To be so antisocial

I spent 30yrs in a people centric career - not always pleasant situations either.
I'm now mid 50s, live alone, wfh part time, which rarely involves speaking to anyone.
I happily holiday alone, have half a dozen friends I meet up with every few months, and one friend I see a couple of times a week - and that is enough for me.
Maybe it's my age, maybe I am 'peopled out' from my previous job, or maybe Imjust too selfish to want to make the effort any more?

I think social interaction is hugely important for health and longevity ñ. What I don’t know is whether you can get that benefit from one other person.

I think you need to be a bit careful not to become isolated and lonely. I love my DH but I’d be lost without my girl friends. When the chips are down it’s helpful to have that support network.

Doesn’t need to be going out to load bars and socialising. I love going for a walk one on one or a coffee..

I like my own company and always need a bit of alone time afterwards but you can find a balance.

Without being morbid at some point either you or your DH won’t be there and one of you will be left. You wouldn’t want to have no friends and be alone in later life.

Im 51 and dislike social gatherings. CBA to make small talk. Im ok with a group we have (8 couples) and im the youngest. I hate the chit chat of younger folk and its worse at work. MH this and that. Someone has an ailment then has it worse. Grates on me.

i cba sitting with the family neither. We watch different things and prefer my own company. I dont get on my own nerves which makes me happy

I'm in my mid 40s and I don't feel like this at all, so I'm sceptical that it's an age thing. If anything I feel I've come to value company and friendship more over time, particularly since the pandemic.

Perhaps you've always been a bit of an introvert and never really paid attention to it before. Go with what makes you feel happiest.

Socialising for the sake of it is something to be avoided as far as I'm concerned.

I really dont like going out, but l make and effort and enjoy it somewhat when l do. Not very often, maybe once a month.
I had a really hard year last year, and was very grateful l had friends to support me. You will never know when you might need your friends so its good to put in a small bit of effort.

I’m mid 30s with children and feel the same as you. I just find socialising exhausting and try to avoid people as much as possible.

I think it's an age thing.

As always it's not every 40s + person but it's quite common to find yourself less and less interested in being around other people and happier and happier in your own company.

I too spent years in customer/service user facing roles so i'm good at being 'on' and smiley and chatty and efficient on demand. I'll make small talk with anyone any time. I'm as far as shy or grouchy as you can get - outwardly ...

However from my 40s onwards i've found that i simply don't want to be around lots of people. And when i have had to be i'm then in need a day or two with zero social expectations to feel sane again. I have a big family (4 DCs, 3 are young adults) DH and my elderly mother lives with us (in her own bit of the house) and so an empty house is rare and i love it when it happens!

I have a friend who's quite happy to pop indie coffee for an hour or two once a week and we text back and forth but that's enough for me these days frankly.

Im an only child and find solitude calming and grounding.

Well everyone is different. I mostly feel like you for about 5-10 years and are now mid fifties. Mainly dislike two faces people or people who wants to use you for contacts or love to gossip? I rather be myself than with the 95 percent of people out there. Once you grow out of fake people and situations you start seeing people for what they really are much quicker. I also never got the Social Media that much. I think it kills so much out of society.

There will a few people who you will feel comfortable with. Stick to those as it is better quality than quantity.