I have one mother (empty nester) who will usually sit on the long side of the bar, but will occasionally sit on the short end. The only difference that I can see when she sits on the short end is her status saying "Hungry" I have noticed that whoever sits on the short end takes longer to finish a meal than those seated on the long side. In a house of 8, I can usually seat the first five and then place the remaining three as the seats empty on the long side, and usually one, if not both of the people on the short side will still be eating as the second wave begins to leave the bar. So I wonder if seating preference may have to do with how hungry they are as well?