Living in a family's glass bowl

[owl]

    OP, you are new to this, so are the ones who care about you. LowTech hit it, Word. It's your life so it's front and center, sometimes we miss the reason others use to involve themselves in your life. It is your job to set the parameters. You will do this because it's your life and your new world. I would like you to feel the positive I'm sending to you. I wander through this world and rarely does anyone want to know where I am or what I'm doing. I hope you understand that perhaps having those folks in some part of your life is better than the alternative.  Good to you Girl!

 

[ganchan]

I'm going to keep a blog about my travels. Anyone who wants to know where I am and what I'm doing can read that.

 

[Magicwolf]

Sometimes I really just HATE the phone!!  Okay people, is that a crime?!  I wanted to be left alone and read.

Me too! It certainly is not (a crime). If it is, I'm guilty too!    Sometimes I shut mine off or put it in airplane or silent mode so it doesn't make me jump when it goes off - or be anxious that it will go off, or jolt me out of a nap!  You probably still have a lot of residual stress with the loss of your husband. Sometimes it takes a lot of quiet time to cope, I know. I know it makes me feel really irritable around others sometimes, I want to be left alone to just enjoy something because sometimes it's hard to relax. We are similar in the age/introvert factors.

If it were me - just to fend off problems if nothing else -  I'd maybe find a 3rd party to 'update' - and/or, your website if you're comfortable directing your family to it? You could just put an update there to soothe family members. Like: 03/10/15 - Please don't worry if you don't hear from me today/for a little while - just having some quiet time. And a 3rd party could maybe know your actual location just in case you did have some trouble. Your family was probably just freaked out due to the rash of weirdos in the news anymore. Maybe they are over-anxious to be around you thinking that's what you want or they feel they're being helpful (with the 'what day are you coming here?!' questions). Sometimes others don't realize that can be stressful for introverts.

Maybe politely tell them you don't have a set itinerary yet and prefer to not cast your plans in stone at this time. I think you'll feel better when you can get on the road and more like you have the reigns back and that you are your own gal, so to speak. I read of your plans and I think it's a great, creative idea! I read also what you wrote of John and based on that, I think you're right - he would love it.

 

[Theadyn]

Thank you all for the wonderful replies! Very much appreciated. It is good to get some different point of views. I've read every one. I usually sit on things for a few days and then see how I feel, so sorry for delayed reply.

The past few days I have calmed down and am over it. Yes, it was good someone was concerned. I appreciate that they were worried. And I know I do not think they same as everyone. That does not mean it is not frustrating some times, all the same. Yes, maybe that is the introvert in me, I closely guard my personal space and private life. Everyone has their differences, and that is cool.

On happier notes, the experiment was a success and I slept wonderfully! I do have to work out a few kinks inside, naturally. But hey, that is the fun of it, right?!

 

[Wabbit]

Not sure if this was suggested, had to skip ahead...


You might think about just changing your voice mail message until you come back in contact again. Unless I read it wrong, having the police get involved if it was just an over nighter thing sounds a tad much. Anyways, I hear you on the intrusiveness of it. Some times I just want to be alone with whatever I am doing. If I want to ignore the phone, door, emails whatever, I don't need to explain my right to do that twice to anyone. However, I did find out that people are people so I now accommodate them a lil better by changing my voice mail msg and hang a sign on my door if I don't want to be bothered. Best of luck with that!

 

[raygun]

What if you got a gps locator so your boyfriend could see where you are at and come find you after your "be home by" date. That may help alleviate some pressure to know where you are at all times. My husband and I have the find friends app on our phones and if one of us wants some alone time, the other can see where we are at if the be home by time has expired. They do have these tile gps locator thingies but I don't know a ton about them. Just a thought...