10.28.2024

The Social Introvert

As I have traveled across the US and Canada this year, I have seen a lot of beautiful places, challenged myself physically, have seen some parts of North America that I have been to before, and many others that were new to me. This has all been great, and I have loved every minute of it (unless it was raining!) but what I will probably look back to the most is the time I have spent with people. These people are sometimes strangers, men I talk to at Tim Horton's, or women who stop me in the middle of the road to ask me where I am headed or if I need water. They are sometimes people I have met before and am visiting again. They are sometimes people who I didn't know would be important in my life, such as some of my fellow racers at the Tour Divide. 

Mr. Coffee; he kept me going during the race!
(this photo is about 30 miles from the finish)

However, the bulk of people I have met up with have been people I have met on the internet! This would have seemed weird to me twenty years ago, and I have never done internet dating, but now it just seems normal to be sleeping in the bed of a person who you have never before seen face to face! This is the beauty of the interwebs. 

The first internet people I met along the way were Warm Showers hosts. Warm Showers is a network of cyclists and hosts, where you can either stay at someone's house on your route, or you can host cyclists at your house. This is all free, and usually the hosts are cyclists, but I have stayed with people who are just nice people willing to help out and host and feed stinky tired people! So far, I have stayed with Warm Showers hosts in Washington, Alberta, Michigan and Ontario and they were all wonderful. 

My next host was a couple on Vancouver Island who found me through my blog because of my post on hiking in Slovenia. At first we ended up being pen pals, where I answered some questions they had about Slovenia and we swapped hiking stories and travel stories. They told me that if I was ever in their area I should stop by, and I did, and it was great! 

I also met up with several blog friends; you can read posts from Lisa (who I have met before, but was happy to meet up with again!), NGS, Kae and Birchie on their sites. All of them were great; everyone was exactly like I thought they would be, and I had an excellent time finally putting a 3D person to the 2D photos and written words. 

My theme: same shirt, different day!

Last, but not least, I finally made it across the country and ended up in beautiful Nova Scotia, where I met Elisabeth! Although we had never met in person before, it felt like we were fast friends already and we TWO INTROVERTS had no issues whatsoever keeping the conversation going. I had once asked her what the itinerary would be if I came to visit for three days and she provided a great list, and we definitely knocked many of these things off the list! We had perfect weather and there were no big crowds at the popular places, which was just how I like it! However, there was too much to do and not enough time, so I guess I will have to go back someday soon. 

Here are the highlights of the last week with Elisabeth! 

*Meeting her family! Everyone was so sweet and fun and so charismatic! I went to church with them on Sunday, got to walk the kids to school, and we had a blast playing games (I even threw the football around with Indy!) 

Walking the kids to school

*Peggy's Cove. I was going to ride there with Bob, but the road is small and windy and there is no shoulder! Luckily we moved the schedule around and ended up going all together, including the kids, which is probably more fun anyway, as I would have likely just done a quick drive through if I was on the bike. It was as beautiful as the photos show and we had fun jumping around on the rocks together. 



*Cape Split. This feels like the end of the earth, although you can see parts of Nova Scotia across the way. It was so windy I thought that I was going to fall of the edge! We had a great hike (I think it was almost 9 miles), a nice picnic and had a nice heart to heart along the way. 

My mouth is open because it is so windy!

*Medford/Blomidon. The cliffs and rocks were so red! The tides in these areas are crazy. Influenced by the Bay of Fundy, they can go down over 50 feet vertically and 3 miles horizontally. I think that the area we were walking on would have had roughly 25 of 30 feet of water on it when the tides were up, and the mud flats went for miles. We also saw two bald eagles! 

It's like being on Mars.

*Home cooked meals. I have been eating way too much cheese and crackers, oatmeal and processed meats. It was so nice to sit down at the table with the family and to eat real food! Plus there is just something special about something that someone else made, no matter what it is. Being at Elisabeth's house was like being with family; the house awakens little by little and eventually culminates with the walk to school, which was my favorite part of the day. 

*36 questions. Elisabeth is reading Super Communicators, which I already listened to on audiobook. The bonus is that she is reading the real book, and in the appendix there is a list of 36 questions that you can ask a person in order to get closer to each other faster. We went down this list and answered them and some of them are pretty personal, but it is fun to get these insights into another person! I liked it so much that I asked my family one of them in our weekly video call and may ask another next time. You can find them here under section 5. If you feel comfortable, feel free to answer one of them in the comments!! 

*Good weather. Like I said, the weather could not have been better. It was in the high 60s/low 70s during the day, the sun was shining and the fall colors were very pretty. We did wear a jacket from time to time, but mostly in the mornings or due to there being a bit of wind. However, it was really very nice and I even wore a tank top on our hike at Cape Split. In October! In Canada! 



I also got to meet John and Joy, had a handmade welcome sign waiting for me when I arrived, had lunch at Cumin, one of Elisabeth's favorite places, met the neighbors and much, much more. There were so many more highlights, but I am not going to steal all of Elisabeth's thunder!  You can go over to her site, where she will regale you with all of the details in a three part post this week, which I am sure will be much more detailed than mine! 

The only lowlight was that we did not have more time! I am sure Elisabeth was ready to get back to normal life, but I could have stayed longer! However, garbage and guests start to go bad after three days I had to get moving and Elisabeth had stuff to do! 

Have you ever met up with someone from the internet? Or stayed at the home of someone that you did not know in real life? 

32 comments:

  1. Awww. We all had such a great time meeting you and showing you just a sliver of the awesome things Nova Scotia has to offer. I loved the morning walks to school the best, too. It's such a nice way to start the day. Indy misses his morning coffee companion <3
    I have answered all the questions with you, but agree it was indepth and intense, but also eye-opening. I will answer one of the questions for Belle. When we asked her what she would change about how she was raised, her answer was: "I wish I had grown up with an older sister." When I mentioned this to a friend she said: Wow, you realize her answer could have been a lot worse. I guess if the worst thing I've done as a mom is NOT somehow produce another child prior to Belle...I should consider myself lucky. Somehow I think when she's 20, she'll be able to come up with a laundry list of things she would change. It is hard to be the oldest child!
    Loved the recap and reliving our time together vicariously and I love that you got to meet so many Cool Bloggers and other friends along the way. What an adventure!

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    1. I love Belle's answer and if I had been asked that question when I was 13, I probably would have had a lot to say. For example, I had to work for the family business but my brother did not (at that point). However, looking back at that now, I see that this gave me certain hardiness or qualities that have helped me over the years. Funny though, when I asked my family, this question none of them really had a lot of emotional things that they would change, or things that their parents had done wrong that they didn't like. Mostly it was more about where or how they lived than about something they thought that their parents had done badly.

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  2. Fish and company start to smell bad after three days!!! That's the version that my mom used to say. If it helps, I consider all of my Cool Blogger meets to just be the first meeting, with many more to come.

    There was a time when I had no interest in meeting blog peeps and very much wanted my internet life to be separate from my "real" life. It's hard to pinpoint what changed but I'm so glad that it did. My experience has been that anyone that I like in 2D is even better in 3D. Hey wait I met my husband on the internet! It's a great meeting place!

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    1. Fish and company! That may be the saying. I thought it was garbage. However, some company does not stink too bad! I agree that these meetings will not be the last; I love that there is a way to meet people all around the nation and world that you are compatible with and am having fun realizing these relationships. I am not done either and I hope to revisit some old friends and visit some new ones next year too. I forgot that you met hub online! So that is basically your place to meet the best people, in my opinion!

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  3. What a fun visit! I wish I could have teleported myself to NS to hang out with you 2. I'm also an introvert and also a social introvert. Phil is an extrovert but he's a quiet extrovert. People often think I'm the extrovert and he's the introvert.

    3 things Phil and I have in common: we are both frugal, we are both extremely loyal people, and we both love hiking. We have lots more in common beyond that but those are 3 things that come to mind first. I had a wonderful childhood but if I could change anything about how I was raised, it would be to have parents that are more open-minded about faith. It's Catholicism or nothing in their view... Even as a 43 year old person, it has been hard to a choose a different path for my children and I actually have not told my parents we are going to a Lutheran church because I am terrified of how they will respond. So they know the boys go to Sunday school/church and when they asked where I said "the church by our house." But they probably think it's the Catholic church where Paul was baptized which is close to our house, not the Lutheran church that is about 5 blocks away...

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    1. You guys are both financially savvy (not just frugal), like ice cream and are good conversationalists! You are right though that Phil is a quiet extrovert. He also has a weird sense of humor and can maintain a straight face, so sometimes you are not really sure if he is being serious or sarcastic! For the kids, it seems like they are both pretty social, but would you consider one or the other an introvert or extrovert? I think I know what you are going to say, but am curious if I am right! Re the church, I wish that you could be more honest with them, but some things just are not worth fighting over. Your parents have a lot of good qualities, but maybe this situation is one you just keep to yourself.

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  4. It sounds like you had a terrific time with Elisabeth and that she and her family were warm and welcoming hosts.
    I think one of the reasons you really enjoyed meals there was because you got to see food as something more than just fuel and necessity. With Elisabeth and her family, eating was relaxed, fun, and the food was, as you said, homecooked and pleasurable. Being in good company makes all the difference (and so does good cooking).

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    1. We had a great time and I was treated like family. You are right about the meals, Nance. They were a social event and I do like a good sit down at a table with friends, that is for sure! It was just what I needed after spending way too much time seeing food as just a means to the end.

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    2. Love this perspective. It's so true. Sometimes food really is just about being fuel, and other times it serves us in a beautiful connecting and emotional way. So many great memories (and big decisions and relationships) are formed around a dinner table.

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  5. So lovely that you got to spend time with Elizabeth's family. You both seem like good friends from long time. I've met many blog friends in the past when I was more active. with one girl, she came to stay with us few times and I went to visit her few times. It's really lovely to have friendship that way. I hope to meet you in person one day.

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    1. Definitely! One day it will happen. I don't know if I will get to Southeast Asia for at least another year and a half and who knows where you will be then but we can make something happen, no matter what!

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  6. What a fun visit! Those questions are really interesting. I picked one to answer.
    Before making a telephone call, do you ever rehearse what you are going to say? Why?
    Oh, yes! Every time. I want to get my thoughts in a row so I don't forget any key parts of why I'm calling. My mind goes blank when I panic.

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    1. I answered the same thing as you did. I would say it doesn't happen as much personally, but definitely if I am making a business call, I do rehearse. I get tongue tied and stupefied really easily!

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  7. Hi this is Daria from momofchildren:)
    That is amazing that you and Elisabeth had time together! And you really lucked out with weather, the colors are just beautiful. Have I met someone on the Internet? My husband! 13 years ago on match.com
    And yes, as an avid airbnb-er, I (and the kids) stay at someone’s places pretty much each that we travel.

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    1. That is great that you met your husband online! I never did get on the dating apps, but know many a friend who has met their person there! I also had a friend who did something like try 31 dates in 31 days and then narrow it down for the 2nd date and then narrow it down again for the last round and then pick one...and the guy she picked didn't last very long. It seems like a lot of work!! I am glad yours panned out though!

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  8. A few years ago there was a podcast musical called 36 Questions based on this list. It's excellent if you like musicals (Jonathon Groff is one of the characters!) https://twoupproductions.com/36-questions/podcast

    It has been so fun watching your trip progress this year.

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    1. Thanks Amanda! I am going to listen to that podcast! I do like musicals and I do like lists so it sounds like a win-win!

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  9. I added the 36 Questions to the list of potential fodder for NaBloPoMo! If people tackled one question a day, they'd still have questions left over! (Also, I agree with Amanda. That podcast was a lot of fun. I am not even into musicals, really, but I thought it was great.)

    I'm so jealous of your time in Nova Scotia! It looks like so much fun. I bet Elisabeth is a great host, too.

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    1. She is a great host! That is a good idea for NBPM and you could also curate it so that you can skip the more intimate questions. Also, now I definitely have to go and listen to that podcast!

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  10. Your visit with Elisabeth and her family sounds like such a wonderful time! What a nice experience for all of you! Those questions are pretty intense. I'll answer #5. The last time I sang to myself was today, just a few minutes ago. I tend to get a song in my head and sing it to myself until I have to tell myself to STOP IT! Today's song was Hopelessly Devoted from Grease. I'm not a good singer and I'd never sing for anyone except my husband!

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    1. Hopelessly Devoted is such a crooner and now it is going to be stuck in my head! I also have a very bad singing voice, but I do love to sing actually! I can't remember the last time I sang to myself though...

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  11. Love this post and the Elisabeth meet up!! I have now met several people through blogging! Let's see- I met Sarah Hart-Unger in Florida, who has become a really close friend of mine now! I also met NGS and Anne here in town, and Lisa in MN last spring. Then, you! I think that's it for now. I would LOVE to meet Elisabeth and go to NS someday. I've actually bounced the idea off of Lisa that we should plan a girl's trip up there sometime! Maybe there'd be a big Airbnb or something and we could get a group! That'd be fun. :)

    Funny story- I read Elisabeth's post about your visit right before bed the other night. I then proceeded to dream that *I* also went to visit Elisabeth, on a separate trip. Except upon arrival, I discovered that I had only packed flip flop sandals, no actual running or hiking shoes of any kind! And then, (and this is SO random!)-- I opened my purse and realized that the concealer tube I use religiously everyday to cover dark eye circles (like I don't leave home without it!) was totally empty. Hahaha! I mean... ok, that would actually be a big annoyance to me, but it's so random that it appeared in a dream?! Lol!!! I had to text Elisabeth right away to tell her about it. Haha.

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    1. Please, please do this! Oh my goodness. It would be so fun to have a big group come visit me. There are definitely lots of big AirBnB spaces and the American dollar is very strong right now.
      Birchie has promised she's going to be up here by this time next year!

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    2. Hahah! That is very strange. I mean, I know that you would never travel with only one pair of shoes!! :) It would be very fun to have a girls trip! I know no matter what we did it would be nice to all be together. Of course, winter is coming and I will probably not be headed back that way soon, but keep me posted!

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  12. I read all about this on Elisabeth's blog. SO COOL that you got to meet her family and spend all that time with her! I'm really envious. All the photos are gorgeous, and it's like you got to be a member of her family while you were there. I'm also excited about your trip to Europe (I was laughing at the previous post, that Bob is nervous traveling in his box.) Good luck with it!!!

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    1. I was definitely a member of her family! Bob got in the box okay, had his first flight, and came out unscathed on the other end. It was actually not as hard/scary as he thought it would be, but it was weird for me to have to check a bag because I am strictly carry on!! I should write a post from Bob's perspective about his first time on a plane.

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  13. I love that you have ended up making so many offline connections as you travel! It is so wonderful that you have been able to meet so many blog friends in person, too. What a great experience. I have met two bloggers in the offline world, and one blogger in the zoom world, and they are ALL fantastic and I hope to meet everyone in our blog community sometime!

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    1. I hope so too, and I am sorry that I was not able to meet you on this go around. Next time though! And there will always be a next time!

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  14. This trip sounds like it was such a great time for the both of you! I'm glad it went so well and you guys had a great time together. (But wait, do we EVER have a bad time with Cool Bloggers?!) I'm glad you got to visit Elisabeth and see Nova Scotia. She really should be the official ambassador for NS!

    I love those 36 questions and squirreled it away for NaBloPoMo posts if I need a backup! (I also really liked Supercommunicators as someone who is NOT a social but is an introvert, lol. I find it very hard to make conversation!)

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    1. Um, I thought she already WAS the official ambassador! She is so enthusiastic and also takes good photos! I had a great time. Those 36 questions are good, but there are some of them that I would NOT answer on my blog! I mean, I don't mind talking about when I last cried (while listening to a Moth story podcast) but there are others that are going to stay in the vault.

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  15. What an incredible time you had, Kyria. I loved that you met up with so many of the Cool Bloggers this summer and how easy the transition from URL to IRL was just because we've all known each other for years on the Internet. It's an incredible tool to connect people. I was so thrilled everytime someone was mentioning a meet up! <3

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    1. It has been a lot of fun, and it is a great excuse to take a vacation! I remember the first meet up I had and I was so nervous, and now it is so much more smooth!

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