To ask if you’ve lived alone did you struggle

Your post made me think. You have a sister and a partner. That makes a big difference. When I lived on my own I had no one. No siblings. Barely any extended family. One very distant parent. No partner. I truly was alone in the world.
Yes, I had friends but at that time most were married or partnered up / still had children at home and were not available at the weekends. They wanted to meet up during the week, which I did, but I couldn’t enjoy that as much as I was working a very stressful job with long hours and an early start. My work role meant I was pretty isolated at work too due. Then come the weekend I’d be rattling around on my own. Bank holiday weekends were the worst.
I really think your family set up, relationship status and job make a big difference. Now I love living alone, have a partner, friends who are also living alone, a more sociable job and a cosy little house.

I lived alone for a couple of years and really enjoyed it. I was in a different life stage back then where I’d be out with mates every weekend, so with that and working I never really felt lonely.

I think I’d be ok now, I don’t go out as much but I like my own company and when my partner is away for the weekend I enjoy the alone time. I’ve always been really independent. I think whether you cope depends on your personality. Sometimes I wish I lived alone again, I’m not great at compromising and would love to decorate exactly how I want to. Only eat the dinners I want and my house would be tidy all the time.

Struggle with what?
Money? Routines? Loneliness? DIY? Feeling safe? Boredom?

I enjoyed living alone in my 20’s and could do it again if needed. However, I’m much more content now with a partner. I like having someone to share daily life with & I like the physical closeness.

Loved it. Had endless evenings to myself in the week, washed up my tiny amount of dishes and laundry with ease, and was always busy Fri-Sunday.

My husband worked away a lot in our early years of cohabiting, and I find I miss a bit of the free time I had.

I lived alone for most of my 30s. Some of the happiest years of my life

I sometimes struggle with some complex diy. Or catching a mouse. But then I have friends who step in to help. Friends who do not sleep with me ever.

You really have to like yourself and your own company to be comfortable about sole living I think. It also depends on the type of person you are, whether you rely on or crave company, or don't.

Take me for example. I'm late sixties now and have lived on my own since I was late twenties. I bought my own house when it was not easy for a single woman and I thought I had won the lottery. I am still in that house now because that first purchase was perfect for me, and still is, although it's much "grander" by now!

I'm not a recluse but I'm not a "joiner" of things either. I'd say I have built a life for myself that doesn't require much from others. I have family and friends that I can call upon at a minute's notice to help out in emergencies or whatever. My sister and I go away a lot also, although she has a family and grandkids I don't. Friends peel off as you get older, or they get sick and die, but I have a few constants around still for cultural things, coffee, walks and so on. I've known them since university days.

I also have a partner for over 30 years now. He lives in the country an hour away, and I'm in the city. It's a perfect combination for us. We share the attributes of each others lives, go out places during the week, and have mutually agreed trips abroad/away. But we would never live together in the same house. We both like our lives just the way they are!

So really, it's horses for courses isn't it?

No. I live with my 7 year old, so not entirely alone, but no adult is ever here except for me.
I won't live with anyone again, I like things my own way.

This makes complete sense.

A lot of MNers talk about ‘my little family’ and not needing to have friends other than their DHs. People who live alone need to actively build communities & friendships so are more likely to know & socialise with a variety of people.

That is very interesting.
have a great day - gotta run!
wish you the best

But living alone doesn’t mean isolation. When I lived alone I was at my most social. I made sure I never had two evenings in a row at home by myself. I had so many plans, was in different groups and activities, had many active friendships, I volunteered, I did so much.

Now i’m in the house with my DH and kids almost every evening. I maybe see other people one day a week.

i’m way more ideologically isolated - in the way you describe - now in a house surrounded by people

I absolutely loved it. I miss it and think about it at least once every few days.

i lived alone when I was 21/22 and again from 24 to 29.

I have lived with my now DH since then and we now have 2 kids (I’m in my forties). There are things I like a lot about this life stage, but I truly miss my peace and sense of calm that I felt when closing the door of my own little flat behind me.

Sometimes I fantasise about the retirement flat I might have alone later in life (DH is older so the chance of me being single later on is fairly high)

Typo - *which is healthy

Sorry my point was more - the more we intersect with others the more our views are challenged with his healthy and necessary to grow as individuals. Isolation can often perpetuate self reinforcing and frequently limiting world view & entrenched opinions.

BTW nothing wrong with aging per se and I love all the things you do! :-)
Just let’s keep in communion and flexible mindsets by being with diverse company & mindsets.

I never have times when I want to see more people.

Im an introvert and love living alone.

I didn't feel I got to control exactly how many people I saw and when. There were times when I wanted to see more people, but there wasn't anyone there.

I love living alone as an introvert because I get to control exactly how many people I see and when. I can always have the alone time I need to recharge.

I'm an introvert, and I really didn't like it. I actually wonder if introverts are worse suited to living alone, because I think for living alone to be enjoyable, you have to be going out regularly, seeing friends and doing activities. Looking back, I think I did it all wrong and didn't really have the skills for it: if I was doing it again now I would be much more proactive about joining evening and weekend clubs and classes.

I've got to say, I'm always surprised so many people on MN are so positive about it, but clearly it does work for many people!

I loved living alone in a bedsit from age 19-20. Then lived with a boyfriend, husband and our children, then divorced and just the growing/grown-up children, until the youngest moved out when she was 28.

Now it’s just me with the dogs and cats and I love it, there is nothing on this earth that would persuade me to share my home again and if any of the AC wanted to move back (they won’t), I’d leave.

I live alone and love it, I’m single at the moment but I don’t see myself living with a partner again. However, I’m in a city with lots of local amenities and friends nearby, I think it would be very lonely if I were remote. The times I’ve felt unhappy were when I was very sick one night, not being able to put up a curtain pole on my own, when the bathroom light made a weird honking noise, and not able to unzip a dress. The benefits far outweigh the negatives here.

@Legally77777 are you going to come back and reply to some of the questions ?

Context is everything. For me it’s joy. For him it’s the opposite.

I have been living alone for more than 10 years now, I absolutely love it it's bliss.

I never feel alone, I have a rich social life and a little dog, I just don't like sharing my space with someone else.