Solitude

AndyG

Because some other guys are perverts
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Joined
Jul 30, 2018
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15,994
Location
Alabama
Having had conversations about my ‘04 project and why I kept quiet on it, it later occurred to me that part of it was wanting to build it in a vacuum- which really can’t happen because I can’t get the hood open without this forum- but I also realized that the solitude of it was what I really loved. Shutting off my phone (yes I really have 600-800 texts, emails and calls a day) and just focusing on one thing.

It is said loneliness is the pain of being alone, and solitude is the joy of being alone.

I love facetiming the guys, swapping pics, etc- all that is great- at the same time I have came to a realization that at times we need to really get to know ourselves, not others better. Who we are, what we are about, where things are going and is it where we want to be going.

I do believe we can work hard to go north, and have circumstances so complex or purposes so misplaced we do that, on the back of an elephant headed south.

I believe fishing, hunting and other pursuits are used by people to get solitude, be it consciously or unconsciously.

Where do you guys find it ?
 
Having had conversations about my ‘04 project and why I kept quiet on it, it later occurred to me that part of it was wanting to build it in a vacuum- which really can’t happen because I can’t get the hood open without this forum- but I also realized that the solitude of it was what I really loved. Shutting off my phone (yes I really have 600-800 texts, emails and calls a day) and just focusing on one thing.

It is said loneliness is the pain of being alone, and solitude is the joy of being alone.

I love facetiming the guys, swapping pics, etc- all that is great- at the same time I have came to a realization that at times we need to really get to know ourselves, not others better. Who we are, what we are about, where things are going and is it where we want to be going.

I do believe we can work hard to go north, and have circumstances so complex or purposes so misplaced we do that, on the back of an elephant headed south.

I believe fishing, hunting and other pursuits are used by people to get solitude, be it consciously or unconsciously.

Where do you guys find it

Fishing, especially in the winter time. Hardly anybody out on the water. Pic from Lake Guntersville, AL. Bass Fishing heaven!

IMG_5222.jpg
 
Either strumming my guitar in solitude, or riding my motorcycle on a long backroad.

Both help me tune out the cacophony of the world and find a peaceful place in my mind.

I my younger days, I’d spend the day in solitude hiking in the Muir Woods and Mt Tamalpais in Mill Valley California.

Nothing’s more clarifying than getting in touch with yourself and your inner compass.

I’ve always found joy in being alone, especially outdoors, in the elements.

But now that I’m in my later years in life, I get what you’re saying about the loneliness aspect of solitude.

But I guess that’s the yin and yang of “things” in this world.

Good luck with your search for clarity, and inner knowledge.
 
Used to be Hunting, then it was fishing. Problem was I got so involved in both, that that's all I lived for.

I guess my solitude time is in my Jeep, I have a 45 minute to work and about the same home(sometimes longer) and I just enjoy the sights, and sounds while driving home.
 
The garage. Only place I've ever found where I do not have any desire for companionship of any kind. The focus is on what I'm doing at the time, and nothing else. No job concerns, no family issues, nothing 'cept the task at hand. It's definitely therapeutic. I love the solitude. Sometimes the wife will even insist that I go spend some time in the garage. That's just one of the ways she lets me know that I'm being difficult to live with. ;)
 
The garage. Only place I've ever found where I do not have any desire for companionship of any kind. The focus is on what I'm doing at the time, and nothing else. No job concerns, no family issues, nothing 'cept the task at hand. It's definitely therapeutic. I love the solitude. Sometimes the wife will even insist that I go spend some time in the garage. That's just one of the ways she lets me know that I'm being difficult to live with. ;)

Yes sir!!!! I am the same, either driving or turning a wrench, is peaceful for my soul!!!!
 
Thats what my weekends are about. I may not have complete solitude but usually my weekend is out in the country somewhere usually fishing or hunting. Last weekend hunting geese and cranes in rice fields, 3 of us hunting but each at a different spot on 5000 acres. Weekend before last deer hunting on 26.000 acre private ranch and I never saw another hunter. My wife was with me and we had a camper to stay in but nobody else (no cell service here). I love waking up to looking out into nature to witness the sounds and sights of nothing but wildlife. BTW heading out again Thursday to spend several days camping on a lake in the piney woods, I heard the fishing is good. I'm not retired yet but my neighbors think I am.
 
Used to be Hunting, then it was fishing. Problem was I got so involved in both, that that's all I lived for.

I guess my solitude time is in my Jeep, I have a 45 minute to work and about the same home(sometimes longer) and I just enjoy the sights, and sounds while driving home.

That reminds me of the guy that was out on the trail in his Jeep just bawling his eyes out-

Somebody asked him what was wrong and he said he lost his wheeling companion of 35 years-

They said don’t you have a son or daughter or nephew that could go with you?

He said, “ yes but they’re all at the funeral.”
 
This is a struggle for me...I am very much a loner and could live in the woods and not see another human and be perfectly happy...but I chose to be married and have children. I have to constantly remind myself that there are people wanting to see me and spend time with me.

It has become about balance for me. My garage is my hobby and time away from everyone and everything. When I'm in the garage my family knows this is my time to relax and tinker. There are sometimes I get alot accomplished and other times I just clean and organize tools etc.
 
it's funny, how as different needs are met, needs seem to change.

I was all about solitude for a long time, I cherished my 45 minute commute each way, and I looked for every opportunity to get out in the woods by myself. But in 2019 I took a job working from home, and now get ~6 hours of solitude every weekday while I work. Nowadays I look for every opportunity to be around people. I still enjoy the things I enjoy, like camping and Jeeping and being out in the woods, and I still like doing them alone for awhile, but I only make it about a day before I start wishing I had somebody around.
 
I used to think solitude was about me, until circumstances in my life changed. Now, solitude is about helping others that can't always help themselves. The satisfaction received from that far exceeds anything I've ever done for myself!
 
This is a struggle for me...I am very much a loner and could live in the woods and not see another human and be perfectly happy...but I chose to be married and have children. I have to constantly remind myself that there are people wanting to see me and spend time with me.

It has become about balance for me. My garage is my hobby and time away from everyone and everything. When I'm in the garage my family knows this is my time to relax and tinker. There are sometimes I get alot accomplished and other times I just clean and organize tools etc.

You and @Squatch have the same garage vibe I love- just the radio, peace, and time that no one is messing with my little world. It has been a benefit of a having a jeep I never saw coming. As long as my sons don’t touch one single tool. 🤣

They can come up there and just get some random tool and I will need it like no other to do something that I’m about to do. 🤨
 
For me, the solitude was the best before the computer/cell phone age.
I'd pack up the FJ-40, head into the SoCal Mtns and smoke pot.
Never carried any firearms and still don't to this day.
I just drive and explore the less traveled road.
I don't think about bullshit politics or bullshit religious crap when I'm out there.

Then back to our modern, day to day reality.

And think about the next road less traveled.
 
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For me, the solitude was the best before the computer/cell phone age.
I'd pack up the FJ-40, head into the SoCal Mtns and smoke pot.
Never carried any firearms and still don't to this day.
I just drive and explore the less traveled road.
I don't think about bullshit politics or bullshit religious crap when I'm out there.

Then back to our modern, day to day reality.

And think about the next road less traveled.

I think you’re right about the electronics- And it’s more than the constant interruption- It is also the overload of information and miss information.

Basically the cell phone has become one of the most invasive things technology has ever brought to mankind- The entire world is a phone booth.

In addition to the endorphin giving “likes” that create addiction to social media, I think people are losing the ability to communicate one on one- Or the desire to.

You go to a restaurant and 80% of people are sitting there looking at their cell phones. Alone, but together.
 
Some folks just seem to need people around them all the time. Thinking the introverted types are much better adapted to 'solitude' and are out of their element while in a crowd. Personally, solitude clears all the small stuff out of my head, and lets the larger picture emerge.
Interesting thread . . . interesting perspective of the posters here.
 
I absolutely love my time alone!! I used to find it solo camping and going sailing. Over the last years it's been in a sailplane. It's so nice to be up in the air on a good day working the thermals and listening to nothing but the air! Like many of you, I also value my time in the shop working on whatever project. I used to enjoy listening to the radio but the company I worked for "rewarded" us with non-stop blasting radio at work. We were subjected to this 24hrs a day at a volume level that required you to sort of yell to be heard over it. Plus, the choice of music degraded from a selection to nothing but hard rock. I love rock but not all damned day. It made me hate the radio and now, I don't have any desire to have the thing on at all. How sad is that?