The anti-social animal

I don’t like people…..

This is a statement that I have repeated on many occasions.  I don’t really socialise, I have lots of acquaintances, but very few true friends.  The simple fact is I never get lonely, I like my own company.  Does this make me somehow less of a person?

I spend all day at work talking to colleagues and customers that when I go home I find that I have very little desire to speak.  I want to get back inside my own head and stay there.

Normally I wouldn’t over analyse my lack of social activity, but someone close to me recently told me that she is lonely and misses seeing friends regularly.  I struggle to understand this concept.  Don’t get me wrong, I have had some very validating and meaningful friendships, but most are fleeting, I do not mourn them when they are gone.  I don’t know anyone now that I knew as a child (aside from my family)  People say “oh thats such a shame!”, but why is it a shame?

Human beings are social animals, we live in a complex social hierarchy, define ourselves by those we associate with and measure success by the strength of our relationships. Not through any conscious choice I seem to separate myself from this, I do not rely on others, nor do I make myself emotionally available to them.

My question therefore is, am I the anti social animal?  Is my behaviour odd?  Or is the inside of my head just more interesting than most, that it does not require others to join in on its fun????????