Today I noticed something about my dreams, which is probably obvious. But still, I thought it was interesting. Lately I seem to remember my dreams in vivid detail the moment I wake up so I have a pretty good idea of their tone and content - at least initially until they slowly dissolve in the sunlight of waking hours. But what I found interesting is that I never seem to be alone in my dreams. Almost never. Is that typical? Obvious? For an introvert who enjoys their alone time, my dreams seem to be constantly peopled by a huge assortment of characters (including a caravan of animals). They feature a cast of people I've known well my whole life alongside  complete strangers. This cacophony of humanity is pretty much the mirror image of my waking life most of the time. As much as I enjoy people, retreating to the balm of solitude  after socializing feels a bit like taking off a tight pair of shoes. So I guess it makes sense that my dreams - the submerged battlefield of my subconscious - takes on the allure of that which I avoid. My dream self is forced to confront the archetypes of ideas and conflicts I will happily avoid if given the chance. It makes for interesting dreaming and I get to meet lots of fascinating people along the way...