this guy is fascinating, id like to know more about just his background
i think what it boils down to mostly is that -- due to his awkward social graces and extreme insecurity -- he has a hard time forming meaningful relationships (romantic or otherwise) and so he's just really lonely. I think he formed some lasting bonds with the guys he was in the marines with but they are all scattered across the country these days.
He does not seem to have any real friends that he hangs out with in person. Whenever he mentions his "friends" they are like - no joke - just other bar regulars. Like they don't make plans to meet up at the bar they just go there because they were going to do that anyway and these are about the most meaningful in person relationships he has.
I know nothing about his first marriage, but i've gathered that part of the reason his second marriage had problems was because his dad moved in with him at some point and having his dad and his wife all living under the same roof put considerable strain on the marriage and it ultimately didn't work out. I also know that he really wants kids.
I've only known Ted for about a year and a half, and this is the first time since last summer that he has been in relationship mode. Last summer was not dissimilar - he started dating a girl, he wouldn't STFU about her non-stop for like 3 weeks, she eventually was like holy crap this guy is way too clingy and ghosted him and that was the end of that.
IMHO, the weirdest thing about Ted is how ridiculously insecure he is. this.man.cannot.take.a.joke. at all. heaven help us if someone just randomly broke out into that name game song from the 60s or whatever -- they'd get around to ted ted fo fed, banana fana fo fed, me mi mo med, Ted! and he would just sit there pouting and brooding for the rest of the day feeling as though he had been personally attacked.
