I re-took the MB personality inventory again, just to see if the results have changed over time. On the Extraversion/Introversion scale, I used to be 50-50, or very close to it.

I think that was partly driven by my work life, where I held a leadership and advisory position, and by my home life where I often fell into the role of organizer and doer.

Since I've retired, I've been able to relax and be more myself--the person I truly am, without the pushing and kneading and distortion of outhers' demands. My true inclination is to lead from behind the scenes; to strategize and organize. I'm more introverted than I used to be. I'm the strategist.

The strategist works from a position of optimism. "How can we get this done?" is my response to "Yes, we can." I find myself going to that default position in everything, now; I enjoy it.

I suspect it drives B crazy, since she's a much more seat-of-the-pants activist. As soon as she proposes something (today's was for us to go to Sacramento this weekend so that we can present a petition in favor of the Trust Act to Governor Brown). I said it was an 8 hour drive; she said 5 hours. (Obviously without stopping to pee.)

Immediately I began to strategize: How we would get there, who would drive, changes of clothes, where would we stay overnight, and so forth. Looking at contingencies. It's a 400-mile trip, after all. Not sure how we'll get there in 5 hours safely. Google maps says 6.5 hours.

I'm pretty flexible about changing plans as the unexpected arises, but I like to plan ahead as much as possible. I'm in favor of comfort and enjoyment, not emergencies deriving from lack of foresight and tripping over foreseeable stumbling blocks.

She saw my strategizing as negative, as a "No" response from a stick-in-the-mud. I saw her idea as an ill-considered flight of enthusiasm, driven by her need to do her justice work.

We talked, and the ruffled feathers were smoothed. I may go; I may not.