On Not Going Out-Out

When you tell people that you don’t like going out-out, which reaction are you met with? Is it one of surprise? Confusion? Annoyance? I’m 24 and I consciously decided a long time ago – when I stopped working in London! – that, hey, I don’t even like going out, so I wouldn’t be doing that on the regular anymore. From my travel anxiety to my introvert nature, the fact that I’m a sleepy drunk to the whole shouting at each other in a bar thing, it’s just not me. And having moved to a wildly alive city, going out for a drink is top of the list for almost every person I’ve met.
When you tell people that you don’t like going out-out, which reaction are you met with? Is it one of surprise? Confusion? Annoyance?
“But what do you do then?”
I am usually met with a notion of confusion and surprise. Sometimes annoyance too. While some people are born with a flair for talking to strangers, I’m more suited to a few hours alone with a notebook, pen and a blank space page. Once upon a time when I was a young sprite, I loved nothing more than the thrill of shopping for a night out with the girls, getting ready together, playing drinking games and heading out. I loved the getting ready process and just having fun – honestly we’d spend more time playing mini challenges sans drinks at a table/booth than dancing and the like!
When I tell people that I probably won’t join them for an all-night bar and nightclub hop, it usually boils down to: “what do you do with all your time?” I think we’re all fairly similar here in Blogland, right? We blog in our true downtime, we’re passionate about very specific things, we research our passions – all those hauls, justified! – and I, for one, am passionate about choosing happy.
My happy? I love my Wednesday evenings spent at home reading up on a new subject each week (I selected black pearls this week), I enjoy nothing more than a pack of matcha choc chip cookies eaten while watching anime, drama nights are coupled with Pinning and Tumblring inspiration, I like to plan day trips around Hong Kong. I like attending sample sales and going to brunch. I like practicing yoga. I really like reading blogs and writing comments to other bloggers. I like looking at flowers. I like seascapes.
It’s taken me a while to almost accept that not going out-out isn’t bad at all. Should I force myself to go for drinks when I could easily opt for brunch with them instead? I certainly know that going for a drink with a new date probably already means we’re not that similar. Not going out-out is the new black.
… Man I can’t wait for season 3 of OITNB.