

[dianec42.livejournal.com]

I tend to think of these "dualities" as useful starting points. It's an interesting filter for those who aren't very self-aware, but once you've got that you hit the limits pretty quickly.

[digitalemur.livejournal.com]

Now you know how I feel, doing my PT while being stared at or better yet, pawed at, by critters!

It's happening here, too, only here it's a black cat and a brindle cat instead of an orange tiger and a tortie.