Roadie gal, you've gotta love "studies." Yeah, the rooster crows every morning, then the sun comes up - doesn't that show that the rooster crowing might cause the sun to come up? Studies can be interesting, but they always need to be taken with a grain of salt. A lot of people who commit suicide are withdrawn or have become withdrawn, and a lot of people with larger social circles have connections in healthcare who might help point out causes for concern or help point the person in the direction of the right medical care resulting in the person living longer, etc. On the other hand, less social people can be perfectly healthy whereas a social butterfly can die of cancer at a young age.

I've never appreciated personality "labels," mainly because I grew up being teased - usually in front of a group, not one-to-one - that I was "so quiet." It seldom happens anymore but I still get irritated when I see people do that to others. It's not socially acceptable to say "you're so fat" or "you're so dumb" in front of a group, but teasing a shy person who isn't good at defending him/herself - because he/she is shy & awkward - seems to be perfectly o.k. Well, that's one of my big pet peeves.

I have friends but especially I have a few really close friends that I've known "forever." I guess I could get lazy again and gain lots of weight and work on making lots of "friends," but somehow I just don't think that's the way to live longer.