Unsocial distancing
I'm camping at the moment and something I've been noticing since I got back into camping last year after a few years break is the social sort of side.
It's pretty established now that I don't consider myself an outgoing person. I'm on the introvert side. But. But!
In the outdoors people say hello, good morning, etc, to each other. I do not make the rules. But I will follow this one. Not only will I follow it - I will cling to it as it slips away.
When camping people say hello to each other. Used to say hello to each other. We are essentially roommates. At least in the places I go, we share a bathroom and kitchen. We see each other fresh out of the shower with a towel on our head.
If I am standing elbow to elbow with someone doing washing up I am going to say hello. I'm not going to pretend that person doesn't exist. To me that seems even weirder than just saying hello.
It's not a springboard into a conversation. It doesn't have to be. Although I wouldn't walk away from one. It's just a greeting. A convention. A formality. It's a recognition of the other person existing.
Renormalise saying hello to strangers!
Sort of related to other thoughts about community.
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