I don't want to gel or socialize with my colleagues. I want to work with them. If we become friends, we can socialize outside of work.

I'm not paid to chitchat or stand around eating birthday cake. I don't need to love people to work with them. For the most part, even as a systems architect, I don't even need to talk to them. A few emails, echats, and meetings are sufficient.

This may sound harsh, when I heard they were pulling down the cube walls, I threatened to walk. I got to keep my high walled cube, but everyone else was surprised one Monday with low walls. A week later, after the whole office rioted, everyone got their walls back.

If you need/want company, go sit in a common area. But don't take away my isolation. And tell those kids to get the fuck off my lawn.