Then I thought about all therecent emails, texts, DMs, and phone calls about buying an EV.

A surge in queries based on the absurd gas prices weve been encountering.

Those people will eventually want to visit us.

Man charging electric car in domestic garden, woman looking at man and smiling.

simonkr / Getty Images

You know, how we used to do before 2020?

This isnt plugging a phone into the wall socketcharging an EV costs real money.

Whats the protocol for this new and potentially costly social interaction?

Side view of woman charging electric car with open trunk while standing outside house

Maskot / Getty Images

simonkr / Getty Images

I think I have an idea how to make this less awkward for everyone involved.

I don’t know you and your friends, though.

Maybe you’re all super-rich, and $20 worth of electricity is nothing to you.

Man using smart phone while charging electric car in front yard

Maskot / Getty Images

In fact, maybe you invited the entire neighborhood over to suckle at your electric teat just for kicks.

You also happen to have a charging box mounted in your driveway or garage.

Sure, no problem.

Lets plug it in for an hour or so.

Here, Ill set a timer, so we dont forget.

Maskot / Getty Images

When the person offers cash, do the proper thing and decline.

Its your party, you brought them over here.

The Guest

Oh man, this is awkward, right?

Now you’re on your way to a friend’s house, and you really need some juice.

Also, you’re able to make small talk while plugging in your car.

Mostly you’ll talk about your EV because EV owners love talking about EVs.

You have to offer to pay for the electricity.

The host will say no.

At the very least, send a heartfelt text.

Something with a lot of praying hands and hearts and maybe a unicorn.

Unicorns make everything awesome.

As a society, we’ve sort of forgotten how to send thank you notes after a party.

So that’s my plan going forward.

I’ll happily let friends charge up and refuse to take their money because I love their company.

If they Venmo me cash later, I suppose that’s fine.

But a nice text filled with unicorns and a promise to hang out later and get some nachos?

That’s really what friendship is all about.

Unicorns, nachos, and electricity.

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