I’m a 61 year-old guy, and something of a recluse. Since the
age of 21 or so I’ve almost continuously been in an adult relationship with one
woman or another, but I’ve always lived alone, more or less. Usually (but not
always) it has been I who has insisted on that living arrangement. When it
comes to living my life, I am not a traditionalist. I’ve always made it a point
to inform a prospective lady right up front that I am perfectly willing to be
in a committed relationship, but I am not going to want to get married and
start a family, and I will probably want my own residence. These ground rules
have ended a number of relationships almost before they have started. But
that’s okay. That’s why I am upfront about it. I don’t want to lead anyone on. I
don’t want some sweet, unsuspecting lady to waste her time on me.
I don’t mind being by myself for hours, and even days on
end. A coworker’s wife recently had reason to be out of town for a few days. My
coworker told me that he missed her being around the house, and couldn’t wait
for her return. I’m not quite that way. In fact, I won’t answer the front door
simply because someone knocks. If I’m near the door, I’ll look through the
peekhole. If I don’t recognize the visitor, I will not open the door.
Ted Kaczynski, perhaps better known as the Unabomber, was an Olympic-level
recluse. He lived alone in some backwoods shack and used to go into town only
when he needed supplies. I wonder how Ted interacted with people on those rare occasions.
Was he polite? Was he a personable guy? Did he joke with strangers? My guess is
that Ted was neither polite nor personable. I doubt that he displayed a sense
of humor around others.
Sometimes I won’t leave my condo for two straight days and
then I’ll decide to go to the grocery store. I’ve been known to jovially unload
a shopping cart for an old lady in the parking lot on my way into the store. I will
casually banter with store employees and customers while in the store. I enjoy
being alone, but I like people too. Maybe I like people as much as I do because
I don’t overdose on them. I don’t know, it’s just a theory.
Anyway, the point to all this is; if there’s some old guy
living next door, and he keeps to himself, he almost assuredly is not a murderer or child molester. In fact, he might not even be a grouch. Personally, I would assume that he is probably a decent
guy. I mean, look at Santa Claus; he is a recluse 364 days out of the year.
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