Day #25 - Not present or antisocial?

I'm really not sure what the general consensus would be.

Not understanding how insular I actually prefer to be, it is generally assumed by my parents that if I stay in my room for any length of time to mean one of two things. Either I fell asleep or I'm angry about something. It never occurs them that I just want to be quiet by myself. Usually I get asked what I was doing... as though it is bad to spend time by oneself... as though they can't hold conversation without me... as though I never lived 1500 miles away and only saw them once every 6 months or so.

Usually I'm relaxing in my room after getting home from work because while I am outwardly outgoing at the museum and when out in public, it is really draining. By the time I get home, I'm drained of the ability to viably interact with other humans. I need to recharge my social/emotional battery. Without those (at least) 15 to 20 minutes to read, interact via a chosen medium or mentally process through the interactions from the day, I can not function as a member of the household without being a complete and utter jackass to the other bipeds.

So I ask. Is it more antisocial to physically remove myself from their presence by remaining in my room for the waking hours before and after dinner... or should they be bothered more if I isolate myself by use of my laptop and headphones while sitting in the livingroom with them but not engaging with them in any way?

Physically absense or physically present but mentally absent?

Day #2 - Things she held...

That I enjoy looking at pictures shouldn't come as a shock to anyone who knows me. 

I've always had a particular affinity for looking at old pictures of my family. Being that I've never known most of my extended family, I always jumped at the opportunity to see them... even if it was only possible in 2D.

I recently got a hold of a notebook that was kept by my Grandmother on my Father's side. In it she had written a load of poems. I'm not entirely sure if they were original works or simply her way of making a copy for later consumption, but I'm sure I'll eventually figure it out. There are numerous quips of wisdom interspersed with the poems as well. I'm finding it really entertaining to go through the pages. I feel like it gives me some kind of connection to my Grandmother even though she was gone long before I came along.

But the most important things that I have found within my Grandmother's notebook are the names and dates. She recorded the names, birthdates and sometimes death dates of her parents, siblings and children. Before finding the information here, I'd only managed to get names (some of them) from my father, who doesn't understand why in the world I choose to care about the collection of this information. It opens the window to my past wider than it ever has been before. I might actually be able to find out more with these small tidbits.

Or atleast I hope so. 

In the meantime, I'll content myself with holding in my hands, the same items that my Grandmother once held in hers.