DH away for a week. Dismayed by how little I miss him.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder and all that. We can all do with a break from the things we love most! It gives perspective but also allows us to indulge ourselves. It doesn’t mean you don’t love him anymore. Enjoy it!

I totally understand where you are coming from OP. But as other people have said, you know that he is coming back.
I raised my son alone and I remember the sheer loneliness of it all.
Now that he is grown, I have a relationship but it really irritates me when he stays at mine and routine seems to be dominated by his needs.
That is why I live separately but if it had been a LT relationship (ie since my son was a baby), I wouldn't have that option.
My point is you can't have it both ways and your feelings are normal

We spend time apart, not on a regular basis but a few times a year and like you I don't necessarily miss my DH as I hope he'll come home safely.

I do value the time alone though, and a bit like you if a sandwich is all I want for dinner then so be it.

It's only DH and myself at home now and there's never really much to see to.
DH has planned a trip away in a few weeks time, only a long weekend but I can honesty say I'm already looking forward to a few days on my own, I've even told family and friends I'm unavailable for that weekend as I want to have the whole time to myself, doing as little or as much as I choose.

I've lived alone before and absolutely loved it.

In fact, we're relocating, and it will mean DH needs to stay away one night a week, and I'm really looking forward to it!

I holiday alone occasionally too.

It's healthy to enjoy your own company now and then. And very satisfying to have control of everything in your environment.

I literally use the same plate for every single meal when I'm alone, it gets washed 3x a day :D

Same! My DH is an Airline pilot and is away from home frequently, I see it as my opportunity not to cook, I just have tea and toast in front of the TV (what I want to watch hehe)

Lost mine 8 months ago, would give anything to have him back (and I thoroughly enjoyed my week of him playing golf abroad every year).

OP, we've lived together for 24 years and are close and loving — and I too love it when my partner is away and I can have a break from factoring her preferences and schedule into everything. We're not very routine, but it's bliss having only myself to consider.

It's lovely having no expectations to fulfil. I'm a good cook and do most of the cooking. We eat well, but on my own I love being able to eat the things I like but my partner doesn't, or pick bits from the fridge. The idea from a PP that doing this for a few days is not valuing yourself by undertaking the labour of making an exquisite little healthy mean just makes me want to headbutt that PP, frankly.

Now we're retired and around each other much of the time, I'm working on ways to make more space for myself. We get along well but sometimes I prefer to do stuff on my own. I've taken up a couple of hobbies that get me away for a week a couple of times a year and recently I went to visit a cousin who lives 300 miles away. I booked a holiday cottage for three nights and met my cousin for a lovely long lunch. The rest of the time I thoroughly enjoyed some solitary time walking and exploring the area and doing what I wanted when I felt like it. I think I will be visiting that cousin, and various other relatives and old friends, annually. Three days away on my own each month, doing what I feel like in the moment, would suit me nicely. Enjoy your alone time without guilt, OP.

We've had this argument, I've finally convinced him because he's moaning that he needs to lose weight that he doesn't need a meat and three vegetables every night. An egg on toast, cheese, biscuits and fruit is fine for supper. My appetite has shrunk with age we really don't need all the calories, especially when he also has a sweet tooth

Not when you've been doing it for half a century. I'd love a week off.

DH already WFH 4 days a week and I am absolutely dreading retirement. I am going to increase my solo travel. When I retire too, I am going to go away for a month at a time.

I can identify with this. My DH has recently retired and I'm finding it tough to adapt. He constantly asks if I'm Ok and do I want a cup of tea. Follows me around the house and asks what I'm doing. Asks ten times a day what we are having for our evening meal.
He also has memory issues following a stroke, so I have to constantly check what he's doing and keep him right.
I do love him and appreciate that it's so hard when you lose your partner, but adapting to them being around 24/7 is hard.
I do go out to things in the community and he occasionally goes fishing, which is my happy time.

A pilot light! Yes, perfectly put.

What @Bleachedlevis said.

Perfect response

Sounds very normal - its surprisingly relaxing not having to negotiate with someone else all day and having the space to yourself, even if you love them.

My personal break is catsitting for my sister. Alone in her house with 2 cats and a netflix sub was great actually :) Obv nice to get back to home and OH also.

I always joke with my family that if I lived on my own, I’d be happy with a nice piece of cheese for my tea. OP’s pasta and homemade sauce sounds far too complicated.

I also enjoy the time DH is away can eat what I fancy, regain the TV remote and get on with what I want to do but only because I know it is only for a few days and he will be returning. Would be a lot different if he was gone for good

To be honest when my husband is away I really miss him, I struggle to sleep and normally have his worn shirt in my bed (gross I know). It makes me sad to be without him and he always takes my shirt when he goes away. Maybe we are saps though. I like my alone time but I don’t like more than a day away and I don’t really sleep well without him.

God I love it when DH goes away, particularly if he takes the kids with him!!

Having some alone time is really, really healthy. Not having to think about anyone else’s needs or wants is so refreshing.

I think I’d find it more weird if after so many years together, you were pining for him to come home after only 1 week away.

why can’t she just do pasta and sauce occasionally for her DH instead of feeling the need to cook a full meal. You say he won't eat it? Fine, he would probably love the chance to cook what he likes rather than the years of your meal planning.
If a man said to me 'when are we going shopping' I'd run screaming from the house. I would run towards the shops clasping my DH's hand! I love shopping and only manage to get him to join me a couple of times a year. He will sometimes come for a coffee though. We are all different, but looking like hang faced zombies and not fresh faced beauty's might just be the way we present- sorry for that...
The older generation are like this. If my Mum is going out for dinner, she'll make my Dad's dinner first. This isn't a generational thing imo. My FIL took over must of the cooking once he retired, enjoying baking as well as day to day meals. He had never tried any sort of food prep in the proceeding 60 years and MIL just assumed it was her role and he didn't want to upset her.
I admit to loving an occasional hotel stay without DH, mostly because he has to have the air-con set to freezing and I enjoy living in a sauna-like environment. I also know very sad I would be to not have DH to share my life with.

I love life on my own. When I was married, I worried that I wouldn't cope on my own. Now I know that I prefer my own space and that many things, including outings and holidays, are easier and mostly more enjoyable for me when I only have to please myself. Yes, there are some downsides but I'm willing to put up with them for the sheer joy of having my own peaceful sanctuary and not always having to take someone else into account.