I have for decades used membership organizations and their parties for my selfish purposes.

When I like an organization and want to remain one of its members, I volunteer to do some of its necessary work. The first time I was the president of such an organization, I didn’t have to go to other members; they came to me. I needed only to learn how to delegate the work they usually wanted me to do.

When my husband was alive, we would go to a gathering and he would not make the first move to converse, it always had to be me, which I am very comfortable with small talk.

Yup

Yes. And it's only gotten worse during this whole shutdown. I used to force myself into certain situations to stay "friendly" with people. None of that in about a year. Don't know if I'll be able to go back.

I'm the only one? Damn, I'm more of a weirdo than I thought.

Going to parties usually requires friends.

no

Certainly not! I am happy to see them! I luckily learned in early puberty to dump self-consciousness, by realized most people are much too worried about the impression They are making to think about what i am doing. It was a magic moment!
Edited to say I need, want, crave A Lot of alone time with "just" the dogs!!!!

Nope!

Parties??? If ever... I make the prettiest wallflower!!

Seldom attended parties , didn't know many people , wouldn't have noticed who was in a group having a conversation .