Loneliness and Aloneness

I feel that being alone is something that I don't mind--and in many cases, is something I actively enjoy.  This typically invites people to look at me quizzically and say something like "Don't you get lonely?"  I DO get lonely (I am a human being after all) but loneliness and aloneness are completely unrelated.

Aloneness is simply the state of being by oneself--it is to be alone.  Personally I like being alone--having my own time to do the things that I want to do, talking to myself.  I'm not sure where this constant desire to be completely on my own comes from but its a constant desire--and one that I've ALWAYS had.

Loneliness on the other hand is the desire for company--it is not necessarily a function of the amount of people around you (you CAN feel lonely without being alone), but rather stems from the desire to relate to another human being on a personal level.

Even when I am completely alone I like to send a few  texts to my little brother and sisters, a quick phone call to my dad, an email to a friend, or a skype chat with my sweetheart--because as much as I love to be by myself--I like being able to reach out to someone who I knows cares about me--and that I care about in return.  After all, I am only human right?