Please tell me the joys you have of living alone

No walking on eggshells wondering what I have done wrong.

Waking up every day happy and still happy when I go to bed.

Going to bed and knowing I won't be molested in my sleep.

Knowing that my money is safe from being spent on crackpot schemes or paying off someone else's eyewatering debt.

Being able to be me without being criticised or made to feel ashamed and making myself small. Loud, proud and unapologetic now. 😁

I had two years on my own, but I moved in with elderly parent during Covid and I am still here, but single life is fab.

I find it really depends on the person.

My mother loves living alone.

I have a male friend who loves living alone.

My other friends hate living alone.

I tried living alone a couple of times and I hate it. It's not for me. I'd prefer to live in a flats hare in my late thirties. You don't have to live alone. You can rent and share at any age. It depends on what you prefer.

There are no downsides. None!
I absolutely adore not living with a man. It’s just amazing and I wouldn’t change it for the world.
Peace, tidiness, no weird man smells, never having to compromise, absolute freedom, no bad atmospheres, not having to manage a man’s moods, watching what I want, going to bed when I want, having easy light dinners every night, not feeling resentful from living with a lazy, selfish man child……Need I continue 😂

For me literally everything is better living alone. Life is just a million times more enjoyable as you can do only what you want, when you want with no compromises. You don't have others wants, needs and moods affecting yours. I will never live with anyone ever again, there is no man out there that would be worth it.

That's good; I didn't see this till after I posted. Yes, I loved my dogs but paying the sitters to stay with them was a killer. It's what is stopping me adopting another, as I do like to travel.

You will love living alone.

The peace that your own space brings is invaluable, especially when you've known 'home' to be unpredictable and bring anxiety, smells, mess and even danger.
@rainbowbee

hear hear!

I lived alone for a while following the break up of a long term relationship. I really enjoyed being able to leave things out and come back to them undisturbed, as I left them. I took up three hobbies to occupy weekday evenings and made new friends through them. I also stocked up on books and made it the norm that I would read on free evenings.

Peace, quiet, cleanliness. No one else's junk cluttering up the house. No drama.
I can and do indulge in scent, decor, beautiful bedding, my own food preferences, clean closets. Heating/fresh air all to my preference. Audiobooks on a Bluetooth speaker while I'm doing housework, crafts or just lying by the fire on a rainy day.

Bathroom is old and small but I've filled it with indulgent & pampering items, like a mini-spa.

No negotiating on spending, or anything else.

I've lived alone a great deal and never felt lonely or bored or frightened. Couldn't pay me to share now, even if Prince Charming materialized.

Be careful about getting a pet; it is more difficult and expensive when there's no one to share the care of the animals. I've spent a fortune on sitters.

I bet she is! That’s brilliant.

When I got back from the gym this morning I made lemon, tomato & cardamom dhal & baked some sourdough rolls, then had lunch on the balcony, a long phone call with an aunt & went for a nap before cleaning up. Tonight I will lie on the sofa with my laptop or a book.

Because I can.

Do you think you might like a pet, OP?

You can do whatever you like within reason - move abroad if you wish , study for a new qualification, become a veggie etc. without anyone to stop you.

You never have to consider anyone else's needs. I've only got the cats to think about when I'm at home.

Most importantly, you never have to feel afraid again.

And I can have flowers and plants around, a feather duvet, and cheese in the fridge because I don't live with a vegan who's allergic to everything. 🤣

To add to my earlier post- I had both a flat mate and an ex with alcohol problems. I used to dread the sound of the key in the door. I couldn't keep a bottle of wine in for myself. They both did late night drunken cooking and trashed the kitchens. Sometimes my ex would come to bed smelly. The flatmate used to bring random people home. One of them stole my cosmetics from the bathroom. Etc. I used to (have to) be so hyper vigilant.
The peace that your own space brings is invaluable, especially when you've known 'home' to be unpredictable and bring anxiety, smells, mess and even danger.
Today- it's warm. I slept well in in a clean bed. Drank coffee in bed with NYT puzzles. Ate fruit loaf and Camembert for brunch. Have stayed in pj bottoms and a sports bra and a face pack. Looked after plants. Read my book. Nice music in background. I'm going now to have a shower in the bathroom I cleaned yesterday which smells like eucalyptus and then meet a friend for dinner and a play. I'll probably make a gin and tonic before I go.

When you open the fridge the last cold sausage will still be there waiting for you, not just the empty, forlorn greasy plate.

You can decorate your house how you like without having to compromise. You can go out whenever you want. No stressing about splitting chores and everything being equal. You can have friends round every evening. It's bliss for me.

Not worrying about my stuff being deemed as clutter - I can now have books on a bookshelf 😊
No walking on eggshells, no wondering what mood I'll be walking into
Controlling what I eat - not having to have potatoes with bloody everything
Not sharing my bed, can watch TV to fall asleep to
If I want to put a job off (yes currently looking at a pile of laundry to be put away) I can put it off

Ah it's bliss

It’s honestly the absolute BEST!

• going to bed early and waking up early
• getting a good night’s sleep every night not having to share my king size bed
• exercising every day
• cooking healthy meals and managing my food intake better
• not drinking in the flat therefore massively reducing my alcohol intake
• the flat is tidier
• I don’t need to listen to another person’s Teams calls when I’m WFH
• no golf paraphernalia cluttering the flat

Congratulations on your new-found freedom OP.

No longer dreading hearing the key in the front door would be wonderful for me.

Every.
Thing.
😆

Oh and congratulations @Lupin61 for finally being free x

You know what I did yesterday, lay in bed till 11am watching shite on my phone and drinking tea - then I cleaned my bedroom top to bottom (threw out 2 bags of tat and have a huge charity bag waiting to go), draws, wardrobe etc - I had a delivery of a new jewellery stand and sorted all my bits out (nothing at all fancy!) and then admired how nice it looked - washed my bedding and went to bed (slightly tipsy post Eurovision) in my lovely, clean, happy solo bedroom - a day well spent!

No one shat on it, sighed about me doing it, moaned about the bags of stuff, criticised how much stuff I had, demanded we not watch Eurovision or got up at 7am and then huffed around slamming doors because I was being lazy!

The list is long! I've been joyfully single for 15+ years since I split with Exh - financially abusive, cheating and an angry man.

I sleep alone in a big bed with no snoring
My home is decorated how I like it - with furniture I chose
I watch what I want when I want
I have pride in being self sufficient (something I always was but lost sight of in the marriage)
I have the time and mental space to care for myself
I eat what I like when I feel like it.
I don't have to pick up after another adult (well except my kids)
I can do 'man' stuff - decorate, garden etc - again things I could do but was never allowed ot.
I have driven all over Europe - again never allowed to when married
I have many cats!
I have my own friends who can come here without me treading on eggshells
I go out when I like, wearing what I like as late as I like
Holidays alone -bliss!
No constant daily criticism, put downs or comments
I value my job - I work and I like it - he hated it and constantly badgered me to give up.

I wouldn't change it for the world