This isn't meant to be one of those mawkish threads and I'm probably giving too much of myself away (but not everything).
I've never felt lonely, I love being on my own but I know some people - maybe some on here - cannot stand being alone.
I'm not completely alone though as I have a partner I spend weekends with. Maybe I've got the best of both worlds.
But does anyone on here really suffer from loneliness?
I'm occasionally lonely. My partner died two years ago yesterday, and I was pretty unhappy afterwards, although I'm lucky to have lots of Spanish friends who clustered round. Then I had a Spanish boyfriend for a year or so until we split up a couple of months ago, although we still remain friends. So as I now live alone, it's inevitable that there are periods of loneliness. But it's life, that's how things are. You make your bed and have to lie in it, although unfortunately alone, now!
Alone but not lonely. Widowed 18 years, sons fled the nest and doing well on their chosen paths. They live locally but most contact is via FaceBook - "Need any shopping old timer?" - and I send them the Wordle every morning to prove I've woken up ;-)
Retired at 60 10 years ago on a decent pension, recently had my cataracts done and am driving and watching TV without specs for the first time since my early teens. It has been noted I have more of a spring in my step since.
Several good friends up and down the country who I've met over the years due to a common interest in motorcycling. Occasional meet-ups at a cafe or roadside butty van to chew the fat and put the world to rights before going our separate ways.
Content is the word I use.