I agree with all of this. I spent some time living cheaply in Spain a few years ago, in high density housing, and I would describe it best as a living hell. Sla

I agree with all of this. I spent some time living cheaply in Spain a few years ago, in high density housing, and I would describe it best as a living hell. Slamming doors, multiple barking dogs on every balcony, conversations held at such high volume as to sound like people were murdering each other, etc. On the positive side, everyone would smile at me and wish me a good day if our paths ever crossed leaving or entering the building. As a kid I lived in a middle class suburb where everyone knew each other and, at the time, I was fairly happy with this. As an adult though, I would find it uncomfortable. I guess there is an ideal balance between loneliness and being suffocated that isn't easy to get right.