Crocheting in Bars: In Defense of Mild Social Awkwardness

If you know me, chances are we've acted out this scene together:

The setting: a bar in Brooklyn or Manhattan
The cast: yours truly, and a few friends/acquaintances

Work Guy: Man, today sucked. I'm really glad we came out.
Me: Yeah, me to. I'm going to drown my sorrows in guacamole.
Work Guy: Give me the biggest beer you've got.
Work Friend: Hell yeah on that guacamole. 
Work Girl: God, XYZ is such a bitch.
Work Guy: Man, everyone we work with totally sucks.
Work Girl: Yeah, what a bunch of ass-holes.
Me: (removing hook and half-made hat from oversized purse) Mind if I crochet?
Work Friend: Cool, what are you working on?
Work Girl and Guy: ...

Fin

Here is why I crochet in bars. It's not that I'm not interested in conversing with you -- I am. It's not that I don't want to get to know you better -- I do, or else I would have gone home. It's not that I'm so anxious about social occasions that I have to keep my hands busy (although admittedly, that has something to do with it). It's this: I really like to crochet. In fact, I freaking love to crochet. I love that it makes me feel productive. I love that it allows me to create something tangible. It gives me a sense of satisfaction that I can't find in my work, because me work does not produce anything tangible, ever.

It's been interesting to discover that a lot of the people that I know professionally do not have any hobbies. Granted, being an attorney does not leave you with a lot of free time. I'm always really excited to learn about other people's unexpected non-work activities. Some people gently mock an older, somewhat awkward colleague for being involved in community theater. The other day, I found myself deep in conversation with this gent about the relative merits of Crazy For You versus My Fair Lady. And guess what? It was delightful. He morphed into a newly animated, considerably less awkward person. This guy probably would have understood why I crochet in bars. He sneaks off into vacant hallways to sing show tunes between trials.

Maybe I'll design a hat called the Eliza Doolittle. We can talk about it over a beer if you like. I'll multitask.

P.S. New inventory coming soon!