@Markness
I'm not saying you do nothing. You have your music interest for example.
But I only remember one occasion when you seemed to be doing something practical (someone you met at a concert, perhaps last year?).
Think about how the "grocery store goth" scenario you described sounded to us.
By this I don't mean it was an error not to make contact the first time.
But if I remember correctly you just let it go.
You could at least have gone back, but prepared this time, with the goal of a perhaps being recognized as a fellow goth next time (so a second and third visit would be needed).
At worst you'd get some practice in, so it's a small plus relative to doing nothing