> his whole social world had shrunk down to one person. His wife.

I live alone, in the boonies. I don't even have a wife any more (divorce), and I email. I text. I get some responses, and the thread dries up. I always have coffee by myself, mainly because I live 50 miles from a city big enough to have a Wallgreens.

Presence is everything. People won't drive the 50 miles, and I offer coffee, homemade baked ziti, free entry to Yosemite, and Armagnac after dinner.

(rant deleted)

> They reach out first.

They nag.

When I am president, I will ban couches, so people can get out, enjoy nature and meet real people. Might as well phone people in The Matrix. With my luck Neo would hang up.

Being alone does not equate to loneliness.