Do people really enjoy being on their own? Or is that a defence?

I love being on.my own but I.love company too. One in law is anti social to the point of rudeness. It's caused a lot of strife. She really doesn't like to socialise with anyone. I struggle with that and find it weird. It actually became a problem as she lives with my son and his partner and I can't visit my son when she's home. How unfair is that? I wish she would move but not happening.

I know some people found ‘lockdown’ very difficult but I did not. I enjoy my own company as an adult and did so as a child. I have a few close friends who mean a lot to me. I see them when we all get a chance to meet and I know that if I needed them they would be there for me. Other than seeing these friends, I do everything else on my own even holidays so yes, I’m definitely one of those people who enjoys her own company. I was also surprised to read that many people on here do enjoy being on their own. I thought I was one of the few as there’s been a lot in the press about people suffering mental health problems during ‘lockdown’.

I love being on my own. Was married for the best part of 30 years, divorced the husband 3 years ago and really enjoy the freedom those 3 years have brought. No more wondering what he’s up to and who with, for one thing. I was quite a loner at school and uni too. I have very few friends, but those I have, I trust completely. Good family too and enjoy get-togethers with extended family at times. But give me the choice between a party where I hardly know anyone and a night in with my dog and a book or film, and I’ll choose the latter. I’m never lonely, bored or unhappy.

Lucky girl I hope you will feel less lonely in time. It's a big adjustment for you. I've always been happy on my own at home and have no problem going anywhere on my own. I also like people and having a chat. I don't know what boredom is when I'm at home. My husband is the opposite and hates being on his own, but he does understand my need to 'be alone'. One daughter is exactly the same, but my other daughter is so lonely she wants to move from the beautiful but very unfriendly city she lives in, and has even passed up a chance at career progression so she can move as soon as possible. She is desperate to be part of a couple too and have someone to share her life. So we're all different.

I love being on my own,especially on holidays or visiting somewhere interesting. I can spend as long as I like looking at things, walk as slowly and for as long as I want, stop and eat or drink when I feel like it. Sometimes I think I am anti-social. The funny thing is I also have another side to me that revels in being involved in community activities and performances and loves giving talks about local history- after years of teaching I miss an audience! So I can be very sociable. At the moment I'm grateful for Zoom!

A few weeks ago I put up a post saying I was feeling very lonely and I was at the time. I had some nice replies and made a promise to myself to get on with it. I now think why on earth did I ever put that post up. I’m actually really happy on my own. I keep busy and have good friends and a lovely family. So yes I love being on my own !!

I love being home on my own, doing what I want when I want. I never, my whole life, lived by myself until 5 years ago when widowed after 45 years of marriage. The first time it hit me was after everyone had gone home, when the dishes were not magically put away. So ok, it was a fact of life and I began to embrace being alone

I don`t get maudlin, no point and I do set to and tackle things that is often done by the man of the house. I am good at maintenance, it is never ending so I keep on top of everything. That is one downside of being alone, the other is not going out so much to places that are advertised with happy smiling couples.

Anyway, better me than him, I cope with all of it and try not to think of the future, I continue to enjoy living happily in my peaceful lovely quiet home

I'm an introvert and need time alone. If I find I'm getting a day to myself I relish it. I have the best of both worlds, time on my own and a family. I hate people striking up conversations in the doctors waiting room as I'm too nervous to chat.

I live alone with two cats in a quite isolated place. During lock down the only person I saw was the click and collect person every two or three weeks. This made me realise that I am quite happy on my own...I cope very well. Saying that I spent 7 hours with a friend the other day . Lunch and a walk and we did not stopping talking. I enjoyed it. We are all different.

People say I am a "people person" I do however appreciate times on my own, to do my own thing,it is being put to a test in a few weeks time when I visit the UK and have to quarantine for two weeks, that may be a challenge but if the whole of the UK did it for months, then surely I can put up with my own company for two weeks I have plenty of things to do so shouldnt get too bored.Watch this space ladies.

I can cope on my own, but much prefer to be in company.
However needs must and I think we try to adapt to different situations.

Like many posters above I miss seeing friends and family for now as much as I would like, but I am definitely happy enough to be on my own much of the time.
At the start of lockdown I saw lots of online articles about how lockdown would suit introverts, but that's an error. We introverts still like people and socialising, but we draw our energy from being alone and processing things that way. Don't stop talking to people granofthree, that's a nice thing to do, but don't feel bad for us either

I much prefer my own company these days. I have 6 brothers and sisters and while people think “how lovely” it can be very volatile and nothing is ever completely rosy. We all live in different parts of the country, I have a lovely husband of 40 years who shares all domestic duties, loves his garden and is a very pleasant man. My beautiful youngest son died 2 years ago and since then my world has been very small, I mention my son because I can’t not mention him, I think about him all the time and I can’t deal with people who do not acknowledge his existence in my world. While well meaning people think you should move on they are not in my position. So, I content myself with a caring husband, I do love days when he goes off walking, fishing and I have time to just be. I have one sister who is very good, has a high pressured job, but she phones me every week. All the others are retired apart from the odd phone call or email I hear very little from them. So being on my own has changed, I’ve never minded my own company now I’m kind of resigned to it and prefer it to having expectations put upon me.

How wonderful to see so many other people who are happy in their own company. Like others, I do enjoy being with like minded people. I am married and, currently, most working days hubby is working from home. However, I happily move through life content with my company.....and the cats. My home and garden are my sanctuary from the world and so it was not a huge problem during lockdown. I don’t get bored...I read, watch TV, listen to the radio, sew, knit, crochet, garden. I love learning and creating so time passes all too quickly.
Thank you everyone for reassuring me that I am not odd.

I prefer to be alone. I don’t live alone , I live with my daughter and her family but spend a lot of time in my bedroom. I go on holiday with them but would like to go on a coach holiday on my own.
I think that if I did go on a coach holiday that I would end up with someone sitting next to me and chatting to me so I’ve given up on that idea . I think that I might book a bed and breakfast and drive myself ?

From childhood I learned to amuse myself without other children. I also learned to enjoy the company of my chums.
Now I am old I am profiting from enjoying solitary pleasures.

However I do not like feeling I am not any part of society.

My husband, truly my other half died thirty three years ago. We travelled a lot preferring an open air life and meeting all kinds of people but no going to parties etc.
I have become used to being alone and doing what I like when I like. Get annoyed when people tell how to do things.

I think.there's a difference between being on your own when usually you aren't and being on.your own permanently. I enjoy having the house to myself for a limited period of days or even weeks but I don't think I'd like it if it were a permanent state of affairs. I enjoys visits or meetings but start to flag after an hour or two.

Since retiring and during this pandemic I'm mostly happy with these quieter times. When we were younger we had a very busy social life through my husband's sports connections. Now I love being home with plenty of hobbies to catch up with. I'm busy dress making again and enjoying it. No need to give excuses either for socialising!
The only thing I really miss are coffee mornings with my friends. My family and grandchildren - abroad and 200 miles away are greatly missed though. Usually about every 18 months we have a big family meet up in a country of choice (usually where there's a Disney resort) and have 2 wonderful weeks together. Just hoping to do this again in 2021 - fingers crossed.

I’m an only child and I live on my own for the first time since being married at 17 I’m now 64. I’m a social butterfly and I’ve no problem living on my own. My only issue with it is having very few people to do things with as all my friends are in couples but it doesn’t stop me doing things.

How comforting to read of so many who feel just as I do. I love to see my family and friends, live amicably with DH, but how I enjoy being alone. Waking up to the prospect of a day alone when DH is going out is so relaxing - do as I please when I please.

I like my own company. I do like the company of others, but in small doses.

It's the main difference between introverts and extroverts. Extroverts​ recharge their batteries by social interaction. They need people around to feel energetic and lively.

Introverts recharge their batteries by spending time alone. Social interaction is great in small doses but too much is exhausting.

Essentially, extroverts need we introverts a lot more than we need them!

I LOVE being on my own. Full stop. Love my children, love my grandchildren but LOVE being on my own when I have had my fill. {smile}