No Constant Companion

Who do you spend the most time with?

With whom do I spend the majority of my time? My employment necessitates that I am with a particular group of people for a considerable amount of time. I do not think of this as me spending my time. It is my employer who is spending my time, which I allow in return for monetary compensation. For this reason, I do not think that the people I am with for the largest portion of my day can be considered as an answer to this question.

I see my only son once a week, usually on Thursday. We eat dinner out and then we go grocery shopping.

I see my only friend once a week, usually on Sunday. We watch new release movies on streaming and catch op on current events.

I see my fellow congregants at Church once a week. We Worship God together and occasionally after the worship service we meet for coffee in the undercroft.

I see some of my other family members about once or twice a month. We go to movies, plays and concerts.

I have a few “long-lost acquaintances” who I see once or twice a year. We usually meet for coffee, and then we part ways again for extended periods of time. In some cases, I will call or text these people after a prolonged separation and suggest that we get together. They do not call me. They never call me. I am the one who wants to reconnect. That’s what I only consider them acquaintances and not “long-lost friends”.

So with whom do I choose to spend most of my time? Nobody, of course. I spend the overwhelming majority of my time in solitude. I used to lament this fact, but now I realize that I am not really compatible with other people. I genuinely do love a lot of people, but I am just not wired to be a social creature.