Living alone for the first time in my life.

Caroline_a

I'm another one who loves living on her own. Youngest daughter just moved back from uni, but she won't be here forever, but i do love the freedom of doing what i want, where I want, how I want... I would say that initially it's a bit daunting, but once i'd got past that, it was great!

Oldernotwiser

I'd recommend the OU - and a cat!

scottish_lassy

There is a big difference between being alone and being lonely. Being lonely can happen in a house full of people. I was at my lonliest when going through a bad marraige. Now I am alone and can have friends to dinner, go out and just please myself without worrying about how someone else might behave. Enjoy being alone and having the freedom to share your time with other people whenever you wish.

Tropez

Do you have a pet? Could you have a pet?

The only time I've spent living on my own was the rather brief period between moving out of my mum's to my own house and my partner moving in here. For me though, it wasn't really very lonely as I had an older dog and two new mischievious puppies (note to everyone - never get two puppies at once unless you like being driven mad).

I know it is a bit of a cliche but with my dogs around there was always a bit of company in the house and I'll admit it, I'm one of the nuts who talks to their dogs too.

Astara

Make sure you plan ahead and arrange things with friends/family for weekends. That way you enjoy their company but can also have some free time enjoying your own company. A pet is a really good idea as you will always have company! Make friends with other single people so that you can meet up, go out and socialise. Attached people generally don't have as much time and inclination to do that. Enjoy the benefits of living on your own such as eating what you want when you want, watching what you want when you want, soaking in a long bath, putting music on and dancing round the room, sitting quietly reading a good book and going to bed when you want. Leaving the dishes if you don't fancy doing them that moment, decorating and furnishing the place how you want to, not having to pick up after anyone else!! Enjoy the peace and quiet!

Oh yes and invite people over every now again and fuss over them by making them cups of tea, dinner etc and then hopefully they'll invite you back!

tomatoe_2

don't eat boiled sweets, if you start to choke on one there will be no one to help you and you will die.

tod123

get a load of cats

looby75

I know how you are feeling MrsE, well a bit. You know my kids were away last week and I was home alone I thought I would be climbing the walls by the end of the week but it wasn't as bad as I expected.

I went out and visited my friends a couple of nights, something I couldn't normally do because of ds. I took long soaks in the bath with music playing as loud as I liked, again something I can't usually do.

When dd goes to uni in October I'll be in a strange situation where as I will have less freedom (no one to watch ds if I want to pop out for half an hour in an evening) but more time on my own after ds has gone to bed, so I'll be watching this thread for idea too.

Oh and I'm sure soon enough your baby sitting skills will be in great demand so you won't be alone every night

eco

I'm another who lives alone and have done for 8 years now, I love it, I've got family and friends who I can visit and go out socalising with. I have had BF's in the past since my ex left but no one I want to run around after again, lives about what I want to do, but then I always did hate anyone telling me what I could or couldn't do.

I've decided I'm going to enjoy every minute of this life cos I don't know how long I'll be single, if Mr. Right ever does show's up at least i'll have learnt how to entertain myself and not rely too heavily on others.

crafty*kate

Aw MrsE, I know how you feel. I lived with my parents, then my BF, and then have been living alone since we split up.

I won't deny it's hard, especially at the start, but I have found it gets much easier as you settle into a routine and work out what you want to do with your time! When I lived with other people, I was always doing what they wanted, or things when they wanted, and it took me a while to settle into a routine that suits ME.

I am studying with the open university, and that's the only time the house is silent - otherwise I always have music on or the TV.

I agree with the recommendation for a pet....I have a cat who is excellent company.

One thing that really helps me is arranging the house perfectly the way I like it....why is that chair there? Because it's always been there...not good enough! I have moved and rearranged so many times and now it feels like my house is all arranged to fit me. I have even been known to do a bit of spring cleaning, but there's not enough time for that when I have so many hobbies!