Like my contemporaries on this thread, I remember being alone in the middle of the night in the sixties listening to WLS and WWL, then cruising my small town looking for girls guided by John Records Landecker in the early seventies
my first job out of college was far from my hometown in western Kentucky and I was a kid who had never been anywhere. Bought a stereo rig with the first money I made and spent lots of time alone listening to vinyl trying to figure out being an adult, of sorts. Then a family, kids, work and no time or money for long listening sessions or anything other than cheap consumer equipment from silo or circuit city
alone again the last few years. Got back in to really enjoying music on decent equipment. My job has plenty of stress, and involves law enforcement and often political stuff. Decided a few years ago to swear off cable news and most nights spend 2-3 hours alone in the dark really enjoying music. Good decision. Brings peace at the end of the day.
retiring soon. I enjoy some great friends and good company in my life, but look forward to a little time each day to close my eyes and get lost in the music. Not everyone understands the attraction but I suspect a lot of you do.