On a recent flight, I came across an article by Sarah Hepola about traveling solo in Spirit, the Southwest Airlines in-flight magazine. This passage made me smile: “I hate traveling alone,” he told me. “There’s never anyone to share the view.” It’s a common complaint. People inevitably equate solo travel with loneliness. And they’re not wrong. But those same people don’t realize what a powerful motivator loneliness can be.... Loneliness pushes you to meet new people. Bartenders are usually a safe bet, especially when they’re female...One time I walked into a bar in Baltimore with nothing but a paperback book and left three hours later with three e-mail addresses, five dinner recommendations, and a newfound mastery of Beer Pong. It all started with a single question to the straight-talking Northeastern proprietress: “What can you tell me about the crab cakes?”