when you are alone, you are alone, but when you are among people that you don't know how to interact with, or don't want to interact with because you don't feel you have anything in common with them, then you feel lonely.

So much this. I never feel as lonely as I do in a packed city visiting for work.

Yes, thank you.

> Well, you could paste a picture here :).

That does sound like a pretty nice thing to say! That said, i can't exactly recall seeing many "Show HN" posts about making furniture, though awesome stuff like that does occasionally appear in the comments.

I do feel like reaching out to some of the online communities for those particular interest groups could be pretty beneficial, though! For example:

  https://www.reddit.com/r/Carpentry/
  https://www.reddit.com/r/woodworking/
  https://www.reddit.com/r/DIY/

(just using Reddit here as an example, because it's one of the better known sites)

Just posting the picture right here, in this comment thread, although completely off-topic, will probably be accepted positively (net karma gain). HN folk seem to like personal tidbits, stories, and cool stuff made self.

I find there is something enormously satisfying and intrinsically rewarding about working with one's hands, doing woodworking and the like. It's especially so when one has everything to hand and one can work on without distracting interruptions (such as having just remembered that you lent your No 5 jack plane to a friend and you now need it to continue). :-)

I've found that working this way and being able to see the product of one's labors slowly forming and taking shape often brings rewards in and of itself that I seldom experience in my technical work. It's difficult for me to put into words but there's something inherent in the nature of the process and to the flow of this way of working that provides fulfillment and that one rarely seems to tire of doing it. I know a few technical/professional people who are disparaging of such pursuits and view such work as just an unskilled or menial activity—or that it's tedious and boring.

I feel sorry for them in that they've not grasped the idea or notion of doing creative work with one's hands is not the slightest bit in conflict with their professional work and in fact that both activities usually complement one another.

It also makes considerable sense to me that introverts would seek solace and comfort in such activities for the very reasons I've given.

Ohh, i largely agree with what you're saying! The results of woodworking, metalworking, any sorts of crafts or even farming are just way more fungible than a piece of software. Both can be useful to yourself and possibly society at large, both can be satisfying, but the types of satisfaction definitely differ!

Plus, it's a way to get some fresh air or have a reason to spend a bit more time outside, in addition to leisurely activities such as boating or hiking. I don't actually have any stats on this, but it seems like quite a few people who work in software also have such pursuits outside of work, some joke about retiring to a farm or a secluded place amidst nature. :)

When i have the time, i rather enjoy jogging, helping my parents with their greenhouse or vegetable garden, mowing the fieds with a tractor or even just doing some woodworking. That said, most of it is rather utilitarian and not all that pretty to look at.

Right. Utilitarian or not, it's the process that counts.