I’m Robert — the voice behind The Queer Hermit. After nearly 40 years with my partner, I found myself rebuilding life on my own, off-grid in the West Virginia woods. This blog is where I explore solitude, queer introspection, and the beauty of a simple, intentional life.

Whether you’re living solo by choice or circumstance, I share stories, skills, and support that remind you: you’re not alone out here. Welcome to the quiet road — I’m glad you’re here.

After nearly four decades with Donnie, losing him left a silence I wasn’t sure how to live with. At first, moving off-grid was about survival—financially and emotionally. But as I settled into the woods of my West Virginia childhood, that quiet became something more than emptiness. It became comfort. In the stillness, I remembered who I was before the noise of the world crept in. The Queer Hermit grew from that space—a place to share what I’ve learned, what I’m still figuring out, and how a life shaped by solitude can be both healing and whole.

I’m the seventh of twelve kids—eight boys, four girls. You learn early on how to carve out your own space in a house that full. Maybe that’s why solitude feels like home to me. I met Donnie while I was still in the Navy, stationed in Seattle. I was a quiet kid, still a virgin, and from that moment on, it was just him and me. He loved cats. I didn’t—but I loved him, so now I’ve got Boots, the last of his little herd. The final thing Donnie said before losing his voice was that I had to take care of his kitty cats. And I did. Still do. The dogs, though? That’s all me. I can never have too many.