I spend most of my time home alone, immersed in my projects. At the moment it’s my ideal life, but I would no doubt feel differently if Andy didn’t come home every afternoon. What about you? Do you enjoy being home alone? Do you get enough of it? What would your ideal life look like?
At the moment we are sharing with my folks. So more time for us alone and a little more time alone would be good.
For all practical purposes, I live alone with myself. My son has his own life to lead and I hardly have him to myself for more than a few minutes at a time, though he lives with me. My father is usually in his room doing his own thing, mostly reading, and needs me only to be around in case of medical emergencies or for some errand to be run. On the assumption that my father precedes me, when he is gone, within say a couple of months, my son and I would be living separately in our own smaller places, and very likely in different cities, and I would be then fully on my own for the first time since 1968. I actually look forward to it. I can then march to my own drum beat!
Interesting question, Jean (what else is new?).
I don’t know; by temperament an only child (never mind the siblings years later) I am self sufficient. Which is not the same as saying that I am not a team player when needs must. However, privately, as the psycho speak goes: I NEED SPACE. Preferably my own. At the same time I am gregarious – and will welcome anyone and anything any time at a drop of a hat. Generous with my time to a fault, even when realising that I am running out of it [time, that is]. It amuses me no end how similar the Angel is in that respect – him being a truly only child. He will groan at prospect of, say, a friend or a cousin staying over for days on end. Yet ‘endures’ it in good humour.
I think it’s a blessing to be able to be happy in your own company. Imagine you were washed up on a desert island: No boy/girl Friday at hand. My mother has a rather different take: Where I’ll happily go to the theatre, indeed anywhere, on my own and enjoy it to the brim she doesn’t. She enjoys best when “in company”. And I love her for that. Still prefer my own mode. Makes life so much easier. Less compromise. Do what YOU want to do. Though, admittedly there are a few people in my life (not just the Angel or my parents) who I happily always put first. Even if does put blisters on my tender feet.
U
I like being alone but not all the time.
BHB, if I may say so, and from what I have gleaned over time, yours and Tom’s relationship so akin to that of my parents. In more ways than one.
U
Evan,
I sympathize. I need alone time. Earlier in life if I didn’t get it during the day, I got it instead of sleep at night. That was a nuisance. It’s sheer luxury to get enough sleep now.
Rummuser,
At least you get some time for your own pursuits, even if it isn’t ideal. It does seem like your life could change a lot in the future.
Ursula,
I’m probably have an only child temperament, even though I have a sister 15 months older than me. I would hate living in a crowd.
bikehikebabe,
Me too!
Jean, there are few things I canNOT imagine. One of them what it must be like to have an older sibling.
Never reflected on it till reading what you just said.
My siblings, age wise well away from me and close together, mostly bemoaning each other. Occasionally mentioned to my mother that I overshadow them. If I do, it is not intentionally. I always felt one of two things, apart from being a loving sister and an unpaid nanny/housekeeper: Either my mother’s deputy/substitute when looking after them or – worst case scenario in later years – a go between them and my parents. No doubt, a psychologist would have a field day here.
Don’t ask. All turned pear shaped in the last few years. Quite upsetting. No more so than for my mother. Not that she will say; but if anyone knows her – I do. Her humoUr verging on the cruel. My father (an only child) keeping his own counsel. Never (and more is the pity) ‘interfering’ in his children’s dealings with each other and our world at large.
U
I’m “home alone” all the time.
It was interesting the other day when someone made the comment that they assumed I lived in a very small house, fit for one!
But I don’t, when I first began renting this 2 storey house there were others here but they had faded away…and the rent is very cheap so it’s worthwhile to stay here meantime.
Sometimes I want someone here and then other times I’m glad I don’t – no one saying that I can’t do this or that because it’s not the right way.
Today talking to another friend about the situation (hadn’t even seen this post) that sometimes I eat dinner for breakfast and cereal for dinner! A couple of times, friends have come and said “oh you’ve not dressed” – it will be middle of day and I’m still in my PJ’s or a dressing gown on if the other stuff not tidy! These are my true stay@home days !
But then it would be nice to have someone do the laundry, hang out the clothes, bring them in before the rain falls, take out the garbage, post a letter, vacuum…stuff like that!
Have someone else so that I have to cook roast beef with all the trimmings or similar. Even baking cookies/cakes have gone out the door – otherwise I just eat the whole thing!!!
Cathy,
Andy and I eat simply, so that’s not much different than if I were all alone, but it is nice to share the chores and for us to each have our own interests and freedom and still do some things together. Neither one of us thinks that things have to be done a certain way. Situations like this are hard to find, though. I know people who are married, have to do most of the work and still have critical spouses. Forget that!
How hard is it to clean your house? I assume the extra space is worth it. And that rooms you don’t use all of the time don’t need much cleaning. We live in a three-bedroom apartment, and that’s just about right for the two of us. I would feel a bit cramped if we had to move down to two bedrooms.
the bottom story is 3/4 tandem with wings garage space – no car though, laundry area. I have craft items down there, actually quite tidy as I’ve not got the time to get into that…the dyeing equipment is down there as well, a bit untidy but not a problem…Also in garage is a downstairs bathroom that I only use when desperate for ‘p’ – the other 1/4 space is 2 unused rooms which I use as storage for craft other.
upstairs is living, 2 bedrooms, dining/other space, kitchen and utility rooms.
i’m not a power-hungry cleaner, I do it when it gets to a point the fluffs are starting to expand. Because I’m a clutter person, many of the spaces are covered in things that occasionally get sorted out…most of my friends understand!
2 guys are coming here this week. one to quote on some new blinds in the front bedroom – I will need to move a few things so I will have a bit of a tidy up, even vacuum.
the other guy is coming same day to install a new-2-me scanner – that bench is a bit messy so that will give me the incentive to tidy up computer desk area 🙂
in a few weeks I will done with University study and there will be a huge spring clean of stuff to do with that…some will be binned whilst other things will be archived…
Sometimes I feel bad about things…but most of the time, I don’t because it feels homely 🙂
Cathy,
You can come visit me anytime! And I would feel very comfortable visiting you. 🙂
LOL Jean 🙂
there is a slight problem here – even though a lot of rooms suitable for a bed/s – have only one bed mine!
although my pride and joy – 2 couches, one of which is vaguely comfortable as long as you remember it will be easy to fall off if you are expecting more space to sprawl 🙂
Cathy,
Thanks. I have been warned! 🙂