Hell yes. Haven't talked to my sister, or brother, in well over 30 years.
Don't even miss them anymore.
The family I cultivated is WAY better.
Blood means nothing. Family are the people who know you best, love you anyway, and
ALWAYS have your back.

2 brothers and one sister, all pretty much dislike me because of the atheist thing, mom's still here and not bothered by the atheist thing, it's how I know what the rest are up to.

Have had it for years upon years...with 5 children with their wide range of personalities and sometimes even the agreeable ones...go rogue on me! Then lots of mental illness in my family of origin! I can love people from, afar...where is it written that we must suffer by being with people that are hard to deal with on a regular basis? I can take anything in small amounts...so that is what I do!

Some of my family are estrange, some estupid, and some estoo far away to deal with.

Absolutely! When I am around family, it's drama. I DON'T do drama. My life family is very carefully chosen people.

My parents are dead. I haven't seen my sister whom lives 9 miles from me in a year and a half. I also have little to do with my extended family. I wish I had a better relationship with them.

Yep, but for me it isn't a struggle. I cut them off and we all seem to be happier for it, as none of them have tried to contact me, either.

My oldest brother’s a jerk and, since he sided with my wife in our divorce, I haven’t spoken to him. That was 11 years ago.

I'm not close with a lot of my family. I wish I were. I don't know why many of them seemed to have shut me out. My father was not a good guy, and I sometimes wonder if they think because I'm his son that I must have inherited his bad traits. I certainly haven't - in fact, I used them as guideposts on how not to live life. I'm close with my sister, so I'm really thankful for that at least.

Me and my family have a deep-seated stupid but not on my part feud going on that has kept us separate so I only talk to my mum as shes 86 but flits between me and them. when she's gone they are gone. fuck them all. you can't choose your family.

I've been an Atheist all my life. I've also been a loner most of my life even during three marriages. I'm alone, now, and on Social Security. Plus, I'm homeless and live in a temporary shelter.
I don't think I'm a bad person. Anti-social perhaps, but I'm not an ogre.
I kind of like being alone (independent), but I don't like the loneliness of my life (existence.)
There has to be someone somewhere that could be my friend and/or partner in life.

I have my mom and my sister left. I talk to my sister at thanksgiving and Christmas and that's about it. I've tried to connect with her but she's just not interested.

My mom passed away when I was 18, and never had a relationship with any of my dads past then. I have two brothers, one died a couple of years ago and the other brother is on the same journey as myself, away from religion. So that's been nice.

I think when you have family whose core values are just not good, it sort of just happens naturally where even if you see them at the gas station or grocery store you can honestly say that you could care less about saying hi or even waving at them. Funny thing because I just saw my uncle this afternoon and ive talked to him once in like 6 years and had no intention of going up to him. The bicycle ?? Lol ... your username

You can't choose your family but you can't choose your friends . I used to think that meant you had to like them ....hell no it doesn't it means you have the choice to surround yourself with better people . My family sucks donkey dick one half are rugby fanatics the other army boys ....me a long haired metal head so have nothing in common with any of them

Yes. The less contact I have with my family, the better off I am. You don't need to struggle with it or allow your mother to manipulate you. Do what you need to do for you.

Yep. My brother moved he and his family 1000 miles away, and cut off all contact. Even returned Christmas presents I bought for my nephews. I didn't reconnect with my nephews for nearly 20 years, when they moved back into the area. Still don't have a relationship with my brother, but I'm glad to have the nephews back (and one just had his first child born last Monday!)

I don't associate with my mother or any of my siblings.

All I have are a sister, 2 uncles (+ 1 aunt by marriage) and 4 cousins, not counting the extended. I talk to my sister fairly regularly but I tend to try and avoid most of my local (Texas) family since we don't agree on much of anything, especially religion and politics (they are right wing Christians). I'd like to see my uncle (+ aunt) and 3 cousins that live in Kentucky & Virginia more, but I just don't get much of a chance.
I'm generally much happier with the friends I've chosen as family so I really don't feel like I'm missing much in the blood department.

My mom and dad are dead and my two older brothers could care less about my homelessness or atheism.

Is there guilt involved? My mother will try guilting me into talking to family members.

Most of my family are independent introverts. I love them all, but I too get my energy drained when I am around them.

Thank you, Labicicleta. I'm here if you need ME.

I left home at fifteen as my family were so awful to me I never regretted it but never let my children see tehm on their own as my mother was trying to get her taken away friom me.