Thanks. @Petercuddlebug Unwanted isolation is a bummer. Please do as others have suggested and join some groups on this site with interests in common. You could also join the Zoom gatherings for this group, to see people and hear their voices. In the New York Times’ short love stories column recently, someone mentioned an app (DailUp, I think) that has you call a random person each day, and in exchange, you get a call from someone else. Just short conversations, no sexy stuff, no contact information shared. And how about calling or texting your family? They may be waiting for you to call them.

@UUNJ I have no family..parents both gone, I was an only . That is what makes it harder yet. And even trying to get a date now,,omg..impossible! I’m a great cook and love feeding others. Love and miss feast gatherings. Too much has been reduced to memories,, too many are in hyper panic. But at least I’m safe. I’m keeping busy with my jewelry creations. Once in a while a customer does come,, but it’s not the same. Most are too afraid to even sit for a coffee. So I’m working on more jewelry. I ordered bulk supplies from the factory,,not a local retail. Amazingly though even with the virus,,I’m better this year.

@Petercuddlebug, @UUNJ Now you have each other to talk to? May the Companions of Health, Peace & Fulfilment travel with you throughout 2021

@Petercuddlebug You might contact a local food bank or shelter to see if they can use your cooking. Congratulations on growing your business! I wouldn’t expect a customer to come in for coffee. I see clients on camera over an encrypted website.
My parents are dead and I am on break from contact with my remaining sibling. It would be isolating if I didn’t reach out to social networks and text friends. I hope you can find creative ways to interact with people.

I do intend that, I did share my knowledge in the past, it’s scary when your closet friend becomes a stranger and no longer even calls. I called and get no response. But complete strangers are better humanitarians. Thank you for the kind words.

@Petercuddlebug I hope your friend is not ill.

@Lorajay nope he is just too afraid,, he walks or drives with a mask, full face shield and glasses with the windows shut on his car that he owned for eight years,,,he wears rubber gloves and uses a brass door pusher and button pusher to use the elevator! Paranoia at his best.

Just because you are alone does not mean that you will be lonely. Loneliness is a state of mind.

@FrayedBear True, but the OP was indicating that he was bothered by it. There is a difference between being a loner who is comfortable living without another person, as compared to a life devoid of any other human contact.

@Lauren oh, I thought that Peter was complaining that people have become insular resulting in many being alone not that he was discontented with being alone.

@FrayedBear You may well be right. I was mostly going on his comment that "I have no family here, so even the so called holidays will be extremely difficult for me,,no one is available to visit me or even talk to me." But the following sentences could certainly indicate his feelings about society becoming insular. Perhaps he'll explain to us further.

@Lauren I’m devoid of human contact,, for weeks at a time. I’m a loner but when even your friends that have been with you for thirty plus years are not even calling it’s scary. A call I do gets no answer, yet they are on the web,, I get acknowledged but they are very I have no living family. Where on earth I have relatives ended with mom and dad. No clue. But I keep busy creating daily.

I’ve been alone since 2000, been a learning curve. Since I prefer crafting versus sports most guys just think I’m weird, and the rare lady is shocked to see my 2 rooms devoted to creating jewelry and other crafts. But this year with the panic mode, my regular visitors are afraid to possibly infect me.

Yeah, who needs friends when you've got a bastard like me to keep internet sparring with on your toes?

@FrayedBear That's overrated too.

@barjoe it's also know as aversion therapy like a mate who thinks the sun is lodged in Donald's arse & so starts frothing at the mouth because I don't support his belief enthusiastically. I've now hung up on him 3 times and my phone calls are getting further and further apart. I think he is applying aversion therapy on me!