In a weird way the higher density is actually liberating because it gives you cover for just ignoring everyone. It's a cognitive trick which takes a bit of practice, but eventually there is a strange solace in urban life.

I lived in suburbs and a small town for about half my life and those places get smaller the longer you are there. You run into someone you know whenever you go out, and people are always waving or saying hi because they think that's just being friendly. In the city nobody is going to say hi or wave at 3000 people per day. And nobody get labeled rude or antisocial for it.