'I'm staying home this weekend and loving it'

It's easy to succumb to the pressure of socialising

It's a (long) weekend. I will be staying home. I have chores to attend - hair to colour, groceries to buy, laundry to fold, and brows to thread. I have to finish reading a book and catch up with friends on Skype. Plus, weekends are days when I use a body moisturiser (I recently bought a tube of body butter. A pink bubble on the tube reads: Now in cinnamon and chocolate too! Mine is just plain unsalted butter.). In between nap hours, I plan to catch on a TV series or play a board game, cook and freeze few meals. I might indulge in some online shopping (malls are too busy on weekends). I can go out and do other stuff too, just that I am not in a mood to wear high heels, clothes (exception of PJs) and kohl. It's going to be a hectic weekend. Though, if I feel too tired, I may overlook a few items on the to-do- list, and instead only sleep and moisturise. Moisturising is important. I could be visiting friends and they could be visiting me too. But you will not hear about it. We will not upload our selfies for your benefit.
It's easy to succumb to the pressure of socialising. I, for one, detest, okay that's a strong word, let's say dislike attending phone calls on a Thursday evening. For, on most Thursdays, I don't have a socially acceptable answer to Dubai's quintessential weekend question - Hey, what are your plans for tonight?
Week after week, I struggle to make my plans sound exciting and relaxing (They indeed are). I dare not tell anyone that I've decided to stay in because I am 'tired' or that I am planning to wake up early on Friday morning to buy organic, fresh veggies at the Farmers' Market! Or that I am choosing to order in a pizza (an extra one, to eat it cold for breakfast next morning) when ten not-to-miss eateries set shop in the city THIS week! Or I'll go for a swim, since the weather has cooled down.
Obviously, I fail.
For, I am caught somewhere in between FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out), followed by JOMO (Joy Of Missing Out). Or rather, I have embraced FOJI (Fear Of Joining In) and MOMO (Mystery Of Missing Out) too. Or it could be because I am blessed with best buddies who as an act of camaraderie avoid posting pictures of their fun-filled evenings so that I don't feel left out (BROMO: When your friends (bros!) do so.)
Either way, you should know that I don't have a Snapchat or Instagram account (I exist on FB, Twitter, etc). Don't get me wrong - I don't believe in social alienation (nor advise it), I am part of six WhatsApp groups (and none are on silent), just that the fear of not having plans for the weekend (or New Years) doesn't scare me. Plus, I have many virtual and real friends with whom I love to 'hang out'. Just that on some days, I choose otherwise. And I happen to know people who do so too.
For, the fact is that as much as people in Dubai love to party, check-in, dance until the feet hurt, and after-party - they like to put their feet up, sleep early (or till late), listen to music on their radios, cuddle up with their kids, eat at home, et al, too!
Oh wait -a word has been coined for us too: comes pretty close, at least. SLOMO - Slow To Missing Out, when your friends are having a good time but you are unaware because you are asleep (until next morning when you scroll through your Facebook timeline). Works? I am no social media expert but I am hopeful someone, somewhere will come up with an apt acronym for me (us).
Damn, I just realised that New Year's Eve will be here soon. I better come with a plan or an award-winning reply.
Until then, I will take a big bite of the extra-cheese pizza slice. And catch-up with 'things' I missed on during the week.
P.S: I love high heels. In case, any of my friends are reading this and wondering what to get me for Christmas! -
purva@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai