Are you a party person?

[Lizzie]

I loved parties in my teens and early twenties, I went out partying most nights of the week (and I was a nurse, so I can't believe now that I had the energy). However, as others have posted, as I got older I enjoyed them less and less. When I was married, in my late twenties and into my late thirties, we threw many parties and dinner parties. I thoroughly enjoyed planning them, organizing everything, cooking, making my home hospitable, but with the first ring of the doorbell I'd wish I was the "help" and not the hostess. However, my then husband was extremely sociable and came into his own at that point. It was really good team work.

I'm perfectly comfortable meeting strangers and don't have trouble starting a conversation, but I do find large gatherings boring so I avoid them as much as I can. A dinner party for about six is the best kind of social gathering for me.

I appreciated Lisa's remark about introverts and extroverts. I'm an introvert and definitely need to be alone to recharge. I'm half-way through a two week home holiday at present and really enjoying it. The only people I've talked to over the past 11 days are those at the shelter for about an hour last weekend and the techs at the vet hospital for half-an-hour. Of course, the fact that I've adopted 8 cats over the past 3 weeks or so has kept me very busy. How can I want to socialize with people when I'm so busy getting to know them?!

[jenluckenbach]

Ah Debbie (sirrahbed) your description could also be me! (I left in the parts that are 100% me)

I am very uneasy around folks I don't know and crowds make me climb into a shell. .........I will ask a question or make a comment and it does not seem to get answered........For me, this is almost a phobia I think....I become really anxious..... I am often afraid I will say something stupid and I get tongue-tied when I talk.

But it is sure nice to hear about those who can talk to anyone any time. I sure wish I could be like that, at least sometimes.

[BitsyNaceyDog]

I don't like parties at all. Justin and I have a weekly game night with our best friends and I'm fine doing that but not real parties. Our best friends are like family, actually we're both more comfortable with them than we are our 'real' family.

I always have a big anxiety attack before hosting a party, but I do prefer that to being a guest at someone else's party. When I host a party I'm in control of who's invited, and what goes on at the party. Our parties are usually outside around the fire pit. It's very casual and the dogs love all the attention everyone gives them.

I am very much of an introvert and a homebody.

Plus, I am very uneasy around folks I don't know and crowds make me climb into a shell. In fact, I don't even like shopping and avoid it most of the time. I was just telling hubby about something that happens to me....I will ask a question or make a comment and it does not seem to get answered. He says I just talk too quietly For me, this is almost a phobia I think....I become really anxious and all of the sounds seem to run together. I am often afraid I will say something stupid and I get tongue-tied when I talk.

For me, this is almost disabling because I avoid most social settings and I wish I did not do this.

I try to just accept the way I am and not worry too much. I have been this way as long as I can recall. I do fine in a work setting but not socially.

That is me. I know exactly what you mean about not getting acknowledged when you say something, it happens to me all the time. However I do worry about it, in fact I often have an anxiety attack before leaving the house.

It is a phobia. I've been dealing with Social Anxiety Disorter pretty much my whole life, though wasn't diagnosed with it until I was 16. As a kid I was labeled as "shy", but it was a lot more than that.

I appreciated Lisa's remark about introverts and extroverts. I'm an introvert and definitely need to be alone to recharge.

When Justin and I are out and away from the house for awhile my anxiety wears me down and I start to get grumpy. Justin will say it's time to go home so I can 'recharge'. Just being back home makes everything better.

[finn's mom]

I'm a complete extrovert. I like parties, regardless of who I know or don't know. I love meeting new people, it's like reading a book and getting to know all the characters. I love going to clubs and dancing. I never went to parties in school, when I was younger, I was pretty shy, and, totally not into anything like drinking or smoking or boys. So, the couple parties I did attend, I didn't participate. I just remember doing a lot of people watching. Which I still do, people are funny, fascinating, interesting, etc. My boyfriend is a bit of an introvert, but, he's improving. When he drinks, he's an extrovert, definitely. I'm always outgoing.

edited to say that I've never actually hosted a party, so, i chose that i prefer to be the guest. i'd like to try to host a party one day.

[catnapper]

Jen, I had no idea you were crying! I kept looking for you to talk to you and help you feel more comfortable, but you dissapeared! I feel just awful.... I'm so sorry you felt so out of place.

[Barbara]

When I was a teenager I hated parties- for all the reasons mentioned. I felt like I never had the right clothes, said the right thing and was as un-cool as could be. Ususally I ended up in front of the host's single bookshelf just reading

Now I love parties (a problem because my husband hates them ).

And the best parties are Pet Talk parties

[dogzr#1]

Not much of a party person. I'm to shy. Even if it is at a birthday party for one of my friends, I am usually the calm one, everyone else is soooo crazy. I think we have hosted 1 party before, but it was only for relatives. So no, not a party person.