I spend most of my time alone. You could say I'm a hermit gypsy, but I'm never lonely, only alone.
I'm only a phone call or email away from my family.
When I see other families celebrating I love to see it, and enjoy their joy.
As Sunshine says, it's not always utopia being a member of a family, and being together can be a very disruptive and unhappy time.
I have never been part of any close families, and I've raised my children to not be clingy and dependent. They are independent, but we do enjoy ourselves when we get together.
One of my children is not close to any of us and has isolated herself from the rest of her family, unless she has a use for us or wants to get a cash hand-out.
Make the most of everyday wherever you are with whom ever you're with. We can't go backwards, only forwards, using past experiences as the guide.

well you buggers have got me sitting in a puddle of bloody tears, we had three of our "solo's" from our street over to our all day chrissy lunch and they blended in just dandy, surely there is somewhere you fellers could go for company, pubs are good and provide a good feed for peanuts and the company is grouse

gotta be some place for you! why not organise a big gathering somewhere just once so you can all get to know who your forum solo buddies are! no need to be alone or lonely surely, get out and about and for christ sake rejoin LIFE!! please

anywhere near me and you wouldnt be alone that much I'd asure you!

I cant imagine being alone at any time, I often wish I was but as soon as I find a "quiet" spot someone comes and fills it with noise, the only time I have time to myself is out on the header and that is going to end shortly, then Jock, aggie and velma keep a damn good eye on me

I feel so much better reading what you all have to say....i have felt guilty sometimes.... that i WANT to be away from my family.....l...like sunshine ..want to run from them...so much, so i left the country and lived in Africa on four occasions, the last for a long time....my children are greedy and disrespectful, not how i bought them up...but they are horrified i want to be a 'gypsy'...see their inheritance going down the toilet....not that i have much any more....but i have my independance and dignity and my freedom....and i love it...sometimes i feel i was not a good enough parent but when i look around and see how we are in our society, so many parents have 'children' problems....i don't know what i could have done better...they had too mcuh i think....thank you all for your kind words...all is good and away i go again.....

Happy New Year Guy's. It's interesting to read your thoughts on being alone. I have the same issues. I only hear from my family when they want something or want to complain. Contact becomes very negative. I keep thinking "should I just hit the road" full time. I guess I'm to afraid of being totally alone out there.

Your 100% correct Granny. It is all about choices and opportunities and it's up to each of us to make the most of those opportunities presented to us. Like you, I was raised by my grandparents and certainly forced to mature way before any of my peers. I to, while preferring a majority of isolation, can socialise pretty well when the need arises, but that preference for self inflicted isolation does not stop me worrying about being all alone out on the road. I think that we all need some contact with civilisation some of the time. And yes it does need to be the right sort of contact.