There are many rules when living in a big city.  Coming from a small town some of these things do not make a lot of sense to me.  My sister tells me she is uncomfortable sitting by someone of the opposite sex on the bus or train.  She chooses to stand up, even if there is an open seat.  When I see an open seat I sit in it.  This has gotten me in some trouble in the past.  It’s like I have laser vision on the open seat and I do not realize what is happening in the seat beside it.  Sometimes I sit beside unpleasantly odorous people, sometimes I sit by mentally unstable people, sometimes I sit beside someone who is asleep and by the end of the trip I am their personal pillow, but I never look at the sex of the person.

I wonder to myself if many people share this same thought my sister does.  What if this, not sitting by someone of the opposite sex is a major women’s right movement and when I sit by someone of the opposite sex women turn their noses up and judge me as being a “loosey goosey”?  Maybe I should start flashing my ring when sitting by these individuals of the opposite sex, as sort of a white flag, I come in peace… I am married?

Not only is public transportation an area where there are a lot of rules, but I notice with elevators there are many rules as well.  I live in a high-rise and I work in a high-rise, so I am no stranger to elevators.  Awhile back I wrote a Facebook post about the dynamic that takes place in elevators.  When the elevator is packed, there is no choice, but to invade each other’s personal space, but as people clear out of the elevator, I guess it is common to move away, allowing the left over people to have their own breathing room?  I find it quite funny to continue to stand close to those few left in the elevator (I usually single one person out)- just two of us bundled in this corner.  Most times the other person won’t allow this to happen for long, but there is something about the need to give people their space?  What a crazy rule!

Or, what happens if you see the same people on the elevator each day?  I’m the type of person that feels weird in complete silence.  There is a time and a place for silence (like a movie theater or in a public restroom while taking a #2), but not in an elevator. Maybe it’s because I’m claustrophobic and anything to make the journey in that small space quicker, I am down for.  I will complement your shoes, talk about the weather, just make, “whew” sounds like I had a long day… something!  But why is it weird, if I see you every day and I see you press the same button every day, that I choose to press the button for you, without your asking?  Is that stalkerish?  I am just observant, we live in the same building, we have the same schedule, don’t give me that look like I’m crazy.  I like to be helpful, but I have learned that in the big city, sometimes you can be too helpful!

Too many rules…