Some smoke sessions are more thought-provoking than others

"I always thought I was cynical but then I realised that I might actually be an extreme romantic instead. If you're so miserable, then just be together. Finding someone you like is so hard. Everything else is compromisable -- money, kids, geography. Maybe it's because I'm a misanthrope. I don't like people easily, so when I met someone I actually liked I had to (makes grabbing motion). Finding a person who makes you happy is so difficult."

A friend talking about her housemate and friend, who broke up recently but who are both miserable and moping daily. She is married, has been married since she was 23 or something really young like that. Her husband is Canadian and they met overseas. She is now in her early 30s, still very happily married and existing very enviably with her friendly husband.

(I paraphrased what she said from memory, so the words are not exact.)

(Picture: At a train station in Hokkaido, I forget which. I was trudging behind this elderly couple. They were obviously old, older than my mother, but their gaits were sprightly and their posture, upright -- more so than mine at that point. The dainty lady was very properly dressed up in her neat, outdoorsy outfit, in that admirable Japanese way. I followed them until I managed to sneak a shot and then went on my way. As I strode past them, I thought, this, I want this.)