I've been bringing my laptop to the same cafe for two years pretending to work but really just wanting to be around the energy of other people and I wonder if they've figured out I'm basically paying rent to not be alone.
More people experience this than they realize.
Using commercial spaces as remedies for isolation can feel both necessary and somehow fraudulent, highlighting the cost of connection in a society that has monetized even the experience of not being alone.
“Where Are You with Third places — bars libraries parks barbershops?”
If this sounds familiar, the Library can help you find the bigger picture.