I happened to notice some of the earlier posts in the thread - specifically the townies coming between your Sim & his/her significant. It seems like when you're out with a friend, all is completely normal. HOWEVER, when you're out with a significant, you become a neodymium magnet, that draws every single stranger in Sim World, and EVERYONE is just dying to talk to/introduce themselves to either your Sim, or your Sim's significant. It's completely nuts. My Sim can be in the back yard of an establishment, and someone that has just arrived at the beam down point, will want to introduce themselves. They are about a half mile away & you would think that they wouldn't be able to see each other, but they are somehow able to detect your Sim's presence.