Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I'm an extrovert.  MBTI ENtj.  When I had my appendix out last month, I was batshit by noon the next day because they left me alone in my room with no conversation.

My husband is an introvert.  We manage the difference by me going out into the world to be with people and him  going to the woods to be alone.  Several of my friends feel that it is their obligation to get me out of his hair.

And they're right.

We really enjoy each other's company.  But he really needs time alone in order to enjoy my company.  And I need company more often.

I work in a big company with lots of people around me and as much conversation as I want.  He works from an office in our home.  He can go a whole day in the presence of no other human than me.

And this works for us.

He's been reading a couple of things that talk about silence.

I sometimes long for silence.  Not aloneness.  But being present without chatter being a requirement.  When I am not talkative, many people say, "What's wrong?" and are puzzled when I say "Nothing."  They seem to be mollified by "I just don't have anything to say."

I sometimes think I'd like to have a Day of Silence.  But I can't do my work without communicating with coworkers.  I know how to have a day in the world without some communicating.  And writing notes to the barrista  in order to get a latte is cheating, imvho.  It's still communication, even if the talk is written rather than  spoken.  How do you shop without telling a salesclerk that you don't need hir help or that the card you are using is a debit,  not credit or "Wait, I have a penny"?

And I find silence calling to me (ha!) when I am most ... in the moment.  When the distractions are most intangible.

This I isn't programmed for solitude.  Being present with others is enough, though.

For a year, I've been trying to figure out a way to have silence of the mouth without estrangement of the world.  I don't seem to be making any progress.