I feel really sorry for my brother, who was hurt as a kid and has chosen to not open up to people and get too close.
I was also hurt but I chose to face my fears and get close to friends.
Now while we are back in the States, I am spending time with good friends while my brother sits alone in his room on his computer. He has no friends here in our hometown and when I try to introduce him to someone he just keeps his distance. He just works each day on his online HVAC company selling smart thermostats and HEPA filters and stays in his own head. It’s sad because he will grow old never knowing what a true friend is and what fun it could have been to know them. I have HVAC tech friends and local contractor friends, whom I hang out with while working and make money while connecting with them. I don’t even know if my brother wants to change at this point because he has found his sanctuary by being alone and has chosen to close down any close relationships that may have tried to come his way. He is on vacation here, like I am, and stays inside selling HVAC equipment and making calls for people having trouble with their space heaters in their homes. I would not want to live without any friends and when I am old I will at least have some buddies to visit from time to time. I guess I’ll call the old HVAC system hermit now to see how he is doing.