Are some people just meant to be alone?

[FigRolls]

I've been in 4/5 long term relationships in my life; most recent is 5 years in. He's trustworthy, gorgeous, kind, thoughtful, loving, affectionate, good with children, works hard, adores me etc. We do have a few issues but they are resolvable and he really sees us living happily ever after. However, and I seem to always be the same after a couple of years with someone, I find things about him starting to annoy me - tiny things like washing up in the wrong order, always touching me if I'm in reaching distance etc. On the nights he isn't working I resent that I can't just read and sleep, that I feel obliged to watch TV with him and have sex. I enjoy sex but its the expectation we will have it that annoys me then puts me off. I had a lonely childhood with awful parents, I'm very independent and completely happy when it's just my children and I. I don't know if I'm subconsciously sabotaging what, realistically, is the best relationship I've ever had/ever may have or whether some people are just better off alone?

If by being alone you mean living alone then yes I can relate to what you are saying.
I find co-cohabiting suffocating and I dont like that low level background expectation and pressure to have sex.

I'm in a relationship but we dont live together, we live within easy walking distance but next door would be too close for my liking.

Maybe I just havent met my 'true mr right' but my experience is that familiarity breeds contempt and when I have lived with someone I found that most of the time I just long for solitude.

I like intimacy but only within certain limits, I refuse to co sleep, or indeed have any overnight visitors

As humans we're a social species, but we all need time alone. Whenever we are around others we put on an act of sorts - even if it's just to refrain from farting. It's vital to be able to completely relax from time to time.

Every couple is different, but I think it's very much a case of familiarity breeds contempt here. Simply put, you need to spend more time apart from each other doing your own thing to recapture that sense of urgency about wanting to be together. Some couples thrive on full-on intimacy; others require autonomy in order to create intimacy.