the friday five

1. Would you say that you’re good at keeping in touch with people?

God no. I’m awful at it. I barely write an email every two months (if that) to people I’m not often in touch with, and only very rarely am I moved to contact those I haven’t seen in a long while. (I take the lazy way out: have a website anyone can find, and let them email me.)

2. Which communication method do you usually prefer/use: e-mail, telephone, snail mail, blog comments, or meeting in person? Why?

I’d say email. Snailmail is the absolute arena of last-resort, as far as I’m concerned.

3. Do you have an instant messenger program? How many? Why/why not? How often do you use it?

I do in theory — both ICQ and AIM, but I never use them and doubt I have them installed on any of the machines I’m currently using. I tried them for awhile, but frankly I like being unavailable sometimes — it’s the best argument I have for getting caller-id for the home phone.

I like people, just not all the time.

4. Do most of your close friends live nearby or far away?

Nearby. Friends of mine who were emotionally close aren’t as much now, mostly in direct proportion to their physical distance. This is one of the reasons I find moving to a new area (for myself or someone else) very traumatic.

5. Are you an “out of sight, out of mind” person, or do you believe that “distance makes the heart grow fonder”?

In short doses, absence is probably refreshing. Long doses are not good for me, and I don’t care for them one bit, thanks.