I was the token nerd-friend. Not that that is a bad thing, but it took me a few years to come to terms with—more so due to others and less so to do with myself. I remember in early elementary not having many friends, somewhat because I was shy to the extent of being socially inept but partly because I was that one kid who thought reading encyclopedias was cool. I loved school in the age range that hating it was the social norm. It took a years to find a group of friends who found my obsessive interests lovingly quirky, rather than weird.
So, being the token nerd-friend, I think I know enough to say why it’s great to have one of us in your life.
1. We make decision-making easy.
Nerd-friends, if there is one word I know to describe me and my fellow token nerd-friends, it is this: obsessive. Now, if you remove the negative connotations of the word 'nerd' and spend time with one of us, you will learn we are very easy to please. Museums, planetariums, aquariums, rock stores, caverns, comic stores. Whatever their poison happens to be, it isn't hard to plan a day revolving around it unless you live entirely in the middle of nowhere.
2. You will go through life being reminded of them.
I love to send my friends articles and pictures of things I love, and they tend to be space and rocks. Now, it's one thing for me to get excited over space, but for my friends to be excited because they know it is something I would love is incredibly heart-warming.
3. Gift-giving
Honestly, just walk into a museum gift store if you want to find us a birthday present. In my experience, nerds tend to have interests that everyone is aware of so why not use that to your advantage when shopping for presents. My favorite gift, to this day, has been a color-changing constellation mug. You might not know anything about astronomy, but I know I get extremely excited just knowing someone thought about me, remembered what I love, and thought I'd find it worthwhile.
4. We won't be unappreciative.
I spent most of my childhood not having anyone there to truly support my interests. This sounds sad, but it was mostly that no one knew anything about what I enjoyed and so it was hard to work around. Now, anytime it is even suggested that we go to a museum or something similar, I jump on the opportunity. Minus school field trips, I have been to more museums in the past four months than I did all throughout elementary school, middle school, and high school.
5. Stay around, and you'll get dragged to something even you'll find unbearably cool.
There is a reason astronomy clubs, gem and mineral societies, and more exist. Even to people who aren't hobbyists, it's interesting stuff. I've ended up bringing my friends to museums and dragged them to exhibits for things I personally love, and they're cool enough to keep them interested as well. Maybe it's just me, but going digging for quartz and calcite? A cool experience with a friend even if it isn't always your thing.
