Quiet company

The key is to keep company only with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best.

- Epictetus -

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I've never been the man to want a lot of people around me socially. I'd not go as far as saying I'm quiet in social situations but I tend to feel a little awkward and out of place; a feeling I prefer to avoid and so I avoid large gatherings and social engagements where possible. That's not to say I'm anti-social, I'm far from it, just very selective with who I spend my time with which is why I have a close and rather small group of friends and can be guarded with those not in it.

When I go out and about it's alone or with one other person and, occasionally a few others, people from my friends group mainly. In these situations I let my guard down and like to have a good time. We go somewhere to eat and generally chat, tell lies and solve the world's problems, see a band or some such activity. I have gatherings at home occasionally also, but I'm very selective when it comes to bringing people into my home and so it's not often and only those from a very select (smaller) group of people.

Over the last couple of years I've found I'm not as keen to go out as I used to be - which wasn't all that keen to begin with - and I've tended to stay home rather than go out. I'm referring to night's out and not getting out hiking, shooting, off-roading and such things which I do a lot. The pandemic situation is the reason, we couldn't go out for so long, or the conditions under which we could were preventative or not acceptable to me. I'm ok with it mostly, but this week one of close friends asked me to get a meal and I felt happy to do so; it felt right.

I was left to select the location for the small gathering, four of us in total, and I chose a pub close to home that I'd heard did decent meals, a balance of quality and price, and had recently been refurbished so the the setting was reportedly nice.

We gathered there, found a booth and ordered a beer. We were in a section that was outside but covered, and with some rainfall, funky music and conversation it seemed really relaxed and cosy which was exactly what I needed after the day I'd had. We chatted, swapped our recent news, solved some of the world's biggest problems, then ordered some food.

I split a small margherita pizza with one of the others and ordered a chicken schnitzel and chips with mushroom gravy. My co-pizza-eater ordered a salt and pepper calamari with chips, all of which you can see pictured. My photography isn't great so don't judge, it tasted way better than it looks!

As we ate we chatted, quietly mostly but not exclusively, and generally had a good time.

I used to work with the fellow some twenty five years ago and we've been through a lot together. I haven't known his girlfriend for quite as long but she's pretty cool and the night was enjoyable. I'll admit to the greatly over-exaggerated retelling of many stories from the old days between me and my mate; the other two either laughed, called bullshit on our embellishments or joined in as appropriate. A couple hours and a few beers later we declared mission success on the catch up parted ways.

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I'm of the belief that good company makes average food great and it was certainly the case a few nights ago.

The food wasn't bad at all, just average; the location is a local suburban pub aimed at everyday Australian's like me and there were no frills, just decent food. But, sharing my table with the quiet company of my mate, his girlfriend and my co-pizza-eater made that food great...Made the whole night great. I guess, for a selectively-social person like me, I have to ensure I socialise with the right people and that means spending my time with people who uplift me, make me feel engaged and energised rather than those who sap that energy like those at the catch up a few days ago.

I'm content spending time with myself or one other, a small group of close friends sometimes too. What I don't like is large groups, noisy places and strangers. How about you? Do you have a large friends group or a select few like me? Do you prefer small groups and quieter moments or do you like to have more people around you, to be entertained? Tell me about it in the comments if you like.