In my continuing effort to counter my own pat negativity, allow me to pass on the observation of a new acquantance, who excused his own workaholism by pointing out that a workplace offers "a relatively stable environment to go to every day."

We individualists and self-made islands may have a hard time admitting, even to ourselves, that we rely on work—and the various goofballs we deal with every day—as a social comfort and as a reassuring physical and mental routine.

But just because we don't like to admit it doesn't mean it's not true.