Having zero friends can cause insanity

I used to be a loner, only one or two friends, but once I graduated high school I turned into a pretty popular guy, everyone I know now is happy to see me. Feelsgoodman

I can have tons of “friends” who are actually kind&caring but I involuntarily choose to be an aloof loner who talks to/interacts with people only at times. I already have a “busy” real life because of work and hobbies like reading and anime/series-watching. Still frequenting this website because of my interest in observing human beings.

I have zero friends (I don't need them, art (e.g. anime) perfectly replaces corresponding needs), and I am succesfull professionally while developing on side multiple other serious skills (years of training each). And I am not a genius, It's just that I don't do anything else -- I don't even define something like "free time". However, there is one instinct that I cannot cheat, and recently it started driving me insane -- I need serious relationship with a female. And it turns out that I have a problem: in university environment there are hardly any women (and even less free ones), and in job I am one of the youngest data scientists, and all (of a few) females here are at least 3-4 years older than me and already married, and mostly they are in HR, which is not really compatible with my profession(s). I don't know access to any other communities. See my profile "about" section for details. If you can help me, I would be grateful.

Friends aren't really a huge issues although I moved to a new town about a year and a half ago and haven't really bothered to branch out to anyone new here so most of my interaction is with my group of friends via online many of whom are still in my old town I lived in which is about a 2hrs drive from where I currently preside. Maybe it's a big reason I've been on here as much as I have lately, but I tend to be a hermit far more than I should be outside of my working hours.

@densetsu_no_baka same here. I guess they probably aren't 'friends'. some people I know who are my 'friends' , they tell people secrets about other peoples lives, and its looks like they're trying to make themselves look better than everyone. I have a small group of friends. overtime, you naturally get to see someones true colours and then it can be too late (or you find it hard) to cut them off. I would say, in my personal experience, if I had to choose between losing a friend or having no friends, id rather pick no friends tbh. im glad that I have some people who are there for me occasionally.

Nah I actually have fairly severe mental health problems stemming from a lack of exposure to other people. Although I am bored on top of that