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Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Isolation



I was watching a video clip where someone spent a week without interacting with anyone else. Basically he stayed alone in his apartment and had no electronic communication either. By the end of it he was going nuts. Apparently, most people don't do well with isolation.

A few years ago I struck up a conversation with a guy working on his dinghy on the beach. I complemented him on the quality of his fiberglass work, real professional. The guy was working part time, off the books, doing glass work for a marina. One of the reasons he wasn't working full time was because of his prison record.

Okay . . .

It all started when he was away from his boat for a couple weeks. In his absence the town declared his boat derelict, impounded it, then had it crushed and sent to the landfill. When this guy got back and discovered everything he owned was destroyed, he flipped out. Punches were thrown. He was sentenced to three months in prison.

The guy was not a model prisoner. Soon he ended up in solitary confinement, which suited him just fine. He spent the rest of his sentence there. As a sailor, he enjoyed many weeks on long passages alone, and loved it. Being alone is prison was preferable to dealing with the general population.

Personally, I enjoy time alone now and then. One spring I spent a week hiking alone in the mountains and did not see another person the whole time. It was a great way to clear my head and get some serious thinking done. After my little adventure I made some important life decisions. The time alone was very good for me.

Everyone is wired differently. Some go nuts, some have a relaxing vacation.

-Sixbears



10 comments:

  1. The longest time I've spent completely alone was about a week, solitary camping at our families ranch. First night was spooky, the following much easier. It takes me about three days to decompress from society, after three days, time just eases along, rather then the usual 'What time is it - oh man, I got to SCOOT!' thoughts.

    But towards the end, I was getting a bit antsy. Was talking to myself in my head (step one, do this. step two, do that).

    That person above did himself a favor getting thrown into solitary. You are correct, if you can take being only with your own company, much easier than dealing with the other inmates and made up dramas.

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    1. Isolation is used as a punishment. If it has no sting, what can they do?

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  2. I enjoy my "alone" time. Then the phone rings or I have to go grocery shopping. I don't do big crowds. Maybe that's why I live in the country.

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    1. I've gotten better at crowds over the years, but I still avoid cities if I can. Much rather be alone in nature somewhere.

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  3. Quiet is good, and isolation leads to quiet. But I also enjoy background noise - classical music, kids playing, fire crackling. Sitting alone and quiet now, by choice.

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    1. Sometimes I make myself get out just so I don't turn into a complete hermit.

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  4. I enjoy good company; that sometimes means just my own. - lol

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    Replies
    1. It's Okay to talk to yourself too -as long as you don't start to have arguments. :)

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  5. I enjoy my alone time, which I have a LOT of. Don't do crowds, traffic, clubs and all that anymore.

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