I have since realized that lonliness is part of the human condition, an unescapable aspect of the everday experience of life.

I don't buy that. I'm never lonely, even with a dull personality, an ugly mug, and at the moment, no money.

Usually, lonely people have only themselves to blame. They stay off to themselves instead of going out to mingle. There are ways of attracting people. Take a very small pup to the park. Go to work or school on a PeeWee Herman bicycle. Wear a silly shirt. My wife has a sweatshirt with a big, silly, grinning Garfield on the front. It gets comments everytime she wears it. I ride a 53-year-old motorscooter into a service station and sometimes get stuck there for an hour.

But the best way is to log on to RinkChat for a few evenings. You'll find plenty of friendly people there and you don't even have to dress up.
Howard