Christmas parties... as an introvert

I believe that I have something that can best be described as social fuel... and I think most people have something similar, though they may be able to name it more cleverly. It's the substance that gets drained from me by attending social events (get togethers, parties, family reunions, etc.), and gets recharged by having "alone" time (or possibly just time with just Katie and I).

As far as I can tell, I've always been drastically low on the stuff. I think I can handle a social "thing" maybe once a week... maybe twice if I know, and like, all the people who will be attending. Anything over two and I won't make an effort to go, or will just refuse, and if I do go I'll try to act interested in the goings-on, but I'm not known for my acting skills. With so many Christmas parties and family functions, secret santa exchanges, white elephant parties, karaoke christmas parties (yes, you read that right) that have been going on, I'm convinced that if I had an organ that secreted social juices, it would look like a sickly, depleted raisin.

That was a run on sentence, and I'm too tired to care.

I'm used to not being very social... and I think Katie is used to my being this way also. I'm not, however, used to it affecting me during the holidays. I've always been with the same people every Christmas, my family, who never tend to drain me. Things are different this year, though, new families, two new companies with parties, new friends with their own parties... lots of stuff going on, and I'm glad we have all those people around. I'm just gettin exhaustered and it's a shame because it's one of the times of the year that I love, and a chance to get to spend time with some of the family I don't get to see all that often.

I think I'm going to have to start relying on my old standby, caffiene, to get me through the next two weeks or so. Drugs are a good substitute for being social... but I have to stick to the legal stuff. As for next year, I'm going to have to do some social exercises or something to prepare. I can't have this happen again... I want to be social whenever the holidays roll around.