re: Why does it feel so wrong to be alone in public places?

My first job after college was one where I was based in Dallas, but drove on I-20, through East Texas, and North Louisiana, every six weeks. I would then work in Dallas, where I had 40+ customers, for a week. The next week, I'd drive up through eastern OK to Tulsa, then cross into Arkansas, and hit NW Arkansas, down to Ft. Smith, Little Rock, Hot Springs, and then hit the East Texas towns on I-30. That loop took two weeks. Then I'd work in Dallas a week, and start over again.

I had friends in Tyler, Longview,Shreveport, and Monroe, so I enjoyed that trip.

I went to the college bars in Fayetteville, but didn't know anyone. I was by myself, and really didn't have much to talk about with those kids. Getting a haircut was the closest thing to being social I did in Muskogee.

I'd end up rewarding myself with nice meals, so I gained weight. I was glad when they reorganized the territories, and let me go. It was just before Christmas, so I took a month off, looked around, interviewed, and started a new job halfway through January.

The next job I took required driving around DFW, but I was home every night. The only times I had to travel, was for meetings, and occasional training in our Houston office. I had a great social life from that point. I stayed there for 28 years.