But there's pretty much no human being alive that requires zero social interaction to feel good. And GP's point is that you gotta make friends while you are more able.
You may not be interested now, but the worst case is finding yourself needing a friend and unable to make one.
I don't enjoy any of the community or volunteer events in my area (I have tried everything regular, but nothing has stuck). I moved here for work, so I don't have any friends or family support structure in the area. Everyone gets around by car, even though it is extremely walkable here (a personal preference), so I don't even see my neighbors except for when they drive their cars in and out of their driveway.
I know that social isolation is awful for my health. I know that making new friends can be tough at first; you need to hang out with someone enough times in a row to overcome the initial awkwardness and build up mutual understanding. But how the hell am I supposed to meet up with people repeatedly when I have to bend over backwards to fit socialization in between work, feeding myself, exercising, and cleaning (let alone other tasks)? Not to mention that, even working remotely, I'm often so drained after a workday that I don't feel up to socializing.
The only place to 'hang out' in most parts is the library (not conducive to chat) and bars/breweries (expensive, unhealthy, and home to a... certain demographic).
I've heard that other countries supposedly have better work/life balance than the USA. Do folks who have experienced this contrast find it easier to make friends elsewhere?
I try to get my exercise with a group of people friends. Often this isn't possible. But I've got several activities in my life that I do with a group of people and often those people become close friends.
For example, I know many people who are close to those in their yoga group. Or beach volleyball group. I like to hike or do outdoor activities with friends. Basically anything that gets your heart rate up, with a group of people, allows you to build friendship + social connections and not be bored while exercising.
This said, it sounds like you've moved somewhere that isn't "you". You can't fix your neighbors insular nature, or their tendency to drive, or the community /volunteer opportunities that don't speak to you. I recommend putting your efforts to finding a place you like, then work on friends there.
P.s., You may not find the friends you expect. Keep an open mind.
But now that I think about it, that development might not make it to the USA inasmuch as that country wholeheartedly embraced the concept of "no loitering".
I feel like this makes it seem like it's a problem for everyone.
I am alone most of the time and as far as I can tell I have never felt lonely. I am not even quite sure what that feels like, but the descriptions from others make me fairly confident I haven't felt it.
Why does this make it seem like older males who are alone are just sad and sitting at home bored? I know single older males who are very active outdoors and such and they do all sorts of solo activities.
Human beings are social animals. Time spent around friends and family is incontrovertibly linked to longer and happier lives.
You should very much understand that you are the exception.
My whole life feels like an exception lol. But I have to think that I can't possibly be that special or rare and maybe I just am looking in the wrong place when reading about how other people are in comparison to myself.
I wish extroverts would stop acting like theirs is the only way of life and having a small group of people to interact with rarely is somehow an issue.
Not to mention all the health issues that come with socialisation, like pandemics.
Clearly that isn't you. But this piece isn't making that argument?
But even in this dataset I guess there are outliers who rate themselves 7-8 with 0 social interaction. I guess I would be kind of like one of those data points if I had been in the survey.
And in articles about cancer, you also respond "Eh, not everyone has cancer?"
You're being obtuse and/or cruel.
People in the middle tend to sleep, they don't get a lot of interaction, yet they get some interaction. They're kind of in the "not bad / not great".
Some people are super happy, and it seems to be directly correlated to Interaction++. Interaction++ -> Happy++.
Some people are super sad, and it weirdly seems to be directly correlated to Interaction++. And then eventually almost stop interacting. Probably because its always: Interaction++ -> Happy--.
The chart only really works till the middle, like the article's written from an Extrovert's perspective, like most of existence.
It's not just about interaction. It's about meaningful interaction. When you get lots of interaction but none of it meaningful to you, it's just as bad as not getting any at all. The hope of "coming across" something meaningful keeps you going... for while... until it doesn't.
Spending time with people is easy. Making and keeping a real connection, now that's harder.
I'm officially an elementary school teacher as of this fall, so I spend most of my work day "socializing" with other people—they just aren't adults. And they certainly aren't my "friends", although I do genuinely care about them.
I also don't have my own children (yet), which I imagine would be very different.
