Lemonade first welcome to Gransnet I don’t know if it’s any help at all but I could have written your post utterly and completely I ve been alone for 20 years have three children two of whom are overseas and one who lives nearby and is very good to me she connects each day with a text or phone call to make sure I m ok and will take me shopping or ask me up for a BBQ or takeaway now and then, and she’s a star, I have a good network of friends and do a fair bit of voluntary work (without which I couldn’t survive) but I am still on my own for huge chunks of time so totally understand where you are coming from
Eating alone is boring, watching TV no one to comment to or even argue with, going to bed alone (I don’t mean sex ...what’s that?) but no cuddles or warmth I manage really well and don’t ever grumble about being alone in fact I m not at all sure I could live with someone now that’s a two edged sword isn’t it but I do totally totally understand
Voluntary work makes me feel wanted, needed, a tiny tiny bit important and has been life saver for me
Xx