Introverts Don't Need "Vacations"

"I'm never less at leisure than when at leisure, or less alone than when alone."
-- Scipio the Elder (235–183 BC)

Introverts don't usually need "vacations" to "get away from it all," at least not if we've been able to do things as introverts like to do them in which case there's nothing to get away from - We love what we're doing so why would we want to leave it? For us, to be alone and working on something that is of interest, undisturbed (except possibly for short breaks when we might enjoy a distraction), is as good as any vacation might be to others.

To an introvert, a cruise ship looks like a "prison ship"

The usual type of so-called "vacation" (as defined by an extrovert or a nonthinking-any-kind-of-vert) would be a miserable chore for an introvert, and we would be longing to get back to what we want to get back to ... though this might not be true if the "vacation" is not as defined by an extrovert, but is something that is exactly what we need/want to do at the time. In fact a "working vacation" (i.e., doing what we do all the time but in another locale) would probably be the most tolerable - even sometimes enjoyable - "vacation" for an introvert, as long as it didn't last too long, but nothing is as enjoyable and salutary as getting back to home ground and getting back to our studies and creative activities, etc.

It's quite possible, of course, that an introvert has other, secondary, interests and would like to pursue those interests from time to time, and you might call the pursuit of these other interests "vacations," though these interests would probably be pursued just as intensely as the main interest and the introvert would need to be able to concentrate on them as much as on their first love.

The worst kind of so-called "vacation" for me to contemplate (and I think I'm a typical introvert) would be one where I did nothing but stand around, sit around, walk around and/or lie around (wasting precious time) in the company of people (just for one example, members of a tour group) I have little or nothing in common with, with whom I'm expected to talk or perhaps even play games or otherwise interact with, and sometimes whose itinerary I must follow. I would feel like a prisoner in those circumstances and would long for an escape...I would hardly be able to think of anything else.

Please, do not ever think I need a vacation because if you were in my place you would need one. If I ever need a "vacation," I would much prefer it be of my own choosing -- I must choose when I need to go, where I need to go, what I need to do, the way I need to do it, and how much time I'll spend on whatever I'm doing. It may be just to the back yard to walk around with a camera and take pictures for ten minutes...My life is full of "mini-vacations" like this that continually refresh me.  - Jean

I would rather be here . . .

. . . than "on vacation."

An Etcher in his Studio
by Charles Frederic Ulrich - c. 1882
from The Athenaeum

Georgia O'Keeffe, Introvert

Abiquiu, New Mexico, near Ghost Ranch

"It was all so far away - there was quiet and an untouched feel to the country and I could work as I pleased." -- Georgia O'Keeffe







Georgia O'Keefe, Introvert
(Photo by Alfred Stieglitz, 1918)

O'Keefe's home and studio sitting room - Abiquiu, New Mexico

"In cities no one is quiet but many are lonely; in the country, people are quiet but few are lonely." -- Geoffrey Fisher (1887-1972), Archibishop of Canterbury

Introverts Do Not Like Surprises

Oh, Please! Nooooooo!

That introverts do not like surprises is an understatement. The truth is that we hate surprises. And by "surprises" here I refer mainly to those which involve an invasion of people into our personal space and time. (Emails are fine as they do not interrupt -- We can read them whenever it's convenient for us.)

I should probably just speak for myself here, as of course all introverts are not alike. But I do think we all feel this way to one degree or another and many of us, including myself, really do not like surprises at all.

In fact surprises are anathema to us unless they are of the innocent variety, i.e., of the type that don't have anything to do with invasion of our time and space...Some of the "innocent" type can in fact be very pleasant and refreshing.

As introverts are primarily inward-directed, it should be obvious that we like to be alone with our thoughts a lot of the time...our thoughts, our books, maybe music at times or the sound of water bubbling or birds chirping, and/or other things that aid us in contemplation and study of what's on our minds...or in doing what it is we are doing -- working on our projects whatever they might be.

There is an exception, and that is that we may be completely comfortable being around those who are an integral part of our daily lives if we are completely understanding of and respect each other's needs, but others are different.

It's not that we don't like other people (I will write a post -- or two or three -- about this in the future.)  It's that we don't want to be interrupted or distracted and we don't like our space, including physical space, violated. These things to us are sacred and we treasure them and protect them.

When there is real need of a get-together of any kind, we want to thoroughly plan what needs to be accomplished, what we intend to do, and - if we have any choice - what's the best place and time block for it. Mostly our time is well-planned (or we wish it were and get very frustrated if we aren't able to plan it ahead) and it's hard to fit in anything out of the ordinary, especially if it doesn't seem to be helpful in some way (and "helpful" might well include something of a relaxing or enjoyable nature, though our ideas about what is "relaxing" and/or "enjoyable" may not coincide with those of others...and we still need to schedule these things ourselves). - Jean