It was my experience that finding space, was more about finding “my space”.
This story was based on a girl that I never met again after a party 20 years ago but the time we shared still lives in a happy place in my brain to this day.
BitcoinBishop on
In my twenties, I always thought there’s no better ambiance than the smoking area outside a nightclub. I never smoked, just went out to chat with randos.
ScytheOfAsgard on
I remember when I was in high school a certain authority figure saying do you want to live life on the sidelines and I said yes and they were not prepared at all for that response and they were like well that’s exactly what’s gonna happen if you ((I forget the part they were trying to change)) lol
BrightNeonGirl on
This is the same plot to the music video for “The Middle” by Jimmy Eat World 🙂
fuck_this_i_got_shit on
My teenage son still snuggles with me when burnt out after about 30 minutes of too much socialization.
alexlongfur on
My aunt and I will tuck ourselves away in a separate room to decompress from family socializing during gatherings.
Edit: TO SCROLL ON OUR PHONES. OR READ.
WizardofOS09 on
Is it just me or does this feel like that one beach scene in eternal sunshine of the spotless mind
Nalot_1 on
We all need to figure out our own ways and the best path for us, very simple but also very difficult at times.
Stag-Horn on
I wound up outside a lot. As a result though, I associate the smell of cigarettes with friends.
etherama1 on
Is the first panel the same as the “they don’t know I…” Meme?
Chutpaglu0-0 on
Why is this shit so real ! like man really this thing nailed the talk on the point
coconut_crusader on
Man, not sure if intentional or not, but “I was only 19” has a totally different meaning here.
TheDeathSloth on
This is essentially how my wife and I got together.
Big house party, I’m a huge extrovert and there were plenty of nose clams to go around (iykyk) so I was having a grand old time but she’s incredibly introverted and was being crept on by pretty much every dude there. She and I had worked together in the past but only interacted a few times and I was outside smoking a cigarette and we saw each other and…it’s been over three years now and we’re pretty much attached at the hip.
QuixoticEvil on
I mean, they’re the only one who wore a traffic cone to the party; of course they feel out of place.
FreeXFall on
The nostalgia of discovering “maybe the fringe is my scene” hits hard / deep. Thanks for sharing OP.
Plop_Twist on
This describes exactly how I met my wife.
me_on_the_internet on
My problem is I would also have no idea what to say to a person who sits down next to me, so this would be literally the complete story
rjwut on
I initially read “Maybe the fringe is my scene” as “Maybe the *fridge* is my scene” and I’m like, “Same.”
ManOfLaMontagne on
This is why I was a smoker for so long. Loved sitting on porches with the smokers.
thatshygirl06 on
But your mind was older
THEFLYINGSCOTSMAN415 on
This was/is my life. It’s perfectly fine once you accept it, no need to try to be something you don’t enjoy
pres1033 on
Man last time I went to a bar for a local concert, I was enjoying the music but people kept crowding my little table so I went outside to get some space. Some guy came out and accused me of trying to roofy some girl or something? Idk he seemed drunk AF and was slurring real bad but a bunch of people were coming out and glaring at me so I got uncomfortable and left.
To be clear, I have never ever felt any desire to do anything that awful, idk why he came out and started yelling at me. I just wanted to have a few minutes without being surrounded by drunk, smelly people. Haven’t gone back to that bar since, it used to be where I tried to kinda open up and be more social and extroverted.
I did end up finding a group to play Magic and go to escape rooms and stuff through work though, so I think bars just weren’t my vibe.
FlowingMochi on
Damn. Maybe the fringe was my scene. I guess I never considered that a possibility. Just always thought I was a loser.
Theavenger2378 on
I used to live near a nightclub. I would go, have a few drinks, stand near the bar or outside with the smokers (I don’t smoke but enjoyed the chill atmosphere with those that did).
A few people thought it was strange that I wasn’t trying to dance with everyone/anyone. But I found the rhythm that I enjoyed.
Then the manager of the place ran off with 3 grand owed to the property owner and the place shut down. Ah well.
Narsuaq on
I dunno. No one ever joins me.
MAXQDee-314 on
The walls of childhood melt slowly and unevenly. Take your time, the way is the melting, into someone, away from others, chilling with new friends.
isolatedresonance on
I appreciate the unique method of drawing the characters.
kmoneyrecords on
In my partying days I found that once you start owning the fringe, it begins to turn into a role; every house party I went to with my friends, I would find a group of other pot smokers and establish the “smoking corner”. People got used to the fact that we’d always be there and would come looking for us when they needed somewhere quieter or wanted to partake. It was nice.
machomoose on
One of my favorite “feelings” is from my party days in my teens-twenties. When it would be some sort of house party, and it’s hot as hell and loud and crowded inside, and you take a minute to go outside for a breather with a few people, specifically in the winter. Maybe have a cigarette (I don’t smoke but I’ve indulged..) and get that crisp winter air, dark sky, muffled music from in the house, and stay out there and have a little chat until you get cold and head back in. I’m 32 but relived this feeling a couple weeks ago on a ski trip with a few people. Wood stove was cranking inside and we stepped out for a quick minute in -9 F weather. Made me feel alive
SpareAdventurous727 on
Love the first panel mirrors the “they dont even know” meme too
Apprehensive_End1039 on
Shoutout to all the porch dwellers of the world. That liminal, intimate space on the edge of the scene.
Don’t even smoke anymore, but will hang out there for hours just to have quiet, serious conversations with strangers.
CurrentBias on
Accidentally a comic about how modern building design has led to a decline in ventilation/IAQ
xZipsx on
When I was a kid I got invited to a Chuck E. Cheese birthday party. At some point I got overwhelmed or something(can’t quite remember why) and snuck into the tube maze thing they had indoor and just kind of sat there and chilled. This girl who wasn’t part of the party I was attending noticed me and struck up a conversation as she invited me to play. I had a feeling she thought I was cool or something because she kept asking me questions about myself and just random things, I remember answering as best as I could as a kid. Anyways I had to leave and I told her bye and I’ve probably never seen her again but that memory has stuck with me for years. I sometimes wonder if she’s doing well or if she even remembers me.
Nipinch on
I spent about an hour at a party, got annoyed with a group of people there, went outside and climbed a tree. Bout ten minutes later I was no longer alone in the tree.
If you’re just openly weird, people will show their weird, too.
36 Comments
It was my experience that finding space, was more about finding “my space”.
This story was based on a girl that I never met again after a party 20 years ago but the time we shared still lives in a happy place in my brain to this day.
In my twenties, I always thought there’s no better ambiance than the smoking area outside a nightclub. I never smoked, just went out to chat with randos.
I remember when I was in high school a certain authority figure saying do you want to live life on the sidelines and I said yes and they were not prepared at all for that response and they were like well that’s exactly what’s gonna happen if you ((I forget the part they were trying to change)) lol
This is the same plot to the music video for “The Middle” by Jimmy Eat World 🙂
My teenage son still snuggles with me when burnt out after about 30 minutes of too much socialization.
My aunt and I will tuck ourselves away in a separate room to decompress from family socializing during gatherings.
Edit: TO SCROLL ON OUR PHONES. OR READ.
Is it just me or does this feel like that one beach scene in eternal sunshine of the spotless mind
We all need to figure out our own ways and the best path for us, very simple but also very difficult at times.
I wound up outside a lot. As a result though, I associate the smell of cigarettes with friends.
Is the first panel the same as the “they don’t know I…” Meme?
Why is this shit so real ! like man really this thing nailed the talk on the point
Man, not sure if intentional or not, but “I was only 19” has a totally different meaning here.
This is essentially how my wife and I got together.
Big house party, I’m a huge extrovert and there were plenty of nose clams to go around (iykyk) so I was having a grand old time but she’s incredibly introverted and was being crept on by pretty much every dude there. She and I had worked together in the past but only interacted a few times and I was outside smoking a cigarette and we saw each other and…it’s been over three years now and we’re pretty much attached at the hip.
I mean, they’re the only one who wore a traffic cone to the party; of course they feel out of place.
The nostalgia of discovering “maybe the fringe is my scene” hits hard / deep. Thanks for sharing OP.
This describes exactly how I met my wife.
My problem is I would also have no idea what to say to a person who sits down next to me, so this would be literally the complete story
I initially read “Maybe the fringe is my scene” as “Maybe the *fridge* is my scene” and I’m like, “Same.”
This is why I was a smoker for so long. Loved sitting on porches with the smokers.
But your mind was older
This was/is my life. It’s perfectly fine once you accept it, no need to try to be something you don’t enjoy
Man last time I went to a bar for a local concert, I was enjoying the music but people kept crowding my little table so I went outside to get some space. Some guy came out and accused me of trying to roofy some girl or something? Idk he seemed drunk AF and was slurring real bad but a bunch of people were coming out and glaring at me so I got uncomfortable and left.
To be clear, I have never ever felt any desire to do anything that awful, idk why he came out and started yelling at me. I just wanted to have a few minutes without being surrounded by drunk, smelly people. Haven’t gone back to that bar since, it used to be where I tried to kinda open up and be more social and extroverted.
I did end up finding a group to play Magic and go to escape rooms and stuff through work though, so I think bars just weren’t my vibe.
Damn. Maybe the fringe was my scene. I guess I never considered that a possibility. Just always thought I was a loser.
I used to live near a nightclub. I would go, have a few drinks, stand near the bar or outside with the smokers (I don’t smoke but enjoyed the chill atmosphere with those that did).
A few people thought it was strange that I wasn’t trying to dance with everyone/anyone. But I found the rhythm that I enjoyed.
Then the manager of the place ran off with 3 grand owed to the property owner and the place shut down. Ah well.
I dunno. No one ever joins me.
The walls of childhood melt slowly and unevenly. Take your time, the way is the melting, into someone, away from others, chilling with new friends.
I appreciate the unique method of drawing the characters.
In my partying days I found that once you start owning the fringe, it begins to turn into a role; every house party I went to with my friends, I would find a group of other pot smokers and establish the “smoking corner”. People got used to the fact that we’d always be there and would come looking for us when they needed somewhere quieter or wanted to partake. It was nice.
One of my favorite “feelings” is from my party days in my teens-twenties. When it would be some sort of house party, and it’s hot as hell and loud and crowded inside, and you take a minute to go outside for a breather with a few people, specifically in the winter. Maybe have a cigarette (I don’t smoke but I’ve indulged..) and get that crisp winter air, dark sky, muffled music from in the house, and stay out there and have a little chat until you get cold and head back in. I’m 32 but relived this feeling a couple weeks ago on a ski trip with a few people. Wood stove was cranking inside and we stepped out for a quick minute in -9 F weather. Made me feel alive
Love the first panel mirrors the “they dont even know” meme too
Shoutout to all the porch dwellers of the world. That liminal, intimate space on the edge of the scene.
Don’t even smoke anymore, but will hang out there for hours just to have quiet, serious conversations with strangers.
Accidentally a comic about how modern building design has led to a decline in ventilation/IAQ
When I was a kid I got invited to a Chuck E. Cheese birthday party. At some point I got overwhelmed or something(can’t quite remember why) and snuck into the tube maze thing they had indoor and just kind of sat there and chilled. This girl who wasn’t part of the party I was attending noticed me and struck up a conversation as she invited me to play. I had a feeling she thought I was cool or something because she kept asking me questions about myself and just random things, I remember answering as best as I could as a kid. Anyways I had to leave and I told her bye and I’ve probably never seen her again but that memory has stuck with me for years. I sometimes wonder if she’s doing well or if she even remembers me.
I spent about an hour at a party, got annoyed with a group of people there, went outside and climbed a tree. Bout ten minutes later I was no longer alone in the tree.
If you’re just openly weird, people will show their weird, too.
Hell yeah. This is how I met my husband 💕
This was me, minus the girl.