This is the first time in my life I have ever lived alone, and these are some of my realizations (both negative and positive):
1) Cooking for one sucks
It is no fun to make a new recipe or really nice meal if there is no one else to enjoy it with or to give you feedback on the recipe. I much prefer to have someone to eat with, and am glad that I do have someone to enjoy at least some meals with each week.
My meals for one include a lot more sandwiches that I used to eat, individual chicken breasts (which I buy in a large bag from Costco) with rice or potatoes, eggs and toast, etc..
On a related note (and for similar reasons) watching TV alone is not as good.
2) Grocery shopping has changed
Buying lettuce or spinach in bulk is a waste, because I can't finish it all on my own. Most bags or packages of fruit are too big for me to eat up before they go bad. I have to buy smaller packages of things, which tends to be more expensive.
3) The house/yard work never ends
I never realized how much work having a house was when I was only doing half of the work. I used to do most of the cleaning and cooking, but never did the laundry or yard work. It keeps me quite busy, and I am dreading winter shoveling.
4) It's not as scary as I expected it to be
I don't freak out at every sound, and have been able to sleep quite well most nights. I have become a lot more brave, and have even become a bit of a spider killer. Eeep, I still hate spiders though. I haven't missed a garbage day either ... I have always been very independent, but I am becoming more so as times goes on.
5) Besides a bit of boredom and the above, it's not much different from living with someone
I had never lived alone and always wondered what it was like. I had these day dreams and fantasies that it would be "so cool" to live alone and that I'd order pizza at 3:00 a.m. and do all sorts of things I didn't do often while living with someone. Well, honestly, my routines haven't really changed at all. Living alone is pretty much the same as living with someone, except without the company.
I traveled alone for the first time a couple of years ago, and really enjoyed it. This is kind of like an extended version of that. I have found out that I can live alone, that it is not as luxurious as I expected it to be, but I don't mind it. I definitely don't want to live alone forever though - company is always better!
Have you ever lived alone? With someone?
How do they compare for you?
I'm tossing around the idea of a solo trip to NY at the beginning of January ... unless one of my favourite ladies (bloggy friends included) want to join me! I like to be alone, but don't want to dine alone! Anyone interested?
12 comments:
I haven't lived alone because in some capacity, there is always someone sharing the living space, whether it was my family, a roommate, or boyfriend. I do notice that there are differences when they are out of town, and I have to "fend for myself."
If you lack the motivation to cook for one, maybe swap dinners with friends? They can come over one night, you can over another. It could be like a dinner club.
Hi Jolene - I'm emailing you:) Had no idea this was going on, but hang in there!
I've never lived alone. Straight to college I lived in the dorms, then with roommates, then the boyfriend who is now my husband.
I have lived alone for many years and I always loved it. Roommates and partners are nice, but I think sometimes I miss it.
Don't want to be nosy, but I hope everything is okay!
Cooking for one does indeed suck! (And the tv thing too.) There's something about sharing a meal with someone...eating is, to me, such a social thing. And getting feedback is nice too!
I'm glad you're doing okay living by yourself - it can be really hard! I've only ever really done it for a month and it was tough, and a little freaky too. And the spider thing is really not fun at all, ha ha.
I know we don't know each other so I won't pry about what's going on, but if you come to New York please let me know and we can grab dinner and talk about food.
Hope things workout out in whatever way is best for you.
I have lived alone off and on many times over the years. There are definately good and bad about both. I'm not one for sharing the remote:) Living alone was a time in my life when I felt very empowered and independent and though the nights sometimes got lonely, I learned a lot about myself in those years.
As for the spiders....I would sic my cat on them:)
I had no idea you were living alone! I also don't want to pry but like others said I hope you're OK...
I lived alone for about 8 months when Eric moved back to FSJ and it was a really good experience that I'm glad I had! I rarely REALLY cooked when I lived alone and tended to eat leftovers or easy dinners like egg sandwiches. Haha
Hi Jolene, i have never lived alone. I hope all is well with you. If you do come to New York, we should definitely have dinner or lunch. New York is the perfect city for solo trips that's for sure :-)
I'd feel like a creeper e-mailing and asking what's going on, but I hope that things are okay and know that I'm here for you if you ever need someone to talk to. I have never lived alone and it's actually something I regret not doing before I got married.
I am quite surprised at this announcement, but like others have already commented, I can't pry. I am glad to hear that you have been OK with living alone though. I have lived alone for over 10 years and I like it, but it does suck most of the time cooking for myself. It's nice when my boyfriend is over and we share a meal together...it doesn't happen nearly often enough for me.
I hope to go to New York someday...so much to see there (I would love to see the Museum of Natural History). Maybe in a couple years now that all my home renos are nearly done. I am sure you will have someone willing to go with you and at the very least it seems there are people who would love to meet with you and show you around!
Oh wow, I hope that everything is ok! I have lived alone for 8 years so consider myself a veteran at it, but it has not always been easy and it was an adjustment initially. Now I really like it, but cooking for one tends to be anticlimatic. You put all this work into a meal and then there is no one to compliment you and i tend to eat it in front of a television or something like that... So it's different. But i love it when i do have the opportunity to make dinner for someone!!
i love nyc. My 30th bday is in feb!! Hey gonna email you.
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