As a green, I dislike social events as well. I always have to be talked into attending where they consist of just hanging around, small talking. Events I am more attracted in attending are those where there is a purpose, informational, insightful where I would gain knowledge. As far as reducing the stress, I don't go. If it is an event that I must attend, my rational of attending is my responsibility or loyality to others.

Oh say, not only I dislike shopping, I too don't like running into people I know, chit chatting in the isles.

I, too am green. Also with a high orange right behind it. However I came out an extrovert (I knew that. No one who starts conversations with strangers in public places could be anything else!) and I love parties.

I cannot remember the details of everyone's life either. I tell humorous stories (not jokes--I'm bad at jokes--but anecdotes, often about some silly thing that happened to me or was witnessed by me) or start conversations about some wild and silly subject. If you can make people laugh they will remember you fondly. Another tactic is to let people talk about themselves (they like to, trust me;-). It is not hard to do as most people are more than willing to. All you have to do is provide an opening. Then you smile and pay enough attention so that you can ask the next leading question. No one will ever notice that you don't retain these valuable facts ;-).

If they do catch you not in possession of some salient fact that you were told in the past, fall back on charm ("Oh! Was that you? Somehow I had got it into my head that that was ____. I swear my mind is going...") Smile disarmingly while you deliver this speech };->

You can always talk about the severed feet they are finding in Canada (see discussion "Fifth Foot"). That ought'a clear a space around you };->