"How do you do it?"

[Brewman_Jax]

"How do make it without being in a relationship? I can't be in out of a relationship for more than a few weeks," said my friend/employer some years ago. He had recently broken up a long-term relationship, 5 years I think. He told me of some of the off-the-wall stuff she did. I don't know why he put up with her as long as he did.

He would answer that another day--He can't take being alone.

To finish the story, and keep it short and without mush, he eventually got married and is a father the last time I spoke to him.

I don't want to operate from a position of weakness (OMG, gotta get a relationship! Any relationship!). Rather, I want to operate from a position of strength (Hmmm, this person likes me, but is a space case. Bad idea to start with. Being alone isn't so bad.)

If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything.

[bemildred]

1. Sanity begins with the understanding that there are much worse things

than being alone.

[supernova]

2. That is so true, bemildred

I kinda feel sorry for people who don't know how to enjoy their own company.

Tho' to be honest, there are times when I wonder if I spend too much time alone. I get to the point where time doesn't mean anything. I might look up one day and realize that it's been two weeks since I talked to my sister, for example.

I love her and don't avoid her. But the passage of time is a rather prosaic thing for me. :shrug:

[Hello_Kitty]

4. Know what you mean there

Relationships of any type take effort to sustain, such as the regular phone calls and stuff, and I am so accustomed to my solitude at this point that I don't know if I can make the compromises required.

Today I went hiking with a friend instead of alone like I usually do. It was ok, his pace was similar to mine thank god, but I missed my Ipod tunes and found that talking with him disrupted my breathing. I thought, damn if I don't even like accomodating another person on a 2 hour hike how the hell would I do in a marriage?

[MsConduct]

3. Being alone is sooooo much easier than hanging with

someone who drives me crazy. Hey, I can drive my own self nuts, I sure don't need any help! LOL

[shanti]

5. amen, sister!

say that again, loudly! it's also possible to be lonely when you ARE in a relationship, and that really really sucks!

[mcscajun]

6. You said it and THEN some.

Also...you are never so lonely as when you are sleeping next to the Wrong Person.