It's not a pity party!!!

I have this issue. I wouldn't call myself the type of person who complains a lot, but I do feel the need to tell someone my problems when I have them. I don't think I need to tell everyone I see about all the issues in my life, but I do like to be able to vent and get it all out. The problem is, I don't want the person who is listening to my problems think that I am just throwing a pity party. I'm not looking for pity, I swear! I just need someone to listen! Even pretending to listen generally works! An occasional uhuh, and yep, i understand is okay with me! I just like to be able to get out my thoughts and feelings without talking to myself and coming out sounding insane!
So how do I talk about my problems without seeming like I am searching for sympathy and pity? I just don't know. Maybe it is something I will have to perfect. But in theory, that would mean that I would have to have a lot of problems to talk about, which doesn't really sound all that appealing. Hmmm... I just don't want to have to keep all my feelings bottled up. That is how people end up getting really upset and doing irrational things. And I definitely don't want to be that person!