We had our housewarming party today.
Between trying to sell our house (and failing) then selling it unexpectedly, moving into a rental, deconstructing and fixing this house then moving in, we have been in housing flux for the past 1 1/2 years. We owe LOTs of people dinners, playdates, visits etc. To kill 50 birds with one stone, I invited everyone I know to the party. Mr. A invited everyone he knows (including work people I have never met). Then we invited all the neighbors on our street.
We did an open house so people could come and go without stress. In general, that plan worked ok. People came and went for about 4 hours. The only flaw with my plan was there was a steady stream of people coming in. I added it up and I think we ended up with over 100 people, not including kids.
There were so many people, I only had a chance to say hello and a few pleasantries with each person before someone else new showed up. Because it was a housewarming, I think I gave over 20 house tours. I love to talk about houses in general (and my house in particular), but seriously, that was a LOT of house talk. I am actually losing my voice right now because I talked so much.
The problems I have with parties is the quick hellos were so superficial, I didn’t have much of a chance to have an in depth conversation with anyone. There were many people I haven’t seen in months and I would have loved to sit down and talk with them one on one for a hour or more, but there wasn’t enough time.
I also worry about all the people who didn’t know other people. Mr. A and I know lots of people who don’t know any of our other friends, and we are not connectors. (To be honest, I prefer my different spheres to not intersect at all.) Did they find people to talk to? Were they uncomfortable? Should I have talked to them more?
Right now, I have a party hangover. I am exhausted and vaguely worried that I should have been a better hostess in this way or that. Some people love parties, but they just aren’t my thing. Mr. A is an extrovert. He would love a party every day of the week. (He is a reserved extrovert though, he isn’t super-chatty.)
Around people I know, I am an outgoing introvert. (I am shy around new people, but that is a different thing). I am talkative and entertaining and fun enough, but oh my god, it sucks the energy right out of me. The more people, the more energy. Right now, I feel like I have been run over by a truck.
I need to sit in a quiet room for a week or so to recover.
I’m exactly the same. Second guessing the whole scene and what I said for days. Exhausting, I agree. My husband is an extrovert like Mr. A. He’d love a party every night.
I’m exactly the same. I’d rather have 2-5 people over than 20. I was the only person to show up for my bookclub yesterday so it was just me and the hostess and for me it was GREAT. I’d never gotten to talk to this woman I like very much before because book club is usually 10 people, which is 6 too many for me.
Ditto. I am an outgoing introvert who needs to escape back to my cave after a couple of hours socializing. It feel exhausting to me.