Defined by the Absence of Others.

The one word that best describes me is Solitary.

I am alone in this life.
I am not lonely.

I have no spouse or significant other. I do not “date”. I have only one actual friend, who I see once every few weeks at the best of times.

I’m quite fond of my fellow congregants at church but I am not close with any of them. I don’t call them. They don’t call me.
Nonetheless, I feel certain that in a crisis, they would offer me whatever support they were able to give.
I would do the same for them.

I do not associate with any my co-workers. It’s nothing personal. I just do not share their world views and I prefer not to become embroiled in political or religious arguments.

The entirety of my surviving family, including myself, amounts to five people. I do see one of them daily, another weekly, a third a few times a year. The final family member is an uncle whom I haven’t seen in years.

It is my nature to be alone. I used to struggle with the idea that I was supposed to have a partner and a circle of friends. I realize now that forcing myself to be around people was the source of my displeasure. I’m quite content to read a book or watch a movie all by myself. Coffee and chocolate are all the company I need.