People Who Invade Your Personal Space

I recently went to this cute little place in SF. It was pretty full, and they managed to pack quite a few seats into a fairly small space.  This. Was. A. Problem.  I enjoy my personal space, my little personal bubble, if you will.  However, the lady sitting to my right was MUCH too close. I mean, our elbows touched (another problem I have, but let's save that for a later post).  She also kept getting up and sitting down and she would have to squeeze herself between our tables. The person I was with could see my clear and utter annoyance and I think he found it a tad amusing.  But this woman seriously had some sort of laptop bag/briefcase monstrosity blocking my from leaving my seat when we were finished.  She was also very loud, which irritated me in a completely different manner.  This is not to say that I hate people, just strangers that sit too close for comfort.

This idea of "personal space" also rings true when I sit in an empty bus or subway car and someone gets in and sits RIGHT. FREAKING. next to me.  PROBLEM.  Why *must* you sit so close? This entire place is empty and you chose that seat, right there.  And then, I don't know if I just look approachable, but these people insist on talking to me.  I love to talk, anyone who knows me can tell you that, but I do not want to sit next to some stanger who is going all Forrest Gump about their life to me. OMFG. STOP. Just don't be creepy or annoying and sit somewhere else. Please and thank you.

Another place that my personal bubble get popped is in lines.  I'm standing in line and take one half-step back for whatever reason and I step all over the person behind me.  I apologize, but in my head I'm screaming, "Why the FUCK were you standing so close to me anyway!".  I mean, honestly, did you *need* to be that close? Did you? I don't think so. I think you could've been a tad farther back, avoiding this whole situation of me stepping on you, and still be okay with your place in line.  It's like tailgating a car, but with people.

I like people, I really do, and I like interacting with them. But for the love of God, MUST you burst my little bubble?  Just stay a respectable distance from me.  That is all I ask.  Don't pop my personal bubble if you are a stranger.  That is just creepy sometimes and utterly unacceptable.