I'm in a similar situation. Thankfully I am married with a son, and two stepdaughters, because if I didn't have that, I think I'd be in dire straits. But yes, I feel lonely too.
I've always been quiet, but managed to come out of my shell a bit in the final years of high school and quite a bit in university. But after university I lost touch with the friends I had (moving to Canada didn't help) and now only see one buddy when I go back home. In Canada, I've had a couple of acquaintances here and there, but eventually lose touch. As someone said earlier, once you keep on declining social invitations, they eventually dry up. A few years ago, I developed a health issue that made me anxious in social situations which basically put an end to restaurants and bars for me. My wife and I barely go out together even, or she does with her friends and I decline and stay home. Thankfully, my health has improved in the last year, and I'm determined to start making things better. But I get so down when I realize that outside of my wife, I have nobody to talk to.
I'm wondering if a few of us shouldn't just bite the bullet and have a meetup at someone's house. Bring some beers, play cards or board games, have hockey on in the background or something.
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