That was a rhetorical question.

> You have to get off the computer and go outside.

That has nothing to do with it.

The kinds of institutions I want to be part of don't really exist in the US

Curious what institutions you're referring to, could you list some examples?

What institutions are you thinking of?

Cooperatives of all kind. Housing. Work. Canteens.

Warm and welcoming places that invite all to step in from the cold and stay awhile.

Housing coops and canteens exist but are not common.

Worker coops on the other hand...

I sincerely believe that a well-organized tech worker coop would eat the world. The incentives are fundamentally misaligned for the average worker in the modern corporation. I'm well aware that I'm getting taking advantage of everyday when I show up to work, and that sets a pretty low upper bound on the amount of fucks I give about someone else's corporation.

'disrupt' that and you'll be unstoppable.

How about a place where you can go to get food and socialize with people without being required to buy something? A bar, but for those who don't want to drink. A coffee shop for those who don't want to pay 3 dollars for burned coffee. A library where you're allowed to eat. A park where it's okay to hang out and talk to strangers even if you're an adult and don't have a kid or dog with you.

I've never been to a bar where I was required to buy something.

Maybe you haven’t been to a bar that has kicked you out for not buying something, but you have certainly been to a bar that wishes you weren’t there not buying stuff. If you think you haven’t, well...

Except that's not what we're talking about, and even if it were, who cares what they wish - I'm there to socialize with friends, not employees.

How about it! Sounds good to me

Maybe try somewhere else, then -- perhaps volunteer on a kibbutz, and see if that's what you're looking for?