Social Butterfly
I had a realization the other night. Actually I suppose it was closer to two weeks back now that I think on the matter really hard for a bit. The realization something to the effect that I really do crave the interaction of other people. I do not really think that I am truly some kind of social butterfly or anything, but I do enjoy having other people around. It is that reason more than any other that I tend to go through occasions in life where I spend so much of my times hanging around in bars and the like.
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy a good dark or red beer on most occasions, cider is good for lighter refreshment and I will almost never turn down a good, well aged, smooth sipping bourbon over ice – or even a not so good one with a splash of coke. But my realization was that I don’t go to the bar so much to actually drink, but rather to be around people. So what ends up happening is over a few hours of sitting in a bar, one feels obligating to purchasing a drink or two – it is in my mind as much a courtesy as anything. I am occupying a space I should allow the bar and especially the bar staff, to generate a bit of revenue from my being there. Of course, it can not be overlooked that most of the times in my life when I have most craved that human interaction has been shortly after something has happened with a romantic partner – so having a drink seems like a natural thing to do.
An interesting thing about this tough, especially interesting to folks that know me and interact with on regular occasion. Most folks know that I tend to be, well dominant in a lot of circles of group interaction. However, sometimes I tend to kind of zone out and just observe the social interactions, almost like having a running commentary in my head of what is going on around me. In almost any situation where I don’t really know people, but I am just there, I almost always slip into that mode. I know I do that in meetings sometimes, more as a un-realized wait and pounce at the capital moment kind of thing – and I suppose that is some of what is happening when I am out. Kind of like I am waiting and watching to see just what of person are around me and how to best interact with them if the need arises.
Anyway, so far, this has nothing to do with my realization. The big realization is that I can get almost as much of the same kind of pseudo from a distance social interaction from sitting around with coffee and the computer in a coffee shop. The same can be had sitting at a live musical event at the park with Bitzer – though when she is involved there tends to be more direct interaction of her begging to be petted and more than a fair number of willing participants. Heck, I even realized that having one drink while sitting on a patio chair in front of a bar on a busy street was just about as interesting as it gets as far as people watching and observing is concerned – and Bitzer is allowed there too.
So where I am this Friday eve? Sitting in a coffee shop, extreme amounts of warm dark caffeinated brew, with live music of a folk sounding fellow, doing some original and some covers. A fair number of folks around and I am half absorbed in blogging and half absorbed in people watching – could it get much better? Well, sure – as I said somewhere else – if I had a blue-eyed blond babe sitting here enjoying it with me – but it is about as good as it gets short of that addition.
