Sometimes, I wish people would just leave me alone

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Yesterday afternoon, I was out for a walk along the cliff footpath with my dog Poppy, a 7 year-old Basset Hound. Normally, it's a nice quiet walk and I generally meet fewer than five people. This day was pretty good as there was only a man and his Husky/Lab cross who I've seen before and I got to pet his really fluffy dog. The next two people were a pair of elderly hikers to whom I said a brief hello. They liked my dog and she sat with them for a few seconds before I called her to me. This was all expected and fine - just a quick "good afternoon" and a short chat with the husky man. Nothing too exhausting.

Fifteen minutes later and I was headed to a small wooden bench set near the edge of the cliff where I like to sit and watch the sea, hoping to see some sharks or dolphins, perhaps even a whale or sunfish (it never happens, but I live in hope). Anyway, I was about 200 yards from the bench and saw a woman walking along another path that converges with mine at the exact point where my little bench sits. I knew I would get there first and be able to claim the bench as mine and all would be well. I sat down and Poppy snuffled around in the long grass looking for bugs.

Shortly, I felt the presence of someone coming up behind me. It was the woman and she asked if she could sit beside me. Damn it! I knew what would happen if she sat down - she would feel the need to speak to me as most people seem uncomfortable with silence feel the need to need to fill any dead-space with chatter. So I got up to leave, mumbling something about how "it's okay" and she could sit and I'd leave. She then says "Oh, don't go. I'll go". How on earth do I politely reply to that? "Oh okay, please go away and leave me in peace"?

So Poppy and I head back to the car park, both sad that we didn't get to sit and watch the sea, searching in vain for creatures that would never appear

I so wish people would just leave me alone.

On another occasion, I had a noisy family walk several hundred yards down a completely deserted, half-mile long beach to sit six feet away from me, probably thinking that I'd be grateful of the company. After ten minutes of screaming kids and shouting adults, I left the beach. I know I could have just moved away from them but at that point I was so upset I just had to go home.

It's not just you.

Maybe the lady needed a friend...

Saying this, I also identify with your desire for solitude.

I typically don't have conversations with those sitting next to me. A while back I was sitting at a table in a food court that sat about 8 people fairly close together. I was sitting there by myself for quite a while and at some point, two women came along and sat at the far end facing each other to eat lunch. They had planned to have lunch with a number of friends, apparently and soon I was sitting at a table with 7 strangers. At this point they were probably wondering why I didn't leave though they never asked me (I was there first) and I stayed until I was tired of sitting there and it was time to go home.

I always end up being the one who leaves in those situations. If I see someone on a bench or at a table, I find another bench or table.

I wish I got that sort of attention from strangers. Whenever I smile at dog-walkers they just scowl and turn away. It's hard to not take personally, because if I was anyone else they'd smile back or say hello.

I feel complimented when I do get a stranger strike up a conversation with me, although it's mostly elderly people.

That never happens to me, I guess it's because I come off as unapproachable, distant and weird? I don't know. (No, I don't look intimidating if anyone wonders)

It's not just you though, I would assume the same thing, that the person sitting alone probably wants to be alone.

Small talk irritates me, strangers randomly talking to me can freak me out, so I'm glad it rarely happens to me. I wish I knew why so I could tell you how to act in order to avoid attention but I don't really know why.