drawing invisible lines between groups.
While strangers tend to keep distance, familiar pairs stand close, naturally forming clusters.
These boundaries are not spoken, but performed through posture and silence.
Space is not neutral; it’s full of subtle social decisions.
We factor in who is already there — how many, what gender, how close
— and whether a space feels “socially” occupied.
Just like in public restrooms or seating, we subconsciously calculate comfort, visibility, and distance.
Space may be empty, but it doesn’t always feel available
starting point
This idea came from a rainy night.
it was raining so hard that me and my friends had to hold our own umbrella.
we could see each other crystal clear through the plastic, but we still had to keep a certain distance.
it made me think — it felt like we were all inside bubbles.
the umbrella wasn’t part of our body, but it moved with us and created this extra volume, like an extension.
it controlled how close we could get to someone.
and then i thought, we kind of have this in daily life too.
everyone has their own “bubble” in social situations.
some people have bigger ones, which means they need more space to feel safe.
others have smaller ones, which means they’re okay sharing personal things or letting people in quickly.
and maybe this is not just about umbrellas.
we all have different ways of using space — some people naturally keep a distance, others come really close without realizing.
sometimes it depends on the place, or who we’re with.
at home, maybe our bubbles shrink. in public, they grow.
i started noticing how much space i take up, and how much i give others.
do i move to make room? do i step aside, even when i don't have to?
this umbrella moment made it visible — how physical space reflects personal boundaries.
Reading
Some thoughts from what I’ve been reading.Notes on how we communicate without words — through space, distance, and what stays unspoken.