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Oh, Laura. Hang in there. email me if you need/want to!! ~W

Wow. That describes my situation quite a bit. Fortunately, during the summer, I am free to be my more natural introverted self. No one would ever guess that about me!

I understand about getting too comfortable in your surroundings. Agor is a sneaky fiend, and for me, it definitely disguises itself as comfort. You’re smart to recognize it.

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My experience with it has been that it’s sneaky. It’s not like I wake up one morning and can’t leave the house. It’s gradual. And I pay attention to it, like any other phobia or illness, because what’s the point in letting that run your life?? ~W

Words and people and all that. Yea, it’s hard. Hang in there. Take the time you need and don’t waste your energy feeling guilty about it.

I think most of us are more clever and witty and open in words than in person. I’m very guarded and prickly in person. I love to retreat into my house too — my husband is the same. A fun night for us is a bowl of popcorn, a glass of wine, and a good movie from Netflix. Oh, visiting with friends — yea, that can work too. Sometimes. Maybe. But, I can’t do that in my jammies so blech.

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Thank you, Liza Lee. I’m coming out of it. ~W

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The TSA makes me so angry and frustrated. EVERY airport is different. Traveling just exhausts me. And dealing with hordes of people–OY. And thank you. It’s funny, because we are all different in real life than on our blogs. And yet, if you asked me—I’d tell you that what I’m writing is closer to “me” than what you get in real life. I’m far more guarded in real life. Far more willing to tell you what you want to hear. And not nearly as irreverent. ~W

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It’s ok to be a verbal processor. And I get that. I have a really hard time saying “no” to being present—even if I know it’s going to put me in bed for a week later. However, I’ve kinda had to do that. And the results haven’t been the best on the friend side of things. My blog readers are most excellent people—but in real life, I’ve not found people who are willing to give me space to rest. Instead, it’s a constant demand on my time. And honestly, I think my blogging adds to that expectation. Because there is in this perception that all these words I’m writing is me being “out-there”—when in fact, this is my internal dialog on paper. BIG DIFFERENCE. I will figure it out, eventually. ~W

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I adore the HIVES. I do, I do. ~W

I, too, have learned that lesson. I don’t think you will go back to your old, agoraphobic self simply because you have a family that you connect with on so many levels. The levels and intensity can fluctuate but you will adapt - and they will adapt - because you value them more than you value that intense and withdrawn silence.

Recharge at your leisure. We’ll wait

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Thank you, Cap. I’m always going to struggle with this living in the outside world stuff. I get overwhelmed by it all too easily. I think it’s just a safety measure—I get tired and I step back to recharge, instead of letting my battery completely drain down. If that makes any sense?? I’m just not so great with letting the people in my life in on how that works. I’ve lost a lot of friends who couldn’t understand why I could be so present for their every crisis one week, but need to step back the next. It’s boundary keeping—I tend to not keep my own boundaries until it’s a bit too late. Then I panic and withdraw. It’s not healthy. BUT it also means that the people around you respect those boundaries when you set them—and as you saw a year or so ago, not everybody does respect the no. ~W

“I’m worn out being a louder version of who I am.” I would like to buy those words. How much? They are precisely the ones I need. So apt. THOSE are nude plum words, not a bomb, but still, a little dangerous. Slick, Luscious.

Family will wipe you out, family gatherings more so. If it persists, it has another name. Because, after all, you’re young baby. Very young.

Hi, Wende…

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I’m older than I let on. Ha! And no, not depression this time. I’m coming out of it. This transition back into my life was exacerbated by a dog who also had an issue transitioning from the kennel. It’s meant I’ve been existing on very little sleep. I’m not the kind of person who should be sleep deprived. I get dark. And difficult. So, no worries. But it’s nice to know there’s a mental health professional out there paying attention.

And thank you for the close reading and the feedback. You know how to stroke a writer’s ego. ~W

I think one of the most interesting things about blogging is the fact that you can really put yourself out there and be perceived as something you may not necessarily be all the time (I mean, you should see the stacks of stuff I sometimes have to move to take shots to post) Thank you for sharing this post…I would have never known you were more introverted than extroverted…and I hope that you find a way to bridge the things that you want to and then integrate them into your life in the perfect way (although, I’m sure you will…life is just so like that isn’t it?)

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I’m a flaming introvert. Ha ha ha. People don’t believe that, but I always say, “Don’t confuse good social skills for extroversion.” Thank you for your words. ~W

And I feel you on the blog person vs. real person thing… I’d love to be as chatty and bubbly as a post comes out, but that’s just not going to happen for me…ever. Anyways, take your time coming out… no rush

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I watch you watching us… and I think to myself, “If we’d just all shut up for one second… what would she say??” Dear one, I promise we will not all overwhelm you in time. I promise, we will let you get a word in edgewise.

And I’m so with you on the irrational fear stuff. OH. MY. GOODNESS. I freaked out at every turn during the trip. And darned if on the last leg the airlines didn’t send my luggage to Phoenix instead of Portland!! If I had only known then, what was in store for me when I got home, I think I would have had the presence of mind to laugh about sleeping in my clothes. I hope. ~W