There really are many ways to feel alone in a relationship or not. We all need both time alone and time with others, quality time and we also need people who will be there for us if needed.

Sounds like there would be enough interest for a club, perhaps named Not Alone.

there actually was a club U R Not Alone for widows and widowers. but i started this thread to also celebrate the good things about being on one's own. did not mean it to be a downer! as Diane M said, it is what it is, so deal with it! that is very true. i think our attitude and what we do to make ourselves happy makes all the difference...for example, for years i was putting off travel waiting for that "special someone" with whom to take a dream trip! but last year i took my daughter and two granddaughters to italy and paris and it was just wonderful!! showing our loved ones the places we love is a great feeling. so now i no longer feel i lack a travel partner! my daughter cannot wait to go back to italy next year :) problem solved! :)

Sorry, but in light of this post, and the attitude of "it is what it is, so deal with it" I must ask, Why bother to ask the question in the first place of "What is your biggest concern about being alone" did you expect just happy answers? Maybe you should have asked "What makes you happiest about being alone" I can assure you my answer would have been much different. I love my alone time and I love my life, but that is not what you asked!

My biggest concern about been alone is the possible eventuality of facing a serious medical emergency such as a heart attack or stroke and being unable to function well enough to call 911 or otherwise seek help. Of course one could face such a situation while being married. Most of us have lost married friends whose spouses were not present or able to assist them during an event which caused their demise.

Other than that I feel what I miss most about not being in a relationship is the absence of regular physical and mental contact which bring about feelings of comfort and well being. Too, I miss having someone with whom to share my life. Having close friends and one or more pets as well as getting hugs really helps though.

Being single does have its advantages as the OP mentioned. I enjoy the freedom to do what I please without having to run it by a partner or obtain the partner's approval. In particular I have traveled extensively as a single and enjoyed doing so enormously.

As previously posted being alone does not equate to being lonely. The loneliest I ever felt was toward the end of a long and difficult marriage.

There is no guarantee with anything - I have two close friends who both had strokes in the night while in bed with their spouse and both are totally incapacitated because the spouse had no idea that the partner was in trouble and needed help.

After 20 years of living alone I am pretty well set in my ways. Doomed to spend the last days alone.

I once made 2 columns on a pad of paper about having / not having a partner. (Alone /housemate)
Most of the gripes were minor,nothing that could not be worked out, or compromised as far as I was concerned . It came down to emotional issues,was I (or partner ) happy or complacent ? Did I ( we) feel enhanced by each other? Sounds selfish but if I wasn't t happy " We " probably would not last very long in a commitment.I think every one has a little checklist of what they want to have in a partner. The problem there is that everyone wants a "miss or mister "perfect!
Be realistic life is not a fantasy,romantic paperback novel!
Think that you are;
kind,thoughtful,good listener,considerate,secure emotionally and ( somewhat financially stable)

Good evening from Minnesota. I am a couple of years from retiring, hoping to do a Village visit later this year. I am surprised to read that most seem resigned to being single / alone. Been divorced for a couple of years and have not given up that I will be lucky enough to have a wonderful woman come into my life again. Surprised to hear folks aren't out there with the same energy and dreams and hopes of finding the right person (again) like we did in our 20s.

well, as i said in my original post, it seems to me that most of us are quite happy being single, so i would not use the word "resigned". that does not mean that most of us would not be delightfully surprised to fall in love again, just not holding our breath :) as for having the same energy for anything that we had in our 20's, well that is another subject :) look forward to welcoming you when you do your visit! let us know.

My biggest concern about being alone?
 

At the present time I live with "Jack" the rambunctious Rat Terrier and I truly like it that way.

My lifestyle, however, is lacking in social options and that's why I'm still the TV Wannabee, listed on MLS, and waiting for that special buyer to fall in love with my place.

Actually, my daughter is more concerned for my wellbeing living out in the country alone, than I am. I love the single life for all the reasons previously expressed. GREAT TOPIC !
:spoken:

I've always been curious why we have to "label" everyone....why can't we just be "people"! I came to TV not to be labeled "single"; "widow"; "senior" or anything else other than a "person".....yes, there are considerations we have to think about when we don't have a spouse but why dwell on it. There's so many positive people here in TV and great experiences ... why not just enjoy!!

I don't believe people are "labeled". It's only a part of this conversation. I think it is valuable information to know if someone is alone (ie: single, widowed, etc) it's a huge concern for folks that are alone to know that their will be someone checking on them if they are incapacitated or worse.

I agree Gerryann.....please see my previous post on this question a while ago when Cha first put this subject up. I was just voicing my curosity. I have found that TV is a great place of caring people...and, yes, I am one of those people with no family here and a widow for 10 years....we are all blessed to live in a community like this IMHO.