At least count, I am an active member of over a dozen social networks. They all have their strengths and weaknesses, each catering to different types of users. Fortunately, the social media buffet is endless but what if you had to choose only one? What social network couldn’t you live without?

For me, it would have to be Twitter.

Twitter does the best job of connecting me to the people I care about.

Every minute of the day I can peek into the lives of the people that I follow, and they can peek into mine. I can share as much, or little, as I want with them and vice versa. Twitter is both a place to be entertained and informed. I can connect to Twitter both on or offline.

So, beyond all of the great features Twitter has that I find myself using daily (tracking, SMS, great desktop clients like twhirl, customizable page layouts, huge reach and a thriving community) there is also the sense of presence I get from using it. Using Twitter to me feels like being at a cocktail party where everyone is invited to come up and introduce themselves. Sometimes, it feels like a huge outdoor barbecue. And other times, it feels like a rock concert. It just depends on what the topics of the day happen to be.

Facebook is a great social network in its own right, but it is too walled off. Sure, I can add friends and yes, they can see what I am up to through status updates or wall posts, etc. When I use Facebook though, I never feel like I am communicating in the open. I always feel like I am talking to one person at a time, behind a curtain. Facebook feels a little claustrophobic to me, like I am navigating a cubicle jungle to walk over and talk to my friends.

If Facebook is an office environment, My Space is like meeting your friends under a bridge some place. There is trash and graffiti and perhaps, burning trash cans. There is something dark about it and unclean. I feel like I need a shower after going there.

Pownce and Jaiku feel like secret societies. They are very cliquish and distrusting of outsiders. Want to be my fan?

iLike is cool. I really enjoy using it, but it is a set it and forget it network, much like Last.FM (and much like a crock pot). Maybe some time in the next year I will go there to see what a graph of my musical tastes are. Until then, send me a message to my cubicle (Facebook) when a good band comes to town.

Then there are the specialized networks.

I am a gamer and love to play multiplayer games with other people. XBOX 360, PSP or PC - it doesn’t matter. Most of my RSS feeds are devoted to gaming news and opinion. There are very few social gaming networks out there though. Only 2 or 3 come to mind that have found traction with me. GAX Online (named after the deceased Gary Gygax) is a friendly community with some great bloggers but lacks the features that would really set it apart. We Play This is clean and resembles Facebook in its clinicalness. Is that a good thing? I don’t know.

Which place is most appealing to you? Which place would you have the hardest time leaving behind? For me, it is the outdoor barbecue.