Do I want to be alone or do I want to be social?

TinaM said:
I have not been in a dating relationship in almost 15 years. I love living alone but read so much about seniors being socially isolated and how it’s not healthy. I choose to move to a new state after retirement and now I just have two out of state friends I text or call several times a week but no new friends or relatives in my new state. My only son is relocating to South America with his family in the spring. Other than my dogs and cat, I will truly be alone. I do plan to try to find some volunteer opportunities later on this year. Unfortunately, I live in a smaller town and the senior center sucks as far as activities.

I wonder if online communications count as social interaction for mental health? I’ll keep trying to meet people and hoping to get out there more in 2025.
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Online communication counts but noot as much as physical communication.
Just do what you enjoy doing.
 

Who_so_ever said:
I am an introvert. I prefer the company of myself, DH and my furkids. Some weeks I don't leave the house, other than go out in the backyard. I don't think there is anything wrong with that or question if I am weird. lol It's simply who I am.
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you are fine. You are happy. You're not weird, just content. Good
 

Whatever you like is fine. When I first answered this thread I still had my dog but now she's gone. I miss her very much and for many reasons won't get a dog or cat.

I envy those of you who can still care for your pets and are able to afford to take them to Vets. I am very low income now and Vet prices have gone up substantially. So no more cats or dogs for me.

That's wonderful you still have pets and can fully meet their needs. Enjoy your time with them! If you like your life as it is there is no need to change it.

I am adjusting to being totally alone now. I have thought of going to the Senior center. People get on my nerves too easily though which makes me just stay to myself.

I enjoy going shopping and having little chats with people in the stores and I can do a little offline socializing. That is fine with me.

I've thought a little about getting a pet that's not a dog or cat but don't know yet. IMO I'd rather be alone or with a pet.
 
Ruthanne said:
Whatever you like is fine. When I first answered this thread I still had my dog but now she's gone. I miss her very much and for many reasons won't get a dog or cat.

I envy those of you who can still care for your pets and are able to afford to take them to Vets. I am very low income now and Vet prices have gone up substantially. So no more cats or dogs for me.

That's wonderful you still have pets and can fully meet their needs. Enjoy your time with them! If you like your life as it is there is no need to change it.

I am adjusting to being totally alone now. I have thought of going to the Senior center. People get on my nerves too easily though which makes me just stay to myself.

I enjoy going shopping and having little chats with people in the stores and I can do a little offline socializing. That is fine with me.

I've thought a little about getting a pet that's not a dog or cat but don't know yet. IMO I'd rather be alone or with a pet.
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Vet prices are totally insane where I live. I have friends that live in different parts of the country that pay about a fourth of what we do when they have to go to the vet. When I was married, we had four dogs for a number of years, but as they died, We got down to two because of the expense. It’s also a lot of work having multiple pets. I’m really sorry, Ruthann that you can’t afford to have a pet because of the expense.
 
Teacher Terry said:
Vet prices are totally insane where I live. I have friends that live in different parts of the country that pay about a fourth of what we do when they have to go to the vet. When I was married, we had four dogs for a number of years, but as they died, We got down to two because of the expense. It’s also a lot of work having multiple pets. I’m really sorry, Ruthann that you can’t afford to have a pet because of the expense.
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Thank you. Vet prices are crazy here too in Ohio living in a medium size city. When I first got my dog I went to a very reasonable priced Vet. That was 12 years ago. She and her other Vets retired. Some other Vets took over that building about 6 years ago.

They raised the prices and then every 6 months would raise them more and now they are not affordable for me. There's another Pet hospital in the city and their prices are even higher.

I really don't think having pets in apartments is a good idea. People do things here that emit fumes which is bad for birds and some pets. I was always worried,when I had birds, that some fumes would kill them. That didn't happen but the worrying was awful 😕

My health is not so good anymore either so I no longer have a lot of energy to totally care for a pet and that and the expense have stopped me from getting another pet. If I had someone to help me with pets it would be a different story.

Anyhow I will find other things to do.😉
 
officerripley said:
Same here. Once in a while an independent vet will charge slightly less for a procedure than the VCA vet does but it's still very expensive..
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I think you’re in California and all the Californians moving here with more money has raised the price of everything. Our homes now cost more than Sacramento. I don’t blame them for moving here either of course because it’s cheaper. It’s crazy!
 
It's Saturday night and my evening has been one of television, the internet and the newspaper and that's it. There was a time when I would be dressed to the nines on a Saturday night, off out with my other half, to a hotel where there's a ballroom and dance the night away.

We went to so many, there was one venue, on a Sunday evening that dubbed their Sunday dance night, the weekend stretcher. It was always packed out too, everyone getting that last few hours of socialising from the weekend.

Thursday night meant in the car for the drive to Wellingborough and The Thunderbird Club. We used to rock our socks off there, as we did at other functions on Tuesdays and Sundays. The rest of the week we danced at our Latin & Ballroom dance school.

To be fair it wasn't every week, we had to work our social arrangements around my wife's shift pattern, she was in the ambulance service. Now Father Time has caught up with us and although I look back and remember that social life, my wife's heart condition has all but ended such times. But recently, with her gradual improvement, we have been going out to such functions once more. Admittedly we have to sit it out but meeting old friends and just socialising is what we are about.

Here on Senior forums has proved most engaging. Internet social networks like Facebook have never had any appeal but here on this forum, people are friendly, helpful and engaging.

Dance, anyone?
 
horseless carriage said:
It's Saturday night and my evening has been one of television, the internet and the newspaper and that's it. There was a time when I would be dressed to the nines on a Saturday night, off out with my other half, to a hotel where there's a ballroom and dance the night away.

We went to so many, there was one venue, on a Sunday evening that dubbed their Sunday dance night, the weekend stretcher. It was always packed out too, everyone getting that last few hours of socialising from the weekend.

Thursday night meant in the car for the drive to Wellingborough and The Thunderbird Club. We used to rock our socks off there, as we did at other functions on Tuesdays and Sundays. The rest of the week we danced at our Latin & Ballroom dance school.

To be fair it wasn't every week, we had to work our social arrangements around my wife's shift pattern, she was in the ambulance service. Now Father Time has caught up with us and although I look back and remember that social life, my wife's heart condition has all but ended such times. But recently, with her gradual improvement, we have been going out to such functions once more. Admittedly we have to sit it out but meeting old friends and just socialising is what we are about.

Here on Senior forums has proved most engaging. Internet social networks like Facebook have never had any appeal but here on this forum, people are friendly, helpful and engaging.

Dance, anyone?
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I enjoyed reading your good memories. I remember those good Saturday times too. We knew they wouldn't last forever, but I'm sure glad we had them while we did. Some people never did much of anything, and now it's too late.
 
horseless carriage said:
It's Saturday night and my evening has been one of television, the internet and the newspaper and that's it. There was a time when I would be dressed to the nines on a Saturday night, off out with my other half, to a hotel where there's a ballroom and dance the night away.

We went to so many, there was one venue, on a Sunday evening that dubbed their Sunday dance night, the weekend stretcher. It was always packed out too, everyone getting that last few hours of socialising from the weekend.

Thursday night meant in the car for the drive to Wellingborough and The Thunderbird Club. We used to rock our socks off there, as we did at other functions on Tuesdays and Sundays. The rest of the week we danced at our Latin & Ballroom dance school.

To be fair it wasn't every week, we had to work our social arrangements around my wife's shift pattern, she was in the ambulance service. Now Father Time has caught up with us and although I look back and remember that social life, my wife's heart condition has all but ended such times. But recently, with her gradual improvement, we have been going out to such functions once more. Admittedly we have to sit it out but meeting old friends and just socialising is what we are about.

Here on Senior forums has proved most engaging. Internet social networks like Facebook have never had any appeal but here on this forum, people are friendly, helpful and engaging.

Dance, anyone?
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I agree with you on the experience here. I would never be as open on FB as I am in here on some things I have shared. I know not everyone will think as I do or have experienced what I have and allow/accept margins for that. I know it's hard to believe I can be reserved and shy ;)
 
We spent a lot of time at the golf course and 19 hole / pro club with other friends there.
Weekends at our Lake home, with other neighbors and Pontoon boats. More work than fun though.
 
MACKTEXAS said:
I enjoyed reading your good memories. I remember those good Saturday times too. We knew they wouldn't last forever, but I'm sure glad we had them while we did.
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When you are out with friends, catching up on gossip, just socialising, you're never going to be old. Something that I posted previously that new members might not have seen.

When my father-in-law passed away, I took his daughter, my wife, to her beloved Scotland, just for a get away weekend, to try and help her bereavement. By chance I came across a show night and persuaded my wife to go, adding that we can always leave if she doesn't feel comfortable. It turned out to be a rather enjoyable evening. That something that I posted previously was this fellow who probably thought that social life ended at twenty-one.
 

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