Well, it’s back to classes today for yours portly, and the glorious wonder of Christmas Break has officially ended (it technically ended yesterday with a teacher workday).  Yours portly is wondering why we couldn’t have a proper Christmas Break and head back to work next Monday, but I don’t get to make those decisions.

This cold, dark time of year often makes me want to hole up with hot food and old movies.  It also seems that I come down with some manner of respiratory illness, but here’s hoping that’s not the case this year (I’m writing this post super early).  The combination means I spend a lot of time loafing around with my dog.

It’s never been clear to me if I am an extrovert or an introvert.  I am gregarious at parties and love laughing and having deep conversations.  But family members will also note that, at large gatherings, I’ll typically disappear at some point, usually to some forgotten, quiet nook of whatever house or venue we’re at, reading a book or taking a nap.  My younger brother jokes about how I manage to disappear at family get-togethers.

I’ve read that some people have a certain amount of social energy, and they need to let it restore itself.  That tracks with my experience:  after a certain point, I am ready to be home.  That said, I think my meter refills quickly—I have quick “mana regen,” in JRPG terms.  A lazy weekend is usually enough to restore me to take on another never-ending week.

Whatever the case, I think we could all use some quiet alone time now and then.

With that, here is 5 January 2023’s “TBT: The Hermit’s Life“:

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