Hi @denmarkguy hope you're well. Reading your post brought me back to my childhood, as a child we weren't allowed to listen into adults conversation. As the saying went in those days, "Kids are seen and not heard" or was it the other way round?
I don't have many friends today, the ones I have, I cherish and have been very close friends for over 40 years. I some how find it very difficult to bond with new friends these days. I'm told by some people I'm a good listener, people seem to open up to me, I don't give any advise or tell them what to do, I don't feel that's my place.
I do let them know I'm there for them when ever they need to talk.
I don't know if it's a bad thing or not but I do prefer my own company.
I suppose one could say, my childhood has something to do with the way in which I perceive life today.
Thank you for sharing an interesting topic, it made me look back on my life a bit.
Have a great week.