I no longer feel the need to apologize for it.

I have no social anxiety, and I genuinely enjoy meeting new people, or talking to small groups of friends. but I need my alone time, and that isn't up for debate- it's a genuine need. Took me longer than I'd like to admit to realize that.

Whether this is the natural result of just getting older, or a sea change in general society as the less-social of us find ways to connect anyway, I am not sure. I do think it's a little of both.