I'm probably facing a lonely holiday season

[citizen blues]

My daughter got vaccinated because my college-aged granddaughter pushed her to. Her partner is not even though he's a 43 year old smoker who's carrying an extra 75 lbs. When he gets home from work, he gets his 40 oz beer and parks it in front of the TV for the evening. Of course, this means that probably no one in his family is vaccinated since they all seem to have the same ignorant mentality. To top it off, they typically have large family gatherings in small, confined spaces at the holidays.

Then there's my brother's family. I have no idea if most of my brother's family has been vaccinated or not. I do know his son who lives in WY just posted a response on FB about how the vaccine doesn't work and was "slapped together" at the last minute. Last summer, I went to my brothers for my niece's birthday with a few family members. 30 people showed up! It was hot, so everyone was inside with the AC, and I came down with Covid 5 days later. Health dept. only wanted to know where I had been 2 days before I started showing symptoms. I just don't know.

Even though I've had Covid-19 and have been vaccinated, I'm still not interested in risking a break through infection.

This sucks. I'm increasingly angry. Even worse is my contempt and disgust for STUPID! I live by myself, see a few coworkers in person a couple times a week, and have short conversations with them. But that's it. No one to talk to. No one to hug. I'm just so tired of constantly being alone.

[MLAA]

1. It sounds like it can sure be lonely, but being by yourself means you are good, smart company!

Sending you hugs

[SheltieLover]

2. Sorry to hear this

But you're never alone. We are here for you!

[Skittles]

3. learn to enjoy your own company

don't rely on others to be happy

[Haggard Celine]

4. I live alone, too.

I could live with other people if I wanted to, but it's better this way. I'd be miserable with a bunch of people I couldn't get away from. Sometimes Hell is other people.

[smirkymonkey]

18. I'm totally with you on that.

I feel like I can always arrange to make social plans with friends and family, although Covid makes it a little more difficult and my closest family member lives two hours away, but I don't get very lonely as long as I can talk to people on the phone, email and connect via other forms of media.

Much better than being stuck with people you CAN'T get away from!

[SheilaAnn]

5. I love, love living alone. Kids are a lot like me and we do see and talk to each other at least

once a week, lunch once a month.

[Faux pas]

6. So

sorry

[Beachnutt]

7. Alone here too, 60 years old this month

and have learned to be ok with being alone since all my friends and family turned out to be brainwashed trumpers and anti vaxxers, here in blood red Texas

[hueymahl]

8. Hate that you are suffering

I hope it will quell some of your fears to read the latest research that shows breakthrough infections are very mild with a vanishing low incidence of serious illness or death. Less risky that the a common flu illness.

[ChazII]

9. I think I understand.

All of my family have passed away and it is only me. My son passed on 3/6/20. Sometimes I enjoy being along and other time I feel like you - this sucks.

[BamaRefugee]

10. I feel lonely sometimes, but the option is possibly never having any feelings at all ever again!

I'll wait some more.

[leighbythesea2]

11. The no hugs is hard

2020 was a rollercoaster. For everyone, but i remember thinking i had some highs (did my thesis) and lows (numerous) that were equal in their extremeness and couldve use both congratulatory hugs and im-gonna-never-recover hugs. But not a one.
It's profoundly tough. Hang in there.

[highplainsdem]

12. I'm frustrated by and angry at my ant-vaxxer relatives playing slow-motion Russian roulette with

this pandemic. And putting other people at risk as well, whether through germs or misinformation they spread.

[calimary]

13. Hey, don't forget what DUer Skittles once said: "Someone's always here."

There is conversation and company here on DU, if all else fails.

You'll find sympathetic eyes and ears, and connections with other humans here.

Granted it's not the same as a hug or laughter (or even fighting and arguing) around the family dinner table or Christmas tree. And I know those things are hard to simulate. Are there plans you could make to Zoom with various people over the holidays? That can be at least some sort of substitute. A group of friends; a sing-a-long in case there are folks in your circle who plink along on the piano or a guitar; gossipping while cooking or sharing recipes. Have a recipe swap and then do a Zoom involving what everybody tried and what everybody ate?

Do you do any kind of book club activity? That'd be something! Any kind of charity work or political activism? Maybe do a Zoom with folks involved in that.

I frankly LOVE Zoom! I've done Zooms with family in several different states, fellow activists, and Dem groups. Could you do a Postcard Party with some of your friends - to send postcards to voters in another state? Either a Christmas card put-together - or a crafting session for gifting? Anybody you know who is particularly creative? They could lead a Zoom visit and how-to.

Just some ideas. You could toast the New Year on Zoom and not have to worry about whether you can drive home.

[machoneman]

14. You have real friends here! We'll buck up your spirits, right gang?

[Harker]

15. Right.

That's the spirit!

[calimary]

21. Right!

Absitively Posolutely!

ALSO, citizen blues, check out whether there's an Indivisible group in your area. THE BEST! They're always trying to do for the greater good. Many like-minded folks there, and caring and concerned and compassionate souls there, and I bet you'd fit right in!

Those were the first friends I made when we moved up to Portland several years ago and didn't know a soul. It wound up being an utterly fantastic find! Sustaining to this very hour!

[SouthernDem4ever]

16. "I'm still not interested in risking a break through infection."

I'm not either. I am still wearing a mask. Even though I'm vaxed, i don't want to get any version of it.

[hunter]

17. We can find our own families.

I'm hoping you can find yours.

Don't make me tell you about my worst Thanksgiving ever or the time I punched my dad in the face and vanished into the darkness.

Or the time I jumped out of my girlfriend's moving car on the streets of Berkeley.

It's all good now, but if I was living my life over again I'd skip the part where I was this crazy homeless guy living in his broken car in a church parking lot.

Living lonely is okay if you can live it on your own terms, giving yourself time to get to know yourself.

Dear God I've been angry in my life...

[orleans]

19. i'm sorry to hear this

hopefully something positive will happen or change for the better

and in a spare moment i'd alert on that idiot post/comment your nephew from wy made about vaccines being slapped together.

[brer cat]

20. I'm sorry you are cut off from friends and family.

I used to enjoy living alone, but there was no pandemic keeping me from being out and about. I hope your situation improves.