I’ve realized the past few nights that I don’t really have much of a social life; most of my ’social’ time is spent chatting with potential dates and/or friends online. So when everyone - very suddenly! - becomes unavailable to chat, I get a bit antsy. Not that I don’t have a bajillion other things to do with my time. But I think perhaps I am addicted to chat.

And what isn’t there to like? If a particular chat buddy is in any way literate, the instant gratification is hard to beat. Sure, online its pretty much impossible to create that heady chemistry that makes you swim with desire, but it can get pretty damn close. Ok, so the Ex from Hell was able to do it with me, but that relationship wasn’t the healthiest of passions.

So when, two nights in a row, I found myself sans chat buddy, I felt a bit empty and unsure of what to do with myself. Yes I have a stack of fascinating books I’ve been meaning to devour, and I could quite easily play an hour or two of Final Fantasy 8, my new obsession. But I want to feel attractive, desired and intelligent right NOW! At midnight on a weeknight.

Usually Goblin and I feed our compulsive chat addictions nightly with either a debate about the merits and drawbacks of jumping the Behinder or a circular argument about why him and I aren’t dating each other (answer: because I’m still stuck on the Behinder, obviously, and I know Goblin too well to put him in the potential rebound position).

Then there is the Farmer, where up until two days ago we’d been chatting for hours every morning and night about taboo topics such as ex’s, diseases of the colon, friends with benefits, and the acceptability of being a carnivore. I’ve never even met the guy and I realize I miss our unpredictable sittings.

Of course there is the Behinder, with whom I usually shoot the shit with at least once a day depending on his work schedule. Yes, yes. We live mere meters from one another. And when we see each other, invariably one of us has a book or game to share with the other; me some literary smut like Nancy Friday’s My Secret Garden, and him Warren Ellis’ Transmetropolitan. Behinder however is out of town visiting friends for six days, and although he’s occasionally been online, I’ve chosen the route of space-giver due to our last conversation (And You Say Women Are Confusing?), as well as the fact that I have a sneaky suspicion that part of his visit is to meet up with one of the gals he left me for eight or so months ago. Still, as my sister informed and reminded me just yesterday, I love the guy. Truly, completely, unconditionally - and its obvious. I’m missing him more than the rest combined.

There’s also an ex-gf who I’ll just refer to as S; we talk once in a while late-night too, but she’s now a single mom with a 2-year-old, so I don’t see her online as often as I used to. S always gives me perspective while openly sharing her affection for me . S is great for the ego - and yet another reason why I’m so addicted to chat.

I think I’ll take a chat break this weekend. More hiking, less computer. Yeah.