[ieatkittens]

> Also, in a way it is nice. You are NEVER alone. You ALWAYS have people waiting for you when you come back from work.

Glad it works for you, but that has got to be the third circle of my personal hell.

> 'Being alone' is seldom a reason for a depressed Indian - the family is always there.

That's nice. Some European countries are exactly the opposite. It's my hypothesis that this is the cause for many suicides, despite otherwise stellar living standards.

[gexla]

> Glad it works for you, but that has got to be the third circle of my personal hell.

Here, here. Not only do I not live with parents, friends or anyone else. The slowly but steadily losing side of a current raging personal debate in my head is that one day I should share my life with a significant other and perhaps have a family of my own. That idea is on the ropes but I'm not quite ready to close that door completely, but I'm real close to calling the fight and declaring a winner.

Further, I have been going longer between replies to messages from friends. If they need to find me, they will know where to go. We can only maintain X number of relationships. I would rather that list include people in my pro network and an inner circle of friends and family.

If you can handle being alone. I feel that's a superpower. Though there are many benefits to for sharing your life with an SO. I suppose it's a trade-off.

[dagw]

I can completely relate. Deciding to share a flat with my then girlfriend, now wife (and literally the first non-family member I shared a living space with outside of boarding school), was a much much bigger and more difficult decision for me than the decision to have kids or get married. And even 10+ years later I'd be lying if said that I don't sometime still miss living alone.