Benefits of Living Blue in a Red State

I am an introvert; I have always felt in the minority.  Some studies show that, in the general population, introverts make up about 10 percent -- which leaves extraverts the overwhelming majority.  What's the difference?

According to Kroeger and Thuesen in their book Type Talk, these are the preferences of both:

Introvert                                            Extravert
     territoriality                                       sociability
     concentration                                     interaction
     internal                                              external
     depth                                                  breadth
     intensive                                            extensive
     limited relationships                          multiple relationships
     energy conservation                           energy expenditure
     internal reactions                                external events
     reflective                                             gregarious
     think, then speak                                 speak, then think

Additionally, I grew up in an evangelical Christian family at a time when that was definitely not cool.  Public school was a nightmare in the sense that we as children were encouraged to be in the world, but not of the world.  As girls, we were required to wear dresses only (no shorts, long pants, or jeans), no make-up and no jewelry.  We could not go to movies, attend dances or play cards.  Sundays were for reflection and naps; no play.  At that time as a child, I felt weird, faceless, out of sync with my peers.  (On a Sunday afternoon, my fifth-grade playmate kept sending me upstairs to my napping mother to ask for a quarter so I could go to the movie matinee with her.  No, no and NO was the answer.)

Currently, I'm a Democrat living in a red state.  In my town, there is no Democratic organization, no get-togethers with others who have common values, no sharing of ideas or principals.  There is no common activism involved in generating enthusiasm for our cause.  In our voting district, a small percentage of all voters vote Democratic.  We are the silent minority.

I am an introvert with an evangelical Christian background but who no longer tracks in that path; I am a Democrat living in a place where Republicans overwhelmingly outnumber us.  I am definitely in the minority.  So what could possibly be beneficial about living here?

1.  On Sundays, I ride my bike around town while most everyone else is sitting in church.  There are no distractions, few disruptions, just my quiet time to contemplate and enjoy.
2.  My political stance allows me to stay somewhat invisible.  No sense in voting for someone for school board (something I tried last spring) who has opposite political views.
3. Society at large tends to ignore me which allows freedom from intermingling with larger groups of people with whom I may not have a lot in common.

In the end, it may feel a little too comfortable now.  Swimming upstream while everyone else is heading downstream is not a strange feeling.  It has in fact been a big part of my life.  If I genuinely lived in a progressive community (which I have dreamed of many times), I might really feel lost.  I'd have to actually look for barriers to overcome!