[sixothree]

I've grew up as an outsider in pretty much every aspect of my life. I don't have any need to fit in, nor any compulsion to do the thing everyone else is doing. By the time I hit 25 I pretty much realized I don't need people to be happy. Being around other people means entertaining other people. For some reason there seems to be no "just existing doing my thing" with other people.

I don't mind crowds, but it depends on the crowd. Throngs of people going to work? I don't feel lonely, I feel isolated. I can feel myself as a dot travelling through a sea of dots.

Maybe it depends on the city. Where I am, crowds of people inevitably afford opportunity for heartfelt anonymous interaction. You can say something very personal to a stranger and they will respond in kind. And then you never see them again.

I'm sure some of them remember me.