I came across an interesting article about ultra-introverts, those
who spend most of their lives away from others, typically by working
or just being awake at night [0].

I've long identified as an introvert, and I've often thought I could
go for very long periods without human contact. I am quite content
to be alone with my thoughts, or books, or whatever other solitary
pursuits I can find.

When I was younger I worked nights frequently, as a paramedic, but
this was always with a partner, and isn't really the job to have if
you don't like interacting with people. But I did prefer working the
night shift, when it was not busy at least. Later I settled down
with a family, and worked the usual day shifts during "business
hours", so I grew accustomed to getting up early. I still miss
staying up overnight, as much as my body can no longer tolerate it
as I get older.

    Some social needs are probably universal up to a certain age;
    babies need connection to their caregivers, to have eye contact
    and touch and warmth. But for adults, needs may be less
    definitive. "I think there are some people so unusually low in
    that need that for them it basically doesn't exist," DeYoung,
    the University of Minnesota psychologist, told me. "We should
    take seriously the possibility that there are people who really
    don't need social connection." Psychologists may be missing
    those people altogether: If they remain in solitude - if they're
    not even awake at the same hours as the rest of us - we might
    not notice they're there.

It's interesting to think we can't study the entirety of the human
condition because some people just don't want to be found.

[0]: gopher://republic.circumlunar.space/0/~slugmax/links/theatlantic.com.2022.02.22.ultra.introverts.nocturnal.lives.txt