Am I weird? I'm 47yrs old, never married & hav'nt been on a date in 17 yrs.?

Question

My closest friends are my dogs. I also don't agree with societies "Ideals" & believe a person should be able to do whatever they want as long as they don't hurt anybody.I made some good investment aprox 10yrs ago & hav'nt worked in at least six yrs.When I go out in public i feel everyone is stareing at me."What the hell are they stareing at?" I ask myself.My one dog is my Soulmate. I would rather sit in the back yard & watch the birds eat from my bird feeder than go out & get drunk or do drugs & pretend to love life like all the rest of society.Should I try to get help?

I'm not ugly or heavy. Ihave a tatoo that says F@#! society on my back.

Answer 1

no coz you have hiked the AT and i am well jealous!!! read about it (many many many times) in bill brysons book and am fascinated. i am rather in awe of you, as you have done it! mail me please, tell me all about it. i wanna know everything!!!!!

Answer 2

Get help with what? You seem to be pretty satisfied with the status quo and you are highly unlikely to change that preference. Yes, you ARE one of a kind. There is no one quite like you.

Here's the inconsistency: you cannot "fit in" and "not fit in" at the same time. Fitting in would mean that you would dress and act like the folks around you. Not fitting in would say that you do your own thing regardless of what anyone else says or does.
I don't know how you dress or act in public, so it's uncertain as to the cause. People will LOOK at you, just as the LOOK at everything else around them. It actually takes some effort to "not look" in a certain direction. If you actually THINK "What the hell are they staring at?", then you will unavoidably BEHAVE in a self-conscious way, which will only draw MORE attention to yourself and make it worse.

Here's where you need to make a decision. You are completely comfortable relating to dogs and birds. You are completely UNcomfortable relating to other people (has nothing to do with a date). You are isolated from the human race. If that's a problem for you, then get help. Otherwise you will simply die alone with a bird and a dog at your side. The state will bury you.

Answer 3

No, I don't think that your weird just because you'd rather spend time with your dogs than people. Sometimes people can be a real drag. The only problem that I see is that you're so uncomfortable going out in public. To tell you the truth, most people probably aren't staring at you, generally their wrapped up in whatever is going on in their day. So unless you never shower, have some huge wart or the like....I wouldn't worry about it. I do suggest going into town, take your dogs with you and stroll with the human race. Not necessarily for their sake, but yours.

Answer 4

As long as you are happy, then to heck with what anyone else thinks. You do need friends though. I would be so lost without my friends and you are still young. I am 52 and I Love Life and meeting new people but I would never judge anyone else because they do not think the same way. I have a dog also and she is a real close friend to me. She never cares how I look or if I don't want to talk, and shes always there for me to pet and talk to, so I do understand that. But we also need Human companionship. Go out to Bingo or get a part time job and meet some new people. it would be good for you.

Answer 5

I don't think you need help. You should try to join a small club and make some friends. They don't have to be super close friends or anything, but someone to at least relate to every now and again. You can try church or a book club, bowling league, or go out to a singles night and not drink. You may be afraid of rejection and that is why you don't like being around people. The only help a professional doctor could give you is probably anxiety drugs.

Answer 6

I don't think you're "weird," per se. You may have social anxiety disorder, though. Common symptoms include feeling like people are staring when you go out, avoiding situations that involve talking with or socializing with people, and basically feeling most comfortable when you're by yourself. Many famous authors and TV/movie personalities struggle with social anxiety disorder. I guess the question is whether you are currently happy with your life the way it is, or if you'd rather become more social. If you like your life, go ahead and live it like you choose. If you would rather "get out there" more, you may want to look into visiting with a therapist, who can help you understand the underlying reasons for your withdrawal from society. But don't bother getting help if your life works for you.

Answer 7

i dont feel like your weird at all. Marriage isnt for everyone. My mother in law (who is married) feels the same way about her dogs like you do. She dosent have any friends (except me but i guess i dont count) because she loves her dogs so much and feels like there more of a friend then she will ever find in a human. She too enjoys just sitting at home and just hanging out with her dogs and watching the birds she also has some chickens she feeds. i dont feel like your weird at all maybe your just a tiny bit self concious. I dont think people are starring at you. Who cares what other people think if you like staying at home and being by yourself and hanging with your animals thats great dont worry about what everyone else thinks. YOU DONT NEED HELP

Answer 8

Wow...17 years?
Time flies when you're having fun I guess.

You do need to try to connect to at least one other human - surely woman are different now than they were then. For example, 17 years ago, you'd be dating 30 year old women - now you'd be targeting 45+ year olds. That's different - they're different too.

Try connecting to someone at a bookstore or tech conference or some THING - that way you have an object between you to have in common/discuss. Talking to a therapist is also a safe way to connect.

Dogs are our best friends because they do not challenge us.
I fear you may be sleeping through your life.

Wake up and join the fight!

Answer 9

I feel ya and hear ya bro...but, I got you beat by a mile..lol..
1 real gf in 89 and one weirdship in 81-92 but that dont count as gf bc she was always sleeping around...unfortunately she has passed away..
share those investments with me bro...
what have you got to lose? and I may give you a percentage..
I dont think you need any help there are millions of us and we are everywhere, home, in the strip clubs, bars and even churches and so forth just being the guys they are meant to be...
not everyone is meant to have a mate i believe...

Answer 10

You have got to be kidding. If you only associate with your pets and stay home much of the time how do you expect to remedy the situation? This is really a no brainer. You have two choices....continue as you have been and end up alone or get your butt out into the mainstream.

Answer 11

You are not wierd, you probably just prefer your own company. No problem in having friends and just getting to know people, but if you prefer your own company, then thats cool, as long as you are happy!