If you HAD to pick between the two... full or empty...

[TheRossatron]

1. Loads of friends, big family, coupled up with kids. Every weekend is socialising. Dinner parties, christenings, weddings, hen dos abroad. Etc etc. A lot of people traffic (extroverted).

1. Distant friends you see every few months. Single. Most weekends alone, tons of solitary time, tons of space. Rather dead as far as socialising goes but peaceful (introverted).

You can't pick half of each!

This is not fair comparison because the key difference is family, which is not an extrovert/introvert thing - both types of people want a family.

I guess I have 2.
I think given the choice I’d say 2.
1 sounds exhausting and not much room for indulging my passions - studying, the dog, napping, Netflix and scrolling through Mumsnet. (Though admittedly that’s lost its appeal following ‘upgrade’)

Family as in children, not the wider family.

Option 1 by a mile. I've done option 2 (not out of choice) and was miserable. I'm not sure I'd describe myself as extroverted though.

Okay scrap the family kids thing, just friends and socialising

God number 2 by a country mile. I love my husband dearly but even he gets on my tits at times

Option 1.
I'm not an extrovert but I'm also not a recluse. Being alone for most of the time would be miserable for me

Neither are full or empty, but different. If 2 are fully happy being an introvert, than that is a full life. Maybe 1 feels they can’t say no, for feel of offending them or not being classed as popular.

I would absolutely love 1 but I live 2 since covid and it makes me really sad :(

1. I live 2 and I love it. I don't need people and I don't want busy.

I come from a big family and it can get too much. My life use to be 1 and I did love it at the time.

But mostly 2 now because I'm older. I'm happier in my own company and have been happily single for 16 years. I've dated in that time but it wasn't for me! Also I have a ds who is late teens. He's a swimmer and disabled with SN and so I have a lot in my life already without needing to add constant socialising to my already scarce spare time!

I meet friends once a month. A few different friends. But it's a lovely low key coffee and catch up and sometimes lunch or breakfast.

(except I do have a lovely husband and 3 kids!)

That's not really introvert/extrovert

Introvert is where you get your energy from being alone, extrovert is where you get your energy from being with other people.
I'd say what you have described is sociable/unsociable.

I'd easily pick 2 because I'm an unsociable introvert, DH would struggle because he's a sociable introvert.

Then 2, it is how our life is, we are very happy
My life is not 'dead' socially but quiet voluntarily

But I would put myself through hell aka a lot of weddings to have my children in my life, family always comes first, which is why I could not choose from your original two options.

1. sounds exhausting.

@Dontfuckingsaycheese

I guess I have 2. I think given the choice I’d say 2. 1 sounds exhausting and not much room for indulging my passions - studying, the dog, napping, Netflix and scrolling through Mumsnet. (Though admittedly that’s lost its appeal following ‘upgrade’)

I love that one of your passions is napping.

@TheRossatron This thread is extremely offensive to introverts.

Weirdly, no 2. I always used to be very extrovert so this is a post-lockdown shift but I so enjoy the space and quiet now. I do love seeing friends and meeting up...but only twice a month, More than that makes me feel a bit frazzled, though I enjoy going out a lot just with DH or as a family with our adult children. But there are people in our village who I used to mix with, who get together mid week and all weekend long. That is my idea of hell.

@duvetdayforeveryone

@TheRossatron This thread is extremely offensive to introverts.

Bullshit, I am an ENORMOUS introvert and very much option 2. Don't be such a moaning minnie 🤣

Ah, see I was just thinking it was clearly written by an introvert who thinks the introvert option is best! The writing seems quite slanted towards it imo

Option 1 by a country mile. I am a true extrovert - I am only really energised by being around people.

Me too.

Option 1, even though I'm a bit of an introvert. Being an introvert doesn't mean you don't enjoy socialising, having a partner etc, only that you re-energise from time spent alone. I'd be exhausted by option 1 but better that than complete isolation.

Option 1 is Hell. Option 2 all the way for me.

1, and decline some of the events. Because no family (and ours is small anyway) would be the hardest.