For years, I prided myself on being unapproachable. I used to bristle when approached by someone when I was out in public. Something has changed. QueerJoe is open now.

QueerJoe Is Open and Approachable

Recently, people have been unexpectedly approaching me and engaging me in conversations…interesting, sometimes intimate conversations about their lives. It’s happened three times in the last few weeks.

Yesterday, I had to bring Thaddeus to a doctor’s appointment. I knew my wait would be about an hour, so I walked to a nearby coffee house. It seemed a good idea to get a good latte and do some knitting. I did, in fact, get a good latte and had just sat down and started knitting. I was approached by someone interested in my knitting and we ended up talking for the next hour. Mostly about books and authors we enjoyed. I got to add a couple new books to my reading list (The Water is Wide by Pat Conroy and All The King’s Men by Robert Penn Warren). But we also spoke about some more personal issues as well.

About a three weeks ago and then again about a week agao, I had lengthy discussions with two people who I get to see infrequently…two guys I like quite a bit. We had very intimate conversations which I didn’t expect from either of them.

It made me realize something has changed about my approachability. Thaddeus suggested that perhaps I had aged to that point where I was no longer seen as threatening to would-be approachers. That’s possibly a factor, but I also think my demeanor has transformed somehow.

Regardless of why this newfound openness is there, I have grown to enjoy it. People seem to see me as trustworthy of their personal thoughts and feelings and I think that’s true. I like that I project a sense of non-judgmental approachability.

Current Knitting/Designing

I was able to complete the first draft of the helical striped, toe-up sock pattern and send it out to four testers (thank you to all who offered). There are some techniques in the sock that are new or slightly different than most people do them, so I’ve started creating a companion video to the pattern.

Two techniques or modifications to techniques are the more rounded heel which I’ve discussed already but also a better way to do Judy’s Magic Cast-On. Both make the sock design slightly better.

I’ve also turned the heel and started the ankle of the second sock.

I’m happy with everything about this sock. Although with my conversation yesterday in the coffee shop, I didn’t get any knitting done. Most of you know, I always value socializing more than knitting and I don’t think I can do both of them well at the same time.