At
this time of the year many people are overcome with loneliness some
choosing to end their life. I leave in a community of uld people and it
isn't easy for them at this time of the year. Some don't have family
while others are estranged from them and a lot just live to far away. 
(Just an aside a great holiday gift would be to reach out to aomeome who
is alone--invite them for a meal--take them to a movie--spend part of
your day talking to them.) The one thing everyone can learn is that
living alone does not mean being lonely!
It took me 50 years, 4 exes, innumerable mini-affairs to realize that I prefer, enjoy, need to live alone.

I
make/am a great friend, adviser, listener but as a life partner a dud.
It could be I am too selfish, unwilling to compromise when it comes to
ME, unable to sustain a physical relationship with one person or a
million other reasons. And it's NOT that I haven't found the right
person--I did in 1981 but it couldn't/didn't last.

Why do I like living alone and don't feel lonely? Let me tackle the latter first.

I
have 7 different, very close friends. If I want to go out to a movie or
play, attend an event, spend time at the beach, share a joyful time,
cry on someone's shoulder or just talk they are available. If I want to
have a physical encounter I have a group of people to call upon.

Now
as to not being/feeling lonely: I have many interests such as reading
and writing that take up a lot of my time and there are only 2 things I
don't/won't do alone--have sex and eat out in a fine restaurant.

Advantages of living alone:
1) I can come home and not have to worry about how the person I live with is feeling, what kind of mood they are in.
2) If I don't want the TV on it stays off.
3) I can watch what programs I want nor do I have to buy another TV to solve 'arguments'.
4) I have the whole bed to myself.
5) I do what I want when I want
6) I can eat, read or do anything else I want in bed without having to worry about annoying/disturbing someone.
7) I can eat what I want when I want.
8) I can get up or go to sleep when I want.
9)
I can smoke, fart, pick my nose, scratch my butt (Oh, I know YOU don't
do any of these things) use my fingers to eat (Oops! Maybe I should have
listed this separately after the other things mentioned :o)) without
any comments or put downs or silly laughs
10) I don't have to hide anything, including what i watch or put on the Internet.
11) Not having a person talk when I am watching and/or doing something when I prefer quiet.
12) I like to vacation, take trips alone, and stop/see where/what I want for as long as I want.
13) I can be sloppy or neat, clean after myself or not without 'nagging'.
14) I can be responsible for myself only and not for someone else.
15) I can have the a/c on or off--depending how I feel.
16) I can say and/or think "I" as much as I want.
17) I won't/don't do anything I don't want to do.
18) I can eat the whole cake, box of chocolates or cookies, bag of potato chips, etc. myself. (I told you I was selfish!)
19) If I run out of something it's my fault.
20) I don't have to lie--not even a 'white' lie.


And the list can go on.

The only advantage I can see to having a live in partner is that when you get old and/or sick someone can take care of you.
Besides all I have seen or read about partners are the problems they had or are having.
Plus I don't have to go through the heartache of a breakup :o)