Is it a townie thing? Or am I just anti-social?

[oObyeOo]

I live in a very popular part of the UK that basically triples in number the summer months.

It’s the Lakes, so it’s ruralish and lots of space if you know where to go. Yet despite this space…. Like today for example….

Me and family (dh & 11yr old dd) are sitting on the lake shore, really long section of beach. Lots of space as only us and another family approx 20mtrs away.

Another family with younger kids approx 1 and 4 come and sit RIGHT next to us!… About 2 meters away. There’s a whole fucking beach!

Why?!

I think it’s a townie thing… when you live surrounded by people you feel safer/more comfortable next to people.

Whereas if you live rurally you prefer your space more.

How do you know they don’t live rurally?

I mean not all 'townies' are the same and I don't imagine all rural dwellers are either.

Some are more sociable than others.

People do this all the time. It's like when you're the only person on the bus, all the other seats are empty and someone gets on and sits next to you. They do it because they can or they want to talk to someone. You could always move to another bit of beach if you're bothered?

Oh stop with your generalising!

You can't possibly know where someone comes from on the basis of their choice of beach placement.

I’m a townie and would have sat in the most isolated part of the beach I could find.

They told us they were on hols from preston area. Spoke to them. Had to tell them to come and get their 4 year old off our blanket and away from our dogs… who are friendly. I just didn’t want to engage with someone elses child.

I mean the answer as to why they did it is obvious, to get to know you better. Some people like meeting new people when they’re travelling/on holiday.

That would infuriate me OP. It's really thoughtless.

I would though townies want more space than less, weird generalisation

I am totally generalising, because I believe there is an element of truth in it.

Or park next to your car in an empty carpark

Disagree.

Well I fucking hate it!!

I'm a cityie and I would have done exactly the same.

I think it’s ingrained and they do it without realising because they’ve always been surrounded by people and wouldn’t find it odd.

I'm a townie and I would never do that. But there are people in the world who don't understand the concept of "personal friends". Or - even worse - want to "make new friends" on holiday...... what fresh hell is that?

Londoner born and bred and it drives me mad when other people sit right on top of you at the beach.
It's really nothing to do with where you come from.

I was away camping with friends last weekend, three women, three tents. We erected our tents in an empty field, not another person there the first night, second night two couples turned up and camped within a few metres of us, I could hear them snoring that night, next day another family arrived and they set up just as close. The field was huge, all flat and empty so why set up so close to us?? I hate it, we avoid busy sites but still end up with people too close. I can't understand it.

Not sure if it's town vs country but there are flockers and non flockers.

I'll chat to anyone but I hate it when flockers think you must be lonely if you have chosen space. Please flock off and leave us non flockers in peace, we're quite happy thanks.

100% yes, sat in relatively empty car park today with car doors open eating a butty, because it was lovely and hot..... twat of a driver starts to reverse park next to me forcing me to shut my door ...... there were plenty of other parking spaces to pick from...which I then moved into myself. Honestly there was no reason to park next to me!

We live in the SW and, other than summer tourist season, the roads are quiet. However, DH will tailgate when he is driving. I tell him off about it every single time. He says it is because he commuted round the M25 at rush hour every day for 10 years, that just seems a normal distance to him. Perhaps it's the same thing.

Yes me too!

How is the lakes rural “ish” though? Surely it’s rural?!

I'm a townie now and used to live in the countryside.

I have always disliked the beach, but if I HAD to go I'd want to be as far from people as possible, under an umbrella with a windbreaker. Then I'd be going home within 1/2 an hour.

I reckon it’s the same type of person who insists on talking to strangers on the bus.

So definitely not Londoner. Sounds like something people from Manchester or Liverpool would do

I like to sit alone in a coffee shop. (In a Scottish city, if that’s relevant). When it’s not chockablock, men tend to avoid sitting near me, women come and sit right at my table and start bloody wittering on. I’m thinking of getting a t-shirt that says fuck off, I’m not lonely!