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.

I'd have really had to hold myself back to stop myself going up and chatting to rat man. I'd have been thinking to myself how beautifully-behaved the rat was, just sitting calmly on his shoulder like that, and noticing things like coat colour, coat texture, markings, ear placement, sex, maybe even species if it was something exotic like a pouched rat, and desperately wanting to compliment and chat about the rat. Rat people gravitate towards rat people, so it's possible that going round with a shoulder rat would not get you the solitude you intend.

I hate it when people do that. I always try to sit away from other people.

So am I and so would I. Some families/couples like nothing better than to chum up with another family/couple when on holiday but we aren’t one of them.

I’m a townie and this isn’t a thing.

what is a thing is country bumpkins not knowing train etiquette. Do not talk to people on the train and do not sit near them.

Same

OP are you from Roysten Vasey?

I'm from Liverpool and would sit as far away from you as possible, Op.

How do you cope living in a city/town?… I’m an introvert and whenever I visit a city I just want to leave again. It’s so overwhelming

I live in London and love it.

I would have spread out as far as possible from you and the other family.

People not observing available space / distancing is irritating. Generalisations are irritating.

The other generalisation is how friendly rural folk are as opposed to town (another generalisation I find to be bollocks, personally) . You know, love to chat in a bus, train so sit next to you, so friendly..,

1. People live in towns for many reasons, jobs, culture, like going out etc. very few do it because they love being squashed on the tube.
2. Where was the OP’s famous rural friendliness? People in the country who like to chat etc? Oh! She doesn’t subscribe to that stereotype…

(Town dweller who likes my space but is also very friendly)

Agree with @snowlady4

Maybe they hoped you'd have a conversation and your kids might play together?

I'm surprised they allowed their 4yo to come close enough to sit on your blanket!

I think there's other places to visit if you want to be meeting new people. A quiet beach in the Lakes might not be the best place for flockers.

I’m from a town and wouldn’t do this. I would want to talk to the people I’ve travelled there with, I wouldn’t impose myself on to anyone that’s just rude and weird

I am taking the risk of starting a 'Londoner v the rest of the country' argument again here, but I do think Londoners are different from people who live in other cities. I was born and bred in London too My DH wasn't but moved there in his 20's. Whenever we talk about friendly cities, he always says 'London is the most unfriendly'. I say 'actually, no, we just mind our own business'! I have found in other cities, especially northern ones, people just start talking to you! It may be because we look like visitors, and in London, there are so many you don't really notice. I don't live in London anymore, and it was very disconcerting that people just start up conversations with you for no reason! I've relaxed into it now, but it took me a good year!

I didn't know people still used the term "townie". Haven't heard it since the 90s!
I live in a big city and I haven't noticed people sitting close to others if there's the option to sit further away.

Same here. Londoners probably want even more space tbh.

I think it's just nutters that sit next to someone on an otherwise empty beach.

You chose a spot - a particular good spot that they liked the look of so they sit there too because they don't mind people though they won't be sad if you then move away

Lol. Preston area is what my parents say, rather than the specific place you won't have heard of. They'd be offended if you thought them townees. They live in a village.

If they actually lived in Preston they'd have said they came from Preston.

Also a "townie" and wouldn't do this. Your theory is rubbish.

I’m a townie, but often in the Lakes and other more remote places. Don’t worry, I would stay well away from you 😂. I like my space!

I'm a city person and I can't stand people.

I have found the same phenomenon my entire life. People sit right on top of us at the beach, park tight up next to us, sit next to us on trains - I absolutely hate it.

Like a PP I was having a late breakfast in my car in a Lidl's car park with just one other car there, and this woman drove in and slid between us. She got a hard stare before I moved to the other side of the car park.

I did watch a similar scenario play out in a Halford's car park waiting for it to open. Chap had stopped in a row facing the entrance but not the first row. Pretty empty car park, about 3 of us waiting. Somebody drove in and carefully positioned themselves next to him. He moved. Another person came in and did the same in his new space. While we were watching he moved his car 4 times. I was surprised he didn't get out and say something. I'm pretty sure that if he had they'd have been really surprised.

Most 4 year olds talk a LOT. They will have been hoping you'd talk to their kid so they could have a break I should think.

I was thinking this too… which is why it pissed me off more than it should have

I grew up very rurally and have lived smack in the middle of a city for 25 years
so half and half
wondering how I would fit with the OPs nonsensical sweeping generalisations
I love living in the city with all its convenience but also need my space and time to myself which amazingly is still possible in a city.
Maybe you bumpkins could stay in your rural lane and stop making assumptions about us oh so urbanite types
or maybe we could think that everyone is an individual
ffs