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Miss Double ShotA bunch of my friends have met their significant others at bars or out at parties, and most of those friends would rather die than stay home most nights.
As for me, though, I'd rather stay at my place and talk to Floyd, read or watch documentaries on ridiculous subjects (the Jonestown massacre one was unbelievable, and so was the one about Helvetica!) than get dressed up, pay too much for drinks I could make at home for far cheaper and yell over bass lines of songs I don't even like.
A friend calls my type "cocooners", and I like the mental image it evokes - a safe, warm and quiet place just for me and people I like - why would I ever leave? While I can't remember too many nights out at the bars in college that were truly memorable and affected me somehow, most of the nights we sat around at home and had fun on our own left a longer lasting impression on me.
The main problem with this issue, though, is that we cocooners are always at
home, and it's not exactly a great place to pick up anyone. Some of us
are lucky enough to have found others of our kind without setting foot
in a club, but others will have to do some digging to find like-minded
individuals.
I live in a town where weekend nights are loud, raucous and filled with people outside "woo!"ing and drinking. This means that I need to rationalize my cocooner mentality because it feels so unnatural compared to everyone else's behavior, so I do it by telling myself that most of history's greatest never had "and man, did she love to party" in their biographies. I, too, can be awesome without waiting outside a building while a bouncer checks the IDs of shimmery idiots in front of me in line.
But, to be honest, when I look through people's Facebook albums and see tons of pictures of people hanging out with their friends at bars and making weird faces while they get tipsy, I do feel a little like I'm acting more like I'm 92 than 22. I also wonder what I'd be doing if I hadn't met Floyd - how would I meet guys? Am I wasting the best years of my life by spending time at home alone?
That's a lot to think about . . . in the meantime, if you need me, I'll be in my room.
Do you like to go out or are you a cocooner?
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Comments (13)
I go through phases. In the summer, I like to be out (not every night still but some nights). In the winter, I am fully happy being in my cocoon.
i am a mega cocooner. one day i will turn into a pretty butterfly... in the meantime, i'm working my way through DVDs for all six seasons of The Shield.
I am a cocooner. I never understood the people who go out, not only are they wasting money but they usually are also making fools of themselves.
Hey I really liked this post. I think I would say that I'm about in the middle. I can be a cocooner sometimes but then sometimes I can be a huge party animal... I guess you could say I kind of have multiple personalities in a way.
@john - Rats, you beat me to the butterfly joke that was just sitting there for the taking.
It's a good question. If normal mode is to be an introverted family guy who takes care of those he loves, that might be great for marriage...but how would such a personality ever get married? I would suggest joining organizations that complement cocooner personalities (book clubs, for example).
I am mostly a cocooner. I think for me though, it is because I work in Customer Service all 5 days a week, so overall I get to see the worst of the human race on a regular basis.
I go home, walk in the door, immediately lock it behind me, and sigh with contentment. Then I read in utter peace and quiet. It's bliss.
I love going out, but I don't mind staying at home every once in awhile. I don't think it's a good idea to meet your significant other at a bar though...
I am totally a cocooner. And I, like you am lucky since my sig other is also a cocooner.
My birthday was sunday and one of my friends actually considered getting me a "Congratulations! You're 80" card. So, I like Coronation Street. Whatever. LOL.
I don't know too many good, long-standing, healthy relationships that started in a club.
The great thing about staying at home is, you can still invite all your friends over and take fun pictures of everyone making faces. I've always liked parties at people's houses much better than at clubs, whether the party be a drunken shindig or a pot-luck dinner party. It's just nice to be able to actually be able to hear the person you're talking to...
I'm without a doubt a (22 yr old)cocooner. When I 'do' go out (which is a few times a month) I prefer it to be at someone else's house (or their cocoon). If not at someone's house, my idea of a night out is visiting a new restaurant with a friend...not a bar: obnoxious drunks and wasting money is not my idea of fun.
good post. i'm a cocooner. prefer house parties - potluck, dvd movie nights... and yes, quite hard to meet new ppl.
im a cocooner...by nature
but also the new place i live now has no night life...the hopping places are chain places like Bailey's and Chili's//
I'm a cocooner! It's so funny too because I wasn't always like this! Just that after a few nights of bar-hopping I think I've had all the fun I can handle. It used to take my friends hours upon hours and even some bribes to get me to go out. But now that I'm in a different city than they are, I'd kill to go out with them! It does make me wonder though if I'll ever meet anyone... and if so, would I even recognize it?