Do you live alone whats the best/worst thing about it

mgardner

Hi to everyone living alone,, I have lived alone now for about 15 yers and I just got to thinking about the best /worst things about this and would love to chat to other peeps
about this. I find one of the best things is if I dont want to cook I can quite happily open a can of something or other soup or rice pudding, I think one of the worst things is when I have to do just everything for myself, clean the windows do the washing cut the grass etc. Would love to have anyone elses views on this

Best wishes Mary

Errata

The benefits of living alone, for me, are that I can please myself about what I do and when I do it. The disadvantage at the moment is having a frozen shoulder which is slowly thawing out and it would be great if there was someone around to deluge me in tea and sympathy

dreaming

Lots of best things - not having the tv on when I am reading/spending all weekend in the garden/being able to study without being accused of ignoring everyone (I've just completed an Open University degree)/the whole bed to myself/not running out of milk because someone used the last drop and didn't say/no-one expecting me to know where keys/wallet/book/watch etc. are.
Worst things - a pizza, chinese or indian meal is too much for one/not having someone to laugh with after a night out/changing lightbulbs (my ceilings are very tall and I don't like ladders).
I have been completely on my own for about 3 years (separated 10 years ago but still had daughter at home) and although I loved family life, I also like my life now. There seems just as many positives/negatives to both single and communal living.

chesky369

Don't start me off! Having radio 4 or radio 7 from every radio in the house, so it follows me from room to room. Being able to take books/magazines/newspapers to read in bed and just allowing them to drop beside me as I fall asleep in my small-ish double bed. The ability to talk to myself without getting odd looks (at least I get a decent conversation). Having cheese on toast instead of a 'proper' dinner if I feel like it.

The down side? Having to get someone in to fix stuff my ex could do easily (we're not talking rocket science here). But the fact that my ex COULD do it easily didn't always mean he did it, so at least when I get someone in, I expect them to do it when they say they will.

My ex and I separated in 1980 and my kids left home (eventually), so I'm pretty much used to it by now. Quite honestly I dread the thought that I might eventually have to go into some kind of care home since I really don't think I'm cut out for communal living.

Farway

For me it is getting up, seeing sun is out, and without asking anyone I decide to just forget what I thought I was going to do, like boring shopping, instead catch bus using free bus pass and go down to Southsea, stroll along prom, have a pub lunch and without funny looks when I have second pint

Down side, hate cleaning & dusting

patanne

Upside - control of the handset including the off button without being asked if the TV is broken. Going to bed at 3am if I feel like it. So many other things its impossible to list here.
Downside - there's always someone to ring if things are going wrong but when something really good (even if trivial) happens it feels silly to ring someone to tell them and eating alone - not at home (a book which is supposed to be bad for digestion always helps) but eating out, even just a coffee & cake seems a bit false somehow

patanne

Note for Farway - I also hate cleaning & dusting and provided you didn't give funny looks at a second whisky I wouldn't at a second pint - pity Southsea is so Farway!!!

LeeSouthEast

I have nothing to add, but it seems a lot of people prefer living alone.

I think I'd fall into that category, too.

chesky369

.......Down side, hate cleaning & dusting........

Well, just don't do it. I belong to the quentin crisp school of housekeeping
he said "After the third year, the dust doesn't get any worse"

scotsbob

Best things
25% discount on Poll Tax (forget the new name)
No nagging
Bathroom always free
You always watch what you want on tv

Worst things
No one to put the rubbish bins out

missychrissy

Poll tax should be half when you live on your own. I don't understand why they only knock 25% off.

Best things about being single: can eat whatever I want when I want; can go to bed when I like; can spend my money on what I choose; don't have to subject anyone else to my sometimes extreme money saving ways; don't get any criticism; can watch what I like on tv or dvd; don't have to answer to anybody and more wardrobe space.

Worst things about being single: having to do everything myself like cleaning, gardening, decorating etc; no one with whom to share the good times as well as the bad; no spontaneous going out (I think this is probably easier for a man); invites dry up; holidays are difficult and no one to go out to dinner with.