Too much solitude

Hi Allsorts, I sympathise very much re your situation.
Oh to be stoical!

Having a dog you are never surplus to requirements. If owning one doesn’t suit you could walk dogs that are waiting to be . adopted. Volunteering giv s back in bucket loads, I did my stint today and am in a better place than this morning. I also journal that can help see a pattern and relive something nice that’s happened. It takes 6 weeks to form a habit so don’t expect results immediately. Good luck.

After I retired, I got a casual job in the college invigilating exams, and another at election times. These allow me to get out but not all the time. I help with reading at my local primary school, one morning a week.
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Just retired from running my Rainbow Guide unit and joined the Trefoil guild.

DGS is now 12 and no longer comes for his tea, and while that releases my time, I do miss him.

BUT, it has taken me 5 years to slow down and stop and just stay home a bit. I love a cleaner tidier house - something that is very new <lol>, but now giving my garden a slow makeover and loving it.

I am also enjoying some of the daytime TV.

I love reading before I get up, then having a looong shower, doing my hair and moisturing, breakfast and getting dressed at around 11 is such bliss after decades of 6 am starts. And going to bed when I feel like it. Bliss!

I find I do love my own company

Family busy with their own lives

I seem to be on the receiving end of this...or rather not receiving!

A long standing back problem has reappeared and pain is not good. How to keep buoyant and cheery and outward facing I wonder?

I have a routine, which I used every time I moved and think it could be helpful for you. You are beginning a new phrase of your life. Firstly you might have a little holiday, where you visit somewhere you have never been before in your locality. See where that road goes to
Look at gardens near your place and see what grows well. Think back to what you used to enjoy, or did nit have time or money to do. Look societies up in the library and find out when they meet. Have you tried swimming? I think it is a way to exercise and meet others so that you are both exercising and meeting people without committing yourself to too much..Get your local paper where you can see what clubs meet from tennis to.chess and if one appeals to you try it out..hope you find your feet