Hi,
I think that both of your stories illustrate dynamics of moving about in public places that those of us in the 'burbs do not encounter.

The closest thing I have to dealing with strangers in an enclosed space is in the stores. And some stores I can avoid completely. I'd rather do without the item than be in some stores.

Grocery stores I cannot avoid. I noticed that I will drive past a grocery store or three to go to another branch of the same chain in order to have more room in the parking lot, more room in the aisles, shorter lines --- and less opportunity to have to see people in my personal space.

And I'm guessing that the amount of "personal space" we consider "personal" varies according to where we are.


It is not that I dislike dealing with people.
If a stranger engaged me on the open street or such, I would be ok and manage. But in the enclosed public space, I would not be happy.

Is this part of the dynamic??


Waves,
I would totally tell some kids to knock it off if I was in the place in my own head that told me this. Sometimes, people (and kids) need to be told. But again, I'd probably put up with their stupidity for a long time until the magic time when their stupidity met that right place in my head.



And I am thinking that this travel in public spaces is a special burden for people with MI.
The requirment to take a bus to work and so on, is probably a disincentive for some people to get and keep a job.
That stinks.

Mari