Wow! I didn't know there was a DU loners group.

[elocs]

I live alone and have for decades, but I'm also sort of an officially diagnosed loner in that I have a schizoid personality disorder which I've never considered to be a disorder. It is a spectrum disorder in that some with it can have their lives negatively impacted by it, but for me I consider it to be just who I am.

First of all, I do believe there is a difference in being a loner by choice as opposed to having it imposed upon you. Myself, I am a secret schizoid in that even if people knew what schizoid was, they'd never suspect me of being one because I can do the social sprint very well but I have no interest in the social marathon. I am friendly and outgoing and not shy and can speak to absolute strangers engagingly and can make them laugh but knowing it's unlikely I will see them again. I have no friends like I did when I was a kid in that there are people with whom I am friendly and can talk with but it's usually just visiting at the mailbox or at their homes. We never do anything together other than that.

As far as schizoid goes, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders has been considering eliminating it as a disorder and simply considering it a variation of "normal" whatever that may be.
But finding a loners group almost seems to be an oxymoron, like giant shrimp.

Let me end with a humorous moment from the old tv show "Taxi" where Rev. Jim was explaining how he used to have a split personality. He said, "When I was out with people I would be the life of the party but when I got home, alone by myself, I'd clam up".