I have no friends and it doesn't bother me

You’re happy. That’s all that matters really.
We are all different.

No, I don’t think you’re odd! I think you’re just happy with your own company, and spending time with your partner. I’m retired, live alone, and don’t have any friends where I now live. I have a few old school friends I keep in touch with, but we seldom meet up, as we are scattered around the country. I go out to various activities and chat to people, but I don’t have anyone I could ask to go for a walk or a coffee. I sometimes feel a bit left out, especially at weekends, but most of the time I am perfectly fine pottering round on my own. I’m never bored!

Me and my husband don't feel the need for friends. You may think that we may feel different if we didn't have each other. We wouldn't. I have a daughter, grown up granddaughter and sisters to whom I am very close. We do socialise with people outside the family occasionally but to be honest it's usually an inconvenience and we never feel totally comfortable.

I occasionally meet up with ex colleagues for coffee or lunch but it's always at their instigation not mine. I find it a chore.

I think that whatever makes you and your OH happy is totally fine and nobody else’s business.

It would only matter if you were upset by a lack of friends, as it is….

I really don’t know what to say. I’m on my own through divorce and I don’t know if I could cope without friends. But ofcourse, you have your husband, who is also your friend and I guess you don’t need anyone else.

you are creative and have a good relationship.. all good...

Not unusual at all. I have a long term friend I meet a couple of times a year and a cousin I talk to on the phone. I also speak to neighbours if we meet in passing but wouldn't say we were friends.

I keep busy and enjoy my own company as I'm rather an introvert. I don't consider that a problem we're all different.

We’re all different. I have no close local friends, several kind acquaintances though who chat and would offer help if needed. There are good, close if geographically distant friends I see occasionally while chatting regularly on the phone and exchange messages and emails with. I’ve never craved friends, an isolated childhood taught me to be self sufficient. Mr C is similarly self sufficient, he even holds back from chatting to local acquaintances. At the moment we’re content with the pattern of our lives, would that change if either of us was alone? I’m honestly not sure, maybe - or maybe not . You’re not odd suebw, you’re just being who you are. Things may change in the future, who knows. As long as you remain open to the potential and are happy now no need to worry in my view.

In recent years friends have become unwell, died or moved away. One person I had to break ties with recently as the friendship was one-sided much of the time, and often toxic.

I rarely see anyone other than family now. Luckily one son and family live minutes away and the other 20-25 minutes drive away. I message a friend, who I've known since I was 5, online, email another sometimes, phone another now and then.

I'm happy to live on my own, have done for a long time. I'm always doing something and never bored, I've too many interests and activities. I'm content with how my life is as I'm a real introvert anyway. I was an only child for 11 years so learned how to amuse myself and enjoy solitude. I come from a quiet family, all of us happy mainly in our own company/world.

So no I don't find it odd at all but I know people do, probably those who need stimulation and the almost constant company of others and who have been used to it all their lives. I'm friendly enough and often have a chat with people I see when out walking. I'd like a bit more connection with people sometimes but 95% happy how things are.

I'm one who needs friends. I am a widow but even when DH was around I had my own friends.
He had his too so we weren't dependent on eachother but we enjoyed eachother's company too and did lots together but separately too.
If there's noone about I have the radio on. I don't like being alone for too long.

Oh a woman after my own heart. I’ve always been judged by my older sisters for having no friends. They think I’m odd and look down on me and I’ve spent years thinking something was wrong with me because Ive never felt the need for close friendships.

Now, i understand that’s just who I am. Like yourself, I have a DH who I get on with famously. He’s similar to me but not quite as introverted and also 10 years older than me.

My only concern is how I will cope when/if he dies before me. I do have an adult son whom I love dearly but we’re on quite different wavelengths too.

I also speak to one of my sisters occasionally, I think she worries about me but really she has no need to.

I m opposite I need friends and I hope they need me

I understand. I do have a couple of friends, but I'm content on my own (with my DH and children). I have contact with my parents and sibling.

I maintain social connections because I do think it's important when the big things happen in life.

As long as you're happy, that's what matters.

I have no friends or family to speak of, other than my adult son and it certainly didn't bother me one jot until I was widowed. My DH and I were each other's best friends. We chatted and laughed, shared the same world views and had a very happy, easy going relationship. What I would kindly say OP is that you might find it less satisfying should you be widowed. I know it sounds ridiculous but I didn't realise how much the rug would be pulled from under me when he died. The house is silent, no more conversation or laughter, nobody to talk to about my work or my day. Nobody to go out for a meal with. Nobody to go on holiday with. Nobody to share anything with really. It just hadn't occurred to me.

You seem content with your life, and I think having a good relationship with your OH really helps. I have friends but can go for long periods of time without seeing them and this doesn't bother me. My best friend is my OH so like you that is enough most days.

flappergirl

I have no friends or family to speak of, other than my adult son and it certainly didn't bother me one jot until I was widowed. My DH and I were each other's best friends. We chatted and laughed, shared the same world views and had a very happy, easy going relationship. What I would kindly say OP is that you might find it less satisfying should you be widowed. I know it sounds ridiculous but I didn't realise how much the rug would be pulled from under me when he died. The house is silent, no more conversation or laughter, nobody to talk to about my work or my day. Nobody to go out for a meal with. Nobody to go on holiday with. Nobody to share anything with really. It just hadn't occurred to me.

Flappergirl, I am so sorry for your loss, it must be so hard sometimes. I have not, as yet, ever had to live alone but am dreading if it does happen. I can remember my mother saying how lonely it felt. 💐

I still have DH and a lovely family but several of my friends have died, in particular the closest ones. Others live a long way away, the kind of friends you see very rarely but you can pick up just where you left off when you do meet.
You can join groups but it's not easy to make friends when you're getting older as everyone seems to be in their little cliques, they might be friendly but, as another lady I knew years ago said "I have lots of friendly acquaintances but my true friends have all died".

If you are content and self-sufficient, that is a blessing.

flappergirl and others that must be very hard.

I never had a sister, and my lovely brothers have both died too.

I have a handful of friends who I meet up with on an almost weekly basis. Things would be lonely without them. Whilst married, my husband and I don’t really communicate, sometimes no more than 10 words a day. I do have “conversations” with my cats.

flappergirl

I have no friends or family to speak of, other than my adult son and it certainly didn't bother me one jot until I was widowed. My DH and I were each other's best friends. We chatted and laughed, shared the same world views and had a very happy, easy going relationship. What I would kindly say OP is that you might find it less satisfying should you be widowed. I know it sounds ridiculous but I didn't realise how much the rug would be pulled from under me when he died. The house is silent, no more conversation or laughter, nobody to talk to about my work or my day. Nobody to go out for a meal with. Nobody to go on holiday with. Nobody to share anything with really. It just hadn't occurred to me.

I was thinking that, too.
It's easy to choose not to see people, but when the hours, days, weeks starch out in front of you with nobody to even notice you, it's quite a different story, I think.

I quite understand why people want/need friends.

We're all different. It's great that you are perfectly content. But it's not quite as easy for those who live alone.

SueBooWoo, I don't think you are odd at all.
I have many acquaintances, but no longer have close friends. I have always been a bit of a loner, lacking in self esteem and finding it difficult to initiate friendships, for fear of rejection.

However, I still miss two of my closest friends, who died a number of years ago. They left a huge gap in my life.

The dynamics of my friendship groups changed, when I became unwell and had to give up my career. You can only turn down invitations so many of times, before people stop asking you.
My fault entirely, but I had neither the inclination nor energy, to socialise and they didn't grasp how unwell or fragile I had become. I was very good at covering up.
Feeling embarrassed at how feeble and frail I was, I didn't
want that to define me, nor for them to feel sorry for me, so I withdrew from socialising. My mental health was not good and I was angry at the unfairness and suddenness of it all.

What did affect me badly was that a supposedly good friend from work ditched me, when I was no longer of any use to her. We had been friends for over twenty years, but DH said he had always suspected that of her. It had never crossed my mind.

On a positive note, GN has given me an opportunity to meet some lovely people, virtually and in real life. Who would have thought that at my age, I would be become friends with a group of people I had met online. It totally goes against everything I taught my pupils about Internet safety. 😉
My daughter thought I was going to be abducted or worse, when I told her that I was going to my first meet up and she begged me not to go. 😂
It took a lot for me to take that first step, but it was the beginning of a new stage in my life.

True friendship is indeed a precious gift. My best friend is DH, despite what I say about him on the GM thread.😉