Social distancing and self-isolation are the buzzwords of the moment, as the coronavirus pandemic grips the planet. But deliberately increasing the physical space between people to avoid spreading illness or self-isolating as a means of avoiding contact with people are phenomena that have endured for centuries. Indeed, whether by design or default, we've often found ourselves in our own company without even realizing it.
Click through the gallery for some weird and wonderful examples of living life alone or in seclusion, either on purpose or by chance.