hey, i completely agree with you.
the whole idea is to be surrounded by musicians.
As victor wooten says, if music is a language, then you get better by talking with others……

But my situation is slightly different. Since ive been quite ill currently, i can't really go out and meet musicians, and new people all the time.

My answer to overcome this problem has been to always listen to new music, To some extent, its like meeting new musicians.

One of the ways i introduce some spontanity is by being innovative. For instance if i want to play the song 'cant stop' by the chili peppers, i'll not play along with the basic track. I take out random drum and guitar covers on you tube and load them. Then i jam with each one. To some extent, it simulates jamming with different people, with their peculiarities of phrasing, tempo etc. Every time i play, i realise a particular drummer's style pulls me this way or that.

I'd love to know if there are any other innovative ways of simulating playing with new musicians.