Designing cities to counter loneliness? Let's explore the possibilities
As an adult, I&#x27;ve only really ever had an active social life for one short period where I was barely surviving as a retail wage slave. My coworkers were all in the same situation, but we found solace in our shared misery, and I made a lot of really good friends.<p>As a programmer, I sometimes make friends with my coworkers, but it&#x27;s a very sanitized sort of interaction. Genuine exchanges of ideas is a dangerous proposition when it means risking our livelihood.<p>The only place where I can freely exchange conversation with strangers is, ironically, on wild backcountry trails. Out there, information is very important. How much snow is there on the ridgeline? Where is the next water source? Any good campsites? And so on.<p>I&#x27;ve come to believe over the years that friendship can essentially be distilled down to proximity + a common interest + time. Unfortunately, we spend most of our time working, and these three things are very difficult to find outside of the workplace.