jIMOh
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
This has been fun. Thanks to all of you for your responses. Let me reiterate several points.
1) For those of you who have asked - Yes, I really am an introvert and I have the MBTI scores to prove it .
2) It is clear that there are many people on this list who are more introverted than I - some by a large margin, apparently. I need to relay this to DW when she complains about my "misanthropic" tendencies.
3) Some of you seem to have missed the point - I also HATE GOING TO PARTIES, but by hosting one I can maintain enough control to make it, yes, enjoyable.
4) Related to the last, Saturday night I spent probably 75% of the evening in conversation with one person or a couple in rooms where there were no other people present. Control the environment!
5) I am reminded of a thread on public speaking and introversion. Several introverts reported that they could address crowds without being nervous, it was all about being in control of the situation. Similarly, in my last 2 j*bs, I sometimes had occasion to address large crowds. I felt NO apprehension in doing this, I knew what I was going to say and how I was going to say it. The networking that had to be done afterward, on the other hand, was brutal. I never had anything to say, I always felt like I was walking a tightrope and any verbal misstep would lead to disaster.
6) In short, it's all about control. By being in control, I can, once a year, throw a party that makes a lot of people happy. If it takes me a few days to decompress afterward, so what, I'm retired now and I don't have to talk to anyone if I don't want to.
I am a very outgoing introvert (most of my friends think I am an extrovert). I know where my energy comes from though...
I love public speaking and being an expert.
I do very well when presenting to groups of people I don't know- spoke to groups of 500+ at user groups and 10-30 plus on a regular basis for w*rk.
I don't do well speaking to groups of people I do know... for example presenting to colleagues makes me very very nervous/anxious.
I am an intovert which likes being in control, and if I am in control, I tend to find blissful peace with just about anything I do.
I definitely get where you are coming from...