I feel you. I actually liked nights, but the burnout is real. I’d have trouble sleeping during the day, and had a horrible sleep schedule trying to keep up my personal life and still work nights

I liked nights as well! I used to work 11-7 for some shifts, and while it was still a little lonely to go to work while people were heading to bed, I still had the whole day to do things if needed. It got me into the bad habit of just staying up for 24 hours if I wanted to do things in the evening though

Ooh I didn’t think about it like that - but then again I was a bit of a homebody even in my 20’s lol

Definitely depends on your social circle then: my group of friends were mostly 9-5 and did stuff together in the evening, so it felt like I was always missing out.

I consider second shift to be worse - I worked 3-11 for awhile and its just depressing. You wake up and can do things, but you’re just waiting to go to work. When you get out, it’s pretty late and most people are going to bed.

9-5 allows me to have my relaxation time at the end of the day, along with everyone else. Any other shift feels lonely, and like you’re off-sync from the rest of society.

100% with the people saying to get into a hobby to meet people. You’re guaranteed to connect at some level. Gaming as a hobby actually makes meeting people pretty easy, if you don’t mind starting out as long distance relationships

I met my partner of 8 years on World of Warcraft!

What brand is that chair? Looks so comfy! Also, your cat’s name is amazing

I’m the oldest. I have a younger sister and brother.

We’re all close and extremely comfortable with each other, but they’re closer with each other than me, given their closeness in age.

I don’t live at home with them anymore, but our relationship always feels natural and picks up where it left off even after being away for so long. I think we’ve been fortunate in that we’ve never felt to the need to compete with each other, and I think of them as a constant in my life that that I can always count on

Edit: removed some age info

I watch a lot of food shows, and he always comes across as a bit douchey and arrogant - but idk how much of that is a personality for TV.

I went to Bobby’s Burger Palace once though, and it was pretty good!

You’re very welcome! I think the fact that you’re able to reflect so deeply on this is a really good thing.

Forgive my assumptions, but from what it looks like from the outside, you’ve come a long way down a pretty bumpy road. Lots of people get swept up in these feelings and regret it, but your self awareness is admirable. Sending good vibes and best wishes, whatever path you take

I think you nailed it on the head yourself - that all the things you’re feeling are for a “squandered past, not a realistic future.”

I’ve struggled with this situation as well, and those feelings never last. The other person feels like an “escape” from your current partner because they are a mystery. I love my SO, but I know all the dirty minutiae of living together for 7 years. He tends to fart loudly in the toilet when he thinks I’m asleep still, and sometimes lets his toenails get too long.

The little details like that don’t give your imagination much leeway, where a prospective life with another person is full of possibilities.

Don’t let this new person be an excuse to throw away your current relationship. It throwing such a huge wrench in your system is indicative of something being amiss in your marriage. Maybe there’s some distance, or needs not being met.

Crushes on other people happen in long term relationships, and are normal, but the response in a healthy relationship is being able to recognize that the lovesickness is fleeting. The bond with the new person isn’t fate: it’s just filling a hole at the moment.

Edit: a good test is this - if the other person had never come back into your life, would you still be happier if you left your wife? If the answer is yes, then perhaps you need to rethink your relationship, but do it alone. Don’t jump to a new one right away without sorting out the baggage from the previous one

An oversized poncho cape from the local Goodwill. It was woven in different shades of blue and while I’d never wear it outside, I’ve used it as a wearable blanket at home for a few years now.

I found out it was actually hand made, and costs 300+ USD from the original shop. Bonus points, I feel like a wizard when I wear it

Now that I think about it, maybe they always have been, sort of? The earliest memes I remember are the rage comics

Though, I feel like “meme” = funny relatable thing nowadays.

I swear, kids are the cruelest at that age. I ate lunch in the bathroom stall a few times in my first week of middle school because it was better than being in the cafeteria

The sunlight filtering through the smog is beautiful! Reminds me of those floating islands in that Gorillaz music video for Feel Good Inc. (but with factories instead of the windmill)

It might be an age thing - I’m 32, game as a hobby, and work in software. 80% of my coworkers play games to some extent, and most are in their twenties to mid thirties.

But when I used to work in healthcare, I think only a few of my coworkers shared the hobby.

Generally, I think the younger the generation is, the more acceptable and “normal” gaming is. It’s not a guarantee, but it’s definitely more common.

Edit: I’d just be yourself and do as you like. There’s definitely people out there who share your hobby. Some of the older members of a long-standing guild I’m a part of are in their 50’s or retired. I will say that the gender ratio skews mostly male for older gamers though. The women I know who are interested in games are all sub 40 (this is just a personal observation, your results may vary)