Although most cultures around the world default to an extrovert bias, it’s okay to be an introvert. I’m sure you’ll eventually find one or two close people that you genuinely enjoy spending time with.

Humans have evolved for ages to be socially dependent creatures. Humans are also highly intelligent, and can tool their way through a situation for which they aren’t technically “fit.”

So, is social interaction really all that? Yes. Will you be fine without it? Being charitable and assuming you’re excluding basic needs which have been socialized like shelter and food—maybe.

Maybe I’m missing something, but I don’t see why being comfortable alone is viewed as strange while constantly needing people around is viewed as normal.

Observation bias: Someone who’s comfortable alone but uncomfortable around others will be seen to be uncomfortable by others; whereas someone uncomfortable alone has no one around to observe their maladjustment.

They are both maladjustments though; someone well-socialized is comfortable both alone and around others.

Perhaps you just haven’t found anyone worth interacting with?

What are you really asking? Because your question, “is it really all that?” isn’t really a question after your explanation.

Are you looking for affirmation of your position? You got it. Glad that works for you. Live and let live.

Neither is actually viewed as healthy. Social parasites are sometimes harder to spot.

For your case it’s the transition that’s tricky: Friends assume you want to keep being friends and may worry if that changes. After a while they’ll give up, assuming you’ve moved on. If you’re sure that’s your path then just stay the course, but know that it’s harder to come back from if you do get lonely. It’s harder to make and keep friends later in life. It’s harder to find a spouse if you’re alone all the time. Interestingly, a spouse + kids may solve your social obligation/boredom problem.

For my case, wife and kids made keeping friends AND a job impossible. Married men are expected to be present at all times for family now except for when at work. Anything regular outside of work is considered neglectful of either your children or your marriage. No hobbies except those that can be done at home after kids go to bed. No social commitments not involving spouse and/or kids. Fatherhood standards are pretty high these days. I don’t have any “friends” anymore, but because I have a family no one asks about it anymore either.

I’m curious to hear this about what someone may be doing alone that strictly isn’t “social interaction”. Normally I would think that they are doing something that only requires one active participant – maybe reading a book, watching shows, browsing the Internet, even something like taking a bath and enjoying a candle.

I might consider each of these to actually involve other people outside of that moment who you are experiencing asynchronously. The media is written, the candle is made, they were bought from a store. Not sure if I would count the bath water yet, but there was some work done before even laying the pipe and collecting the materials.

Unless you are literally making everything from raw natural materials, other people are deeply involved in our lives and I don’t think we appreciate that enough about society. So while you would be at least arm’s distance from anybody in your room, I don’t think you are ever really alone.

Most people derive great fulfillment from socializing. Everybody is different, but that is the majority experience and so other experiences tend to be alienated because people—and especially social people—are uncomfortable when others stand out.

You are supposed to be socialized into a numbskull dipshit…

That’s the goal.