An Introvert in Tampa

Here we are in sunny, beautiful Tampa!  We love the view from our hotel room: and here’s the walk from our hotel to the convention center: We couldn’t have asked for better weather.  We woke up to 52 degrees and the temperature reached 76 by the afternoon.  And sunny, sunny, sunny.  My favorite kind of Florida day! The reason for our visit is the FMEA (Florida Music Educators Association) Conference, which is professional development for music educators and All-State ensemble concerts for students.  My husband attends every year as a music educator, and my son went to All-State five years in a row as a student (although his senior year ended up being virtual due to Covid.)  This year, my daughter made the middle school All-State band and our entire family is attending together for the first time. This morning the students had chair placement auditions, and then were free until their afternoon rehearsal.  I hung out to supervise my daughter and two of her friends and then took them to lunch.  The auditions were crowded and chaotic…. the restaurant was a mob scene…. and tonight we’re meeting friends for dinner.  With four free hours in the afternoon, my son asked if I wanted to come to the exhibition hall with him.  Um… no, thanks. I realized that if I want to be able to carry on a coherent conversation at dinner tonight, I need time to myself to recharge.  Instead of seeing the sights of Tampa, attending the conference or sitting in on rehearsals, I’m sitting at…. a Starbucks. Some people might say “but you could go to a Starbucks at home!”  Yes, but my Starbucks at home doesn’t have this view from the window. (Random side note- my only complaint is that this Starbucks is playing CHRISTMAS MUSIC.  Don’t they know that it’s officially over?  I’ve moved on and they should too.) Seriously, this is exactly what I want to be doing right now.  And tomorrow I have an exciting trail run planned. My biggest fear is that I’ll mention it to someone and they’ll want to come with me.  WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?  All I want is to be running on a trail by myself. It’s hard to be an introvert.  I really have to gear myself up for social situations, and get overwhelmed quickly.  But I think life can be hard for extreme extroverts as well.  My daughter is an extrovert, and she gets very, very bored if she’s alone.  She’ll choose any type of activity with any group of people at any time, rather than be home alone.  I imagine as she gets older she’ll have to find some balance, although as an introvert I don’t really know what that will mean for her. My son considers himself and ambivert.  Lucky him!  He enjoys being around people and making new friends but also loves being at home.  It’s funny how people in the same family who presumably share genes can be so different. How about you- are you and introvert or extrovert?  Are you extreme in either direction?  Is it hard to coordinate with family members who have a different tendency than you? Okay, I’m off to meet our friends for dinner.  I think I’m ready!