"More when I was younger; less secure in myself and my ability to tell people to fuck right off." Clearly that is not so much a problem these days. It's not easy when for one reason or another a person isn't cut from the standard template.

"And that, my dear, is a perfectly reasonable goal. I don't do romance myself, never have, don't feel a need for it. I have had long-term partners, but I've never felt the need to swoon or write poetry." Not entirely true. She has written some poetic and appallingly filthy letters, but that's not really the same thing.