In the essay, the Box Man has chosen a life of solitude. He lives by himself, but is perfectly content with that. He has found peace within himself and does not have to find solace through anyone else. Lonliness is something entirely different. To be lonely, one must long for something they do not have and feel empty without, just as the "soup lady" and "cat lady" did in the essay. The Box Man does not long for anything or anyone. He is satisfied with being alone and has chosen to ignore all those who attempt to "salvage" him.
For the majority of us in Vacaville, we see homeless people as drunks or addicts, who could get a job if they really wanted to but chose to be lazy. That's the typical stereotype. But when we look at "The Box Man", the author is telling us never to assume anything. That homeless person we see on the street corner every day might very well be happy with sleeping under a shady tree in the park, away from the noisey commuters. We should never assume anything about anyone just based on their appearances or the lifestyle they've chosen.
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