Nice job on the article.
As a fellow Mensan, I appreciate you refraining from mentioning other reasons we isolate ourselves, some of which include endless drivel about superficial subjects such as sports, crabgrass, which fast food joint has the better food, etc.
I also have agoraphobia, and have to push myself out the door every time. Once I get to the car, I am OK. I am married, but Ron and I did not get together until he was 45 years old. We met at a Mensa function. I was his first real relationship. He is not highly social either.
You are in the Chicago group. Matt and Robin. I met them at the Denver AG and they were SUPER people. Try one Mensa activity. I would suggest Halloweem. Yeah, it is a lot of people, but there are people from all over, so if you run into an arrogant jerk, you can find another person who is nice. I am trying to talk Ron into driving up to Chicago to go to "Weem this year. It you can make it to one activity, you will find that Mensan actually GET your jokes, and are not too bad.
Mensa and Mensans do care for their own (at least in my group). Let me know how you are doing.
Hugs
Carol