i just walked around the block meeting neighbors and talking and realizing how i feel connected to the place, and the world, through the dogs and the contact i have with dog people and i feel grateful and it helps me to live with the encroachment of the obamachron and the abyss of the duopoly. the people i feel connected to are private and connect in a similar way. we don't make social plans, we just walk around and greet each other like dogs on a walk.