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coffee
November 2009 
Coffee Shop Musings
Posted on Apr 7th, 2009
by 
IAAM2
IAAM2
Yesterday I caught up with a friend from work whom I sailed with last year. He has been gone for the winter living down south. It was good to catch up with him and find out how he "wintered".
The range of topics was vast and the hour and a half went very quickly. There was also an interesting "ebb and flow" of people who took seats around us, drank their coffee and conversed (or not) and left being replaced by someone else. I was just aware from a peripheral perspective they were there as the conversation flowed.
We talked about the following: investments, sailing, family, catching up with colleagues, the benefits of being retired, income and property taxes, cars, politics, recent travel, oil and water resources, economic trends and the focus on "growth", consumerism, life cycle of cars, recreational properties, urban sprawl, demographics and attitudes, being patriotic, driving over mountain passes in unsafe road conditions, post secondary education and some other topics I don't recall at the moment. There was a good balance of talking and listening which I always appreciate when conversing.
Occasionally I will go and sit in a coffee shop by myself. It is usually because I am traveling solo or I have arrived early when meeting someone. The dynamic is different because I can become more of an observer than a conversationalist. It is interesting to observe the different degrees of intensity and energy people display in their conversations. All the way from very intimate to what appears to be total boredom and disconnection. It is also interesting to note in groups of conversation who the dominate people are and whether or not others are being included or are they also "observers" and maybe feel like outsiders to the conversation? I also note that here are others there by themselves. They are sitting there with computers on or writing in journals or binders-sometimes reading. I imagine some come and sit at the same table everyday? I sometimes make up stories about their lives as I ponder their existence and motivations. Occasionally I will strike up a conversation but probably not as often as I would like. I have a tendency to want to respect people's space and focus.
That's it for today..............
Access: PublicTagged with: coffee
Occasionally I will go and sit in a coffee shop by myself.
This is one of my favorite weekend activities. Coffee, an empty table, a few books, and a friendly smile. I've met such interesting people like this. I also just love the energy and thrum of being around others; it's like nestling into a giant bee-hive or flock of kindred birds. My species. My people. :)
And I sometimes look at people who sit alone and wonder whether they would like someone to come and start talking to them or not … I go to coffee shops quite often, and I can say exactly the same about myself: 'occasionally I will strike up … but not as often as I'd like'. Sometimes out of pure shyness or lack of confidence, to be honest. Although today I asked someone at the next table time just with the intention of checking whether she seems friendly and interested in conversation or not. I've never done that before, has always seemed somehow banal or too artificial to cheat like this (the clock on my mobile phone was working perfectly).