Where were you on Super Bowl Sunday? Were you drowning in Tostitos, taco dip and friendship? Were you directly in front of the TV screen, yelling from where the players can best hear you — because they totally can? Were you sitting in front of your computer playing Skyrim, wondering how many cheese curls you could fit into this large bowl everyone seems to be excited about? Super Bowl Sunday is a fairly deep-seated tradition in American culture, and people celebrate the special day however they darn well please. But allow me to paint some pictures for you. My mission is to determine the best way to spend Super Bowl Sunday.

Let’s start with something larger-scale. You’re chilling — that is to say, “throwing down a party” — with a huge group of friends. Those of your pals with a little more culinary skill and the place to utilize it probably whipped up some Super Bowl-appropriate food items. The rest of you flocked to Giant before they ran out of chips. You could be wearing jerseys, fancy-wear or whichever shirt you’re most comfortable getting globs of chili and cheese sauce on. Different conversations fill the room, and only around half of you are actually focusing on the game. We all have that one friend who came just for the commercials, which were not particularly exciting this year, I might add. But who cares? You’re with a massive group of friends and having a blast.

Then you may have the smaller-scale get-together, where you’re with only a few of your closest friends. You’re prepared to enjoy the game with modest but sufficient food choices, like a couple bags of chips and a few boxes of pizza. Unlike the larger bonanza described earlier, everyone is probably involved in the same conversation, whether or not you are actually discussing the game, such as how unexciting the game actually was. You’re less preoccupied with who wins and more excited that you can spend some quality time lounging around with your besties, cherishing a great American tradition. And possibly swooning over Bruno Mars during the halftime show. I know I was.

Lastly, you’ve got the crowd with interests other than sports and glorified mainstream traditions. You could be spending some quality time by yourself or with a group of your friends, but either way, your TV is not showing the one-sided football game everyone else is watching. If you’re by yourself, maybe you’re bundled up in a blanket, watching the more stimulating TV show of your choice. If you’re hanging out with other people, then it could very well be a video game night. You have never been a fan of football, and no one is going to make you like it. No judgment from me!

Throughout my three years at Etown, I have actually experienced all three types of Super Bowl celebrations in some fashion. During my first year, I sat in front of my computer all by myself. I hated football, and I didn’t feel like being around people. Simple as that. The yelling, laughter and crunching of chips from nearby doors didn’t faze me. I was content not to involve myself whatsoever in Super Bowl Sunday.

Last year, I watched the Super Bowl with a couple of close friends. We ordered a pizza, fought over how to divide that awkward last slice and simply enjoyed the game of football, as well as each other’s company. I remember telling my friends that I found the game so exciting that I might actually start watching football regularly. While this never happened, I found myself much happier than last year, but my overall mood at the time probably had more to do with this.

This year, I was at a larger gathering with great food and at least a dozen people. The room was abuzz with noise, and various comments about the game and commercials never ceased to fill the space. I felt energized by the company. I appreciated the larger-scale nature of the party and the ridiculous amounts of food in front of me. But was this truly the best Super Bowl Sunday yet?

Perhaps you saw this coming, but I would suggest there is no “ultimate” way to enjoy Super Bowl Sunday. Just don’t spend it alone. Any introverts out there may be brandishing the nearest sharp objects they can find, ready to ask me, “What’s wrong with being alone, huh?” But even those of us who do not derive a significant amount of energy from other people still need people in some capacity, just as extroverts need to chill out and do some introspection here and there. Even if you despise other people, let Super Bowl Sunday be that one day at the start of the year that you relax in the company of people you care about. You don’t even have to watch the stinking football game. To me, the tradition is more about the sense of community than the sport.

So before I have to make some awful football analogy I thought of when writing this, just take my word for it: this tradition is worth enjoying with others.