I don't think being alone isn't the same as being lonely. Choosing to spend some time alone - to think, to concentrate, to relax etc is very different to spending all day, every day by yourself, having no close or intimate relationships, no physical contact, no-one to call when something good (or bad) happens. I enjoy time alone. I love watching movies on my own in the afternoon. I like going to museums and art galleries by myself. I'd be more than happy to go on a city break on my own, so that I could focus on doing and seeing what I wanted to without worrying about anyone else. But I'd love to come home to someone after that, to have family that drop by and that I can drop in on, to do Sunday lunches and Christmas with a big group of lovely people and really enjoy their company. That's what I really crave.