The group is a fun, silly, talkative, loud-talking complement to my good-natured silence. Good to hang out with. But, they also like to play Poker. I don’t. Once the game starts, can’t I just sit with them and enjoy their company, but work on something else? (Amy had the same idea, but was at least willing to play one game.)

It worked out well. Our host, Cliff, stirred up some mojitos. I mixed a fruit salad. We grilled a pile of beef bigger than any I’d seen all year. And chicken. And vegetables. We ate a satisfying meal at the table. Then, while my buddies Poker-ed away, I dipped into the neighbors’ wireless internet and got some good work done.