I escape when there is a lot of socializing going on and where there is going to be some amount of focusing on me. If I know that I'm going to have to answer questions like, "what do you do?", "what have you been up to?", etc., it's just not fun at all. It's the opposite of fun.
Examples:
-Family reunions with 10-30 family members that I really don't know well but I'll have to go through a never-ending line of questions about myself and my life.
-The first day of a new class. When in college, I thoroughly enjoyed the first night of a new class because I was excited about the things I'd be learning in the class. But, the introductions where you have to stand up and tell 3 things about yourself were brutal. I'd be "preparing my speech" in my head instead of listening to others.
-Meeting an acquaintance out in public. Most INxx's probably cringe when they're filling up their gas tank or in the grocery store and they hear some loud voice say their name.
Why do I escape?
-Having to engage them in conversation, pulls me (and keeps me) out of Ti (not a good reason, but still the truth because Ti is a very "comfortable" place for me). Sometimes, if I'm really deep in thought, it can even be startling to have someone call out my name in public.
-In the case of the family reunion and the class introductions, it feels very much like we are just "going through the motions". It feels like an interrogation and a formality that tomorrow is going to make absolutely no difference to either party. I guess what makes it worse is the fact that I feel misunderstood and perhaps judged. I have one family member that always "escapes" these situations - leaves early, goes into another room, etc. and everyone else (the so-called "normal ones") - talks about him like he's a lame duck and an idiot. But, I'm just like him. I like him the most of them all. I do think he should try more (as should I), but I get him. And I hear what they say about him and it's horrible. I've also heard him (and other friends) who are "deep people" who get judged and talked about left and right when they express their true selves openly and honestly. So, it closes me up. As it is, it takes a lot of my energy to open up to people - so why do it if they're just going to talk about you or say how strange you are later the next day?
If I know you aren't judgmental, I'll open up. If you're judgmental, you're not going to know the "inner me". I'm just not going to show it to you.