Loner or Social

I am a loner. I can be very social when needed, or when in the right mood. I like people, particularly like helping people. But I definitely prefer to spend most of my time alone. In fact, if I end up having to spend too much time with others, or in social interaction, I begun to feel tired, exhausted, and desperately in need of my quiet life. When I am able to be alone again, I recharge, and I think my thoughts, pray, dabble, whatever -- it is like coming home from a long journey. Don't take my aloneness away. I have an autistic child and since she has been born, I've felt a constant challenge meeting both her needs (to constantly be with me, literally constantly) and my needs (to have plenty of time to myself). I think some people are loners because of a problem in themselves, but not all or most! I also think some people are very social because of a problem within themselves and they do not know how to be alone -- they get very lonely, even scared, when left alone for even a few minutes. That cannot be very healthy. I have trouble dealing with people like that, who cannot understand my need for solitude. Some people have gotten mad at me -- people in volunteer work with me or at work -- because I just don't have the time/energy to chat all the time. They really need to re-connect with each other daily or at least a few times a week, for some reason. And since I don't feel that need, and cannot keep up with their "social schedule", I am seen as not friendly. I am friendly, tho, just not needing/wanting/able to keep in constant chat mode.

I am a combination of the two. There are times that I prefer to be alone. Generally, I prefer the company of others. I am a family man so my times alone with myself are limited.

I really dont think that im one or the other. I think im in between. I dont keep completely to myself. But im also not totally social. I usually wait until someone talks to me first. I think being a loner all the time would get very lonely. I think being social is better. But its not always the case with everyone.