Last year was pure survival year. I didn’t have any energy to do more than work and get used to living in a new place. My daily routine consisted of getting up, going to work, coming home, calling my family, making and eating dinner, watching TV or a DVD, and going to bed. (Good thing this routine appealed to P, or life could have been even rougher!)

But this year will be different. I’ve decided to implement operation Social Interaction. This will involve regular outings, even if they’re only to the local coffee shop. It will involve going to town festivities, cooking for people who don’t live with me, accepting invitations to other people’s houses even if I think it’ll be tiring and/or awkward, meeting regularly with my best friend, and exploring the cities. Fully implemented, this plan should not only expand my social horizons, but it should also make me enjoy my evenings at home more fully since they will now be my choice rather than my necessity.

Today was the first day of OSI. I went to the State Fair with a co-worker and her husband, and I had a great time. We didn’t have a plan. We just wandered around looking at whatever struck our fancy. I saw some amazing embroidery and lace, dairy princess’ heads carved in butter, new ideas in ecologically friendly houses, and just about anything you can imagine on a stick.

At one point we meandered past a stage blaring some really loud wanna-be-music. In front of the stage, just standing there, was a small clump of teenagers. They stood there, huddled together, looking half asleep, absorbing the noise with every cell in their bodies. All except for one of them, that is. One of the guys was standing there, just as still as the others, eyes squeezed closed, with his fingers jammed into his ears.

Later, another stage offered amplified pop-ish/country-ish music (complete with a soaring held note that, sadly, slipped just a touch flat). The song, mercifully, came to an end, and the lead singer asked the assembled crowd, “Are there any NASCAR fans here?!?” Silence. One or two polite claps. Another awkward pause before the singer gamely went on introducing a NASCAR-themed song. If I’d had any doubts about whether or not that group played my kind of music, I’d just received my answer.

Oh, and the rain that had threatened all day never actually feel the entire afternoon we were there. It’s coming down hard now, but this is the perfect time for rain. I think I’ll make myself a cup of tea, curl up in bed with a good book, and listen to the rain.