My Name is Susannah, and I’m an Introvert

Five months ago, the world exhaled a collective groan at the announcement that the COVID-19 virus was officially a pandemic and everyone had to isolate.

Stay at home, they said. No bars, no work, no sports, no parties, no nuthin’.

Reactions ranged from panic to indignance. I, however, was thrilled.

I am a card-carrying, certified introvert. A Myers-Briggs ISFJ-A (introverted-sensing-feeling-judging-assertive) who might more correctly be known as a hermit.

I. Like. Being. ALONE.

Solitude is my heaven, a social gathering is my worst nightmare. I can do get-togethers, but they leave me emotionally and physically exhausted.

Who’s with me?

Anyone?

Of course I already had a head start on isolating before COVID came along. As a retiree, I don’t have to go out very much anyway, so it was no great adjustment to not go out at all. I keep busy at home for the most part and yes, it does get boring sometimes but that just means I need a change of scenery: a walk, a hike, a long drive…by myself.

I won’t pretend I live alone. My partner and I have been together over eleven years. He does his thing. I do my thing. We do things together—it works out. He understands that I need to be left alone sometimes, that it doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy his company.  I think part of the reason our relationship works is because we’re old enough to feel secure in ourselves and each other.

But I digress.

So this post is the first in a series I’m going to call “Wish You Weren’t Here: A Tongue-in-Cheek Blog for Introverts.” I hope to fill it with thoughts and self-directed jabs at the world of an introvert.  If you’re one of us, I hope you find it entertaining. If you’re from the “other side,” I hope you find it informative.

And for all of my friends and family who don’t already know it:

I love you.

Really I do.

Now go away.