Cult Personality

[keiramarcos]

My husband is an introvert and keeps to himself even with family. I didn't realize this about him, honestly, until we'd been together a while. The fact is that he focused on me and I liked it. I've never had to worry about his attention wandering away from me in practically any situation because I'm his person--his touch stone so to speak.

He counts on me to strike up conversations, carry the small talk, and make people feel like they're getting to know him even when they're not. He's the kind of person who'd rather not shake hands but will because he knows it's polite but he honestly doesn't tolerate other people touching him all that well at all.

Except for me.

His sister pointed out to me about a year after I started dating him that she hadn't been invited to hug him since she was in high school. Eventually, she realized he just wasn't comfortable with that level of contact even with family and stopped as she said "inflicting her desire for physical affection on him". I was kind of floored actually because he hugs me (and has since the start) ten to fifteen times a freaking day. 

Honestly, he's all up in my space all the damn time.

I'm his person, his safe place, and his comfort all rolled up into one.

I'm an extrovert, you might have noticed, and will talk to strangers just as happily as I will to a person I've known for 20 years if I'm in the mood for conversation. I went to the grocery store the other day and had five conversations with complete strangers about everything from produce to the best organic milk. 

As we were leaving the parking lot my husband said, "It must be exhausting being you. It's no wonder you have the following you do online--it's like you have a cult personality or something."

And I responded, "Well I do run a cock worship cult actually so I can't even get mad."

Comments

[alisonk23]

My husband and I are like the two of you, only reversed. I am the introvert and more so since I stopped going out to work. We had a family "do" at the weekend, 10 adults including me. We were among the first to get there and as all the others arrived I could feel myself shutting down and frankly, just wanting to get away into a room by myself. That's a group of people I *know*. I can't begin to contemplate a similar or larger gathering of strangers! That's why we have said thank you, but no to the invitation to a huge wedding this autumn (think 4 Weddings territory). I had a conniption just imagining attending!