For most circumstance, I want to be mid-bell. In the workplace it means I can both learn from and teach others. Oftentimes, I'd prefer expertise in some areas (smartest in room) but lack of knowledge in other areas that I'm interested in but know there are others there who are experts and are willing to help me grow. In social situations I think it's similar, though there I prefer to interact with people who are open, friendly and kind regardless of their intelligence.
I wouldn't care. We're part of our own communities, we cause them to get better, and we foster the development of the new people. You play the hand You're dealt. The people around you are your people. You shouldn't worry about their intelligence