I was the weird kid because I didn't see the point of conforming. The disapproval of my peers meant virtually nothing to me; I didn't see their company or approval as worth having. I wasn't actually a loner - I liked having friends - but if I didn't want your company, I didn't care if you didn't like me. I minded my own business and did my own thing, and aside from when people were actively aggressive to me (standard bully stuff - throwing my bag in the bin etc) I didn't care much that I was weird and disliked. I probably would have been happier overall if I had conformed just a little more and therefore been less of a target, but the cost-benefit didn't really seem that way to me at the time.

Anyway, as an adult, of course, plenty of situations arose where it was worth my while to conform, and when it suits me, I conform just fine. I have good friendships, a good marriage, a good career, a good life. I'm still a bit of an odd duck, but not particularly remarkably so. Probably no odder than most of my social group (which admittedly is a bit self-selectingly odd).