No, because I’m fine being on my own.

I have my hobbies and pets, and if I feel too isolated I can go out and chat with a neighbour or any stranger on the street, or to a concert to be one with the crowd, or pick up an online game.

If I was with someone for money, it’s only because I didn’t like them enough to be with them for free. In this circumstance I would probably need the money, so I’d not be unhappy about it, but it would definitely not make me happy either or be an emotional boon. And I don’t think I could respect the person who paid, no matter how convincingly I would pretend to.

Relationships are best when they are wanted, not needed, which is why I could never be with someone who was only with me because I paid them: I’d much rather be alone than be with someone who didn’t like me. Paying for it is a surefire way of knowing they don’t actually like me, and the idea of someone being with me against their own wants and desires just because I pay them…I would just feel so gross. It’s okay to be alone.

Regardless of which phrase is being said, I think it’s nice that we have a little rituals here and there.

A sneeze is often loud, sudden, startling and disruptive, so having a standard word or short phrase can ease us back into normal conversation mode without derailing the preceeding conversation (like actually asking if someone is okay could take us too far from the original topic). A quiet sneeze recuires no easing out of.

If I do a loud sneeze and no one says any variant of gesuntheit, I feel compelled to mildly apologise (pardon/excuse me) before carrying on, so one party does the little ritual to bridge between violent sound and normal speaking either way. Can be nice to “bless” the sneezer so they dont have to apologise for disrupting.

I’m certain the damage made them like that.

It could happen to any of us, and I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that you, like me, aren’t constantly suppressing potty-mouth.

I kinda wonder the opposite, if there is a part of them buried and suffering that really cringes at themselves and would like to stop but has no control over these compulsions.

Being able to forge a new relationship with them after a few years apart. To get to know and understand them as flawed people rather than imperfect parents, and them in turn learning to respect and trust me as an adult.

And being able to take as long baths as I want without any disruptions.