Very interesting post Charlie. A couple of times you mention "as I grow older". I identify with that and comment from a retired perspective. Many people appear to get up in the morning and simply slowly roll through another day. When the day is over all they can look forward to is more of the same. In those circumstances it would be very pleasurable to have others around to share the simple movement of our body as it grows daily and weekly older. I tend to think that as long as our minds are able we could greatly enrich ourselves by defining a purpose and living towards that. A purpose has the means of focusing our lives and living our moments striving towards that purpose. Be it small or large , a purpose can grab hold and direct our lives where the comfort of together living (not communal) would not be necessary. Once we put our minds to why we are here it becomes easy to be comfortable in whatever our conditions are. Define your purpose and it becomes crystal clear if you stay "Nuclear" or not

Be well, Zidor