We are strangers, why are we snuggling

Sitting on a three-person seat on a 6.51am train into Central, Sydney in winter seems to result in unrequited stranger snuggling.

It is cold, it is dark, and people are tired. More tired than in summer when the sun keeps us perked up and also provides light on those secret snugglers.

I find a vacant middle seat in the three-person bench and sit down. I find it difficult to sleep in an upright position, so I am usually awake with my eyes wide open on my train journeys in and out of work. The two people on my seat also, at the time of me taking a seat, are awake. But that doesn't last long. After tucking myself in they become two dozing workers and slowly as the comfort and warmth of a new person to the middle seat settles in the snuggling starts.

It is usually discrete and starts with body weight shifting in the direction of the other person. Slowly more than just bottoms are touching, slowly the sides of legs, bodies, and arms are touching and if you are extremely unlucky and sitting next to a super snuggler their head may land on your shoulder.

Now I don't know about anyone else, but when did that become ok.  We are strangers. I don't sit this close to my brother on the couch when watching a movie at home, and I know what would happen if I rested my head on his shoulder!

But this is happening across the world in winter on all types of public transport. We are being snuggled by strangers.

I would like to make a stand, but that would mean standing up the entire trip in an out of work.

I imagine being able to do something that ensures people don't slowly encroach on my small claim to personal space. I think of maybe putting pads in my clothes so it is not actually me they are touching, but pads might be comfier than my bony shoulders which may result in more snuggling. Maybe where a suit of pins. Pins on the outside so I'm not injured and anyone who gets close to me get a little prick and quickly move back to their side of the chair. This seems rather drastic and might result in my receiving an injury from the person I prick!

I guess I just must suck it up and snuggle back or remain standing until summer.