True story – tomorrow will mark the first full month of my entire life in which I have lived alone in my own apartment.
It’s been…interesting. Not least of all because of circumstances which have worked to ensure I don’t really have anywhere else to go.
I have a lot of thoughts about the solo living experience, and I saw a lot of those thoughts reflected in this thread on Ask Reddit:
So how is it flying solo? Let’s find out.
1. Throwing hands.
On the one hand, you can do as you please.
On the other hand, everything is your own responsibility, so if anything’s going to get done it’s all up to you.
And on the gripping hand, when you’re personally in need, like loneliness or medical emergency, you’re on your own.
– stebrepar
2. My favorite channel.
It’s awesome!
Life is on the “YOU” channel 24/7. But… you gotta really love that programming.
– rjm167
3. It’s right there.
For better or worse your sh*t is always were you last left it.
– godhasmoreaids
4. Freedom!
Simply, the best.
No checking in with someone, no explanations required if you just want to walk out the door and do something, the freedom is just unmatched.
You don’t know how annoying it is/was to bounce your intentions off of another person until you don’t have to do it anymore.
– ThurnisHailey
5. Quite the trade off.
You can be naked all day without grossing anyone out or giving them the impression that you want sex
– goldenloxe
6. A paradise.
All the stuff remains where stuff is supposed to be.
You put a coke in the fridge and it’s still there.
The sink never gets clogged with hair.
The room temperature is always 18°c.
If you don’t feel like cooking food you don’t have to. It’s wonderful!
– DarthTheRaider
7. Bunker mentality.
For the most part, it’s fine. I mean, it’s nice to have people to spend time with, but…
My condo is my bunker. It’s my safe space, and everything in it is there because I chose it.
Downside – I’m dying alone, and may sit rotting for days…
Plus, you can’t blame people for leaving stuff out or spilling LEGO to find with your feet.
But, yeah, everything is the way I like it, and if it isn’t, still my issue to deal with.
– Squigglepig52
8. It’s the company.
Pretty great, frankly.
It’s arguably the best way to find out if you are good company for yourself.
And I think it makes one more self sufficient.
– bananabelly
9. A clean break.
It’s pretty nice, I don’t have to clean very often since I try not to make messes in the first place.
Back when I had roommates I had to clean constantly so I much prefer living alone.
– LoneWanderer013
10. Spooky times.
Nice, until you hear a noise in the next room, at night.
– harvsnova
11. Hard to adjust.
I’ve been alone since my wife passed away in 2015. It’s been a hard adjustment because I miss her every second of the day.
However, I try and stay busy and focus on doing the things I love. The hardest time is after dinner because this is when we would sit down in the den and sit next to each other and talk. I moved near my daughter and get to enjoy her and my grandkids whenever I want and that’s been wonderful.
Overall, living alone would not be my first choice but I’m determined to make the best of it.
– ItsMyView
12. Lean cuisine.
Imagine never asking someone “what do you want to do for dinner?”
– Jenova66
13. Amazing.
Amazing. Absolutely, positively amazing.
I have a dog, so I haven’t had to be completely alone during the pandemic, but it’s just fantastic.
– 82jarsofpickles
14. Lonesome times.
I moved out of my shared apartment with my boyfriend late last year.
It is the first time I’ve ever lived alone in my whole life. It was very strange at first, and so much quieter than I expected. It’s taken me a long time to get used to it.
Like others have mentioned, it is great most of the time- being able to watch whatever you want, eat whatever/whenever you want.
But a lot of the time it is very lonely. There’s no one to talk to unless you have pets and talk to them, which i do, but it isn’t the same.
– smithshelbyk
15. The living alone rundown.
• You will start talking to yourself. I don’t know why but you do. Yesterday I realized I was speaking aloud everything I was thinking of doing. Oops.
• Cleaning is easy. You clean before work and come back to a clean house unless mr. Kitty knocked down three cups and now you have glass to pick up. Oh well.
• Cooking is tough. You either make too much or you just stop by and get food because it’s easier. I dont like leftovers a lot so it’s like why bother cooking after a long day of work. Salads and sandwiches becomes the go-to good because its quick.
• This is just me but I leave the TV on. I can be reading, playing a pc game, going to sleep etc but the tv is on. Note: I put my timer on when I go to sleep so I dont leave tv on all night. I come from a family of seven so I’m used to noise. Quiet freaks me out. Even when I have a headache or a migraine, I must have noise.
• When you are sick, being alone sucks. If you throw up, you must clean it up. If you are too sick to even get up, you can get dehydrated. You force yourself to get up and get water and make soup because you know you must keep hydrated even if your shaking and your legs are near collapsing. You must take your temperature and take aspirin and take care of animals.
• Breaking your leg or arm sucks too. You have nobody to help you.
• You can bring anybody to your place without worries or needing to ask permission. A big plus.
• You only have you to help pay bills. You cant afford to get a pay cut, getting fired, taking medical time off. Getting sick after all your sick days are used means you cant afford to take time off unless your boss orders you to go home.
• The bathrooms are all yours. No waking up early to get there first, no standing outside dancing and begging them to hurry up. You can use the restroom whenever you want. It’s amazing.
• No having a roommate bring a man over and have loud sex while you are trying to sleep.
•Temperature control is all you. You can keep your house or apartment at the temperature you like (as long as you can afford it).
• No judging. You want to watch a marathon of your favorite tv show all day while eating pizza, cake, and soda, you can. This is dangerous.
• You will get lonely if you are used to having people live with you. You can completely become unsocial
– JerryTGonzales
For me personally? I like it. For now. Don’t think I’d want to do it forever.
Do you live alone? Did you at one point? What is/was it like for you?
Tell us in the comments.