to be perfectly happy in my own company?

[Stinklebell]

because apparently it's "weird"

I'm not madly extrovert, not a hermit either, but I am perfectly happy pottering around by myself.

I work part time from home, and I've just had a very nice couple of hours with Sky+ and my ironing pile

DH is the opposite, loves company, always organising get togethers and nights out - even stuff like a Saturday night takeaway turns into a mad social gathering and sometimes I just find it a bit too much.

My DH went away with our kids a couple of weeks ago, and a friend was all "oh, you can't stay home on your own, I'll be over Friday with some wine, we'll go shopping Saturday then we'll go out Saturday night". It was lovely of her, but she didn't quite get that actually, I am just fine tootling around alone. I like mooching around the shops on my own, I like chilling out with a film or something on my own. I don't want to stand outside the school gates for an hour every morning chatting, or go somewhere for coffee or meet up for lunch every day

I don't mind friends over, I don't mind meeting friends for a coffee, I just don't want to do it all the time. I like my own space, I like my own company, I'm not bored or lonely, I just don't want to be surrounded by people all the time.

It's not unreasonable, right?

YANBU, I'm trying to convince my DH to go away on a work trip for a few days...

Glad other people feel like this too.

also read 'The Introvert Advantage' by Lany

woodmouse2 That sounds interesting. Could it (gasp) actually have something positive to say about introverts? I'll check it out.

OP YANBU. Why is being an extrovert usually seen as a positive and being an introvert seen as a negative? I think that introverts generally 'get' extroverts and are a bit fed up being viewed as 'faulty' extroverts. Each is a perfectly valid way of being.

If you are an extrovert your presence can be very life affirming but sometimes extrovert pleasures can be a bit empty. If you are an introvert you can be a thoughtful and sympathetic friend who is peaceful to be around. On the other hand, introverts run the risk of being isolated or stand offish. Both character traits have positives and negatives

YANBU

. People that are in constant need of company have no depth of character IMO.

I am so glad to know that I'm not the only one.

Everyone around me seems to thrive on noise and chatter, I sometimes feel like I'm drowning in noise and pushing and shoving

I just want to waft around in peace

Re: Extrovert/Introvert, I can be a bit of both though. I do like company, but on my own terms.
I go through phases of being very sociable, but equally crave time alone often, I worked for years in quite an outgoing personality type profession, but would consider myself fairly shy.

YANBU, I love my own company, love,love love it when I get the house to myself
Got to go to a party on Friday and dreading it already! It's not that I don't like people, i work with the public all day and love to chat to them but I love time alone more,

Another only child here -- and another who's perfectly happy on my own, although I love getting together with friends and family as well.

I really do think that the greatest service that you can do for your children is to teach them to be happy with their own company - especially when I look around at friends who have dashed from relationship to relationship because they can't bear to live alone...

If you are at ease on your own, you ** tend not to rush into any relationship that comes along just because you need someone else in the house...

i am the same. i work 3 days per week and have the dcs the rest of the time. Those 2 days I'm off work and the dcs are at school are my favourite days. I AM selfish with my time because it is precious. I have a rriend who doesnt work and wants to spend my days off with me. I have to try and explain what I'm doing as she cant seem to accept I want to be by myself. I find it so tiring!

I can be very full on, cheerful, etc, but only for short bursts of time.

At other times, I really, really need peace and quiet to recharge the batteries. Sitting in a quiet house with no-one else in, doing something like crosswords, crochet, etc, is really appealing to me at times.

And doing other things on my own too, like shopping, going to craft shows (yes, I know there are loads of other people there too but I'm not really talking or interacting with them), and so on.

I think I need at least an hour a day on my own, so quite often go up to bed early to read alone, then I chat with DP when he comes up later.

I have sometimes wondered if those people who are full on all the time are actually afraid of being alone with themselves, or afraid of actually having to face the person they really are.

Mmmm...I'm not an only child, I have a younger brother.

I absolutely love being on my own. No DH, children, work, friends, family... I love space and time but don't get it very often at all.
However when I was younger, pre DC and DH I had a few years when I lived in my own and had no friends or family nearby. Whilst I still generally loved pottering about, going shopping, going for coffee on my own, I was also VERY lonely and it was depressing to know that I was truly 'alone'. The house was always empty and I didn't have anyone to pop round or go out with.
I realise that I enjoy being on my own so much now because when I get some space, it's a choice I have made for a short period of time. Not a way of life IYSWIM.

there are a lot of us very similar over here, come and join in

I'm a bit like this too but am v sociable at times as well. Depends on my mood really. DH also v happy with his own company or just us too. I think there's an 'introverts' thread on here somewhere...?

Totally agree.

I don't just like my own company, I need my own company.

DH, DS2 & DS3 & I are very similar - not particularly shy, but introverts who like a bit of socialising every now & then, but really need a lot of time to ourselves as well. When we're all at home, we're quite happy pottering around in different rooms doing our own things.

DS1, on the other hand... Let's just say, when he's home from university the volume in our normally quiet house doubles, and we really know he's around. It's usually him & most of his friends & our house turns into party central. We love having him home, but are grateful for the peace & quiet when he goes back!

I am so glad to read this thread. I am exactly the same. I hate committing, love to potter and a Saturday afternoon spent folding the washing in front of Neighbours on catch up is pure bliss for me. My heart always sinks if someone suggests a coffee when my DD is at preschool because I like my me time. I enjoy going to meet friends, but often would prefer to be at home more!

I have occasionally wondered if I am depressed because others have implied I may be, despite that I have actually never having been happier. Now I know I am just normal!

When people suggest a get together I'm really keen because I'm in the mood for it right then but when the time comes round I dread having to go and make small talk. Sometimes it's not too bad and I actually have a good time

It's the pitying looks in the office on a Monday when people say 'good weekend? Do anything nice? Get out anywhere?

When I respond that I've had a lovely time pottering about they just don't understand it. Apparently, if you're single you should be out all the time drinking and trying to bag a man. It's the only way to be 'complete'

Occasionally if I'm away visiting friends I have to withdraw after a few hours. If not away from them then into myself, I go fairly quiet. People think they've done something to upset me or I'm in a mood. I'm not, I just can't cope with 'full on' constant nattering. It bores me if I'm honest.

I love it and just found out that the OH is away this sat night for the footie. Most excellent.

I like being by myself so much, that I go on holiday alone.

Me, a pile of books, nobody else to please or consider - this bliss!

My brother is exactly the same, as are both of my parents, and my grandmother... I'm married and my DH is also happy enough in his own company. Quite often we have leave from work at different times so we can each do our own thing. I like going to the cinema alone, he likes playing his computer games.
We have a wide circle of friends so we do have a social life as well, but we don't need company all the time!

I'm the same. Love a trip to the cinema on my own!

YANBU! I love my Fridays when DH and DD are both at work/school and Saturdays when they go of to the footy.

If DH doesn't have at least one evening out a fortnight I have to start subtly asking him if he's got any plans .

Love solo cinema trips too - I have never met anyone in RL who feels the same way. They all just go when I tell them I'm going on my own.

YADNBU, I'm the same, and increasingly so with age.

My DH is very sociable and likes to meet up with friends a lot so we compromise. If I go to others' houses, I usually enjoy myself, but there's a time limit on it. I like to go home after a couple of hours.

DH meets up with one particular group to watch football matches quite regularly, and one of the friend's wives used to contact me to ask if I wanted her to come over and keep me company/watch a film etc while the men watched football. I didn't want to but used to feel awkward about saying no. It wasn't like I had a ready excuse because she knew I was at home with the children. I used to wheedle my way out of it and she's stopped asking now. I feel a bit bad about that but I really don't like to be forced into social situations.

When I get invitations, I am as non-committal as possible, unless it's a formal event or the person doing the inviting needs a definite answer.

I get that look all the time!
But why...? It's not like you can sit and talk during the film, and sometimes nobody else wants to see the films I do. Why should I miss out? I saw 'The Butler', 'Twelve years a slave', 'Saving Mr Banks' and 'Girl with the dragon tattoo' on my own... I enjoyed them all very much. In fact, I'm going tomorrow night to watch Dallas Buyers Club, and DH is going to watch Robocop on his own because I don't want to watch that!