What's the longest you were single?

Since '02.
Lonliness is something I was aware of, but having a job running 9-18 hours a day didnt really leave much time to dwell on it.
The times it really did become noticeable were free weekends or Christmas time and finding that I was turning down invites to parties or events because I just didnt see them as enjoyable. Especially if I wasn't going to know anybody there.
So I filled the time doing other things. Started going to restaurants or theatres or maybe the Opera or even ballet once in a while.
Sometimes it seemed to fill that hole, sometimes it didnt.

My longest period of being single (after the first time I was in a relationship) was 4 years. No, loneliness didn't get to me. I actually enjoy having time to myself. A relationship is nice, but it's not something I think I really need.

8 years