I’ve been single to all intents and purposes for almost 18 years now.
I’m housebound due to ill health at the moment (not covid related and I say “at the moment” but it’s been nearly 4 years)
So currently I:
Watch and listen to what I want when I want - currently enjoying the west wing and eat well for less and my quiz shows I like, they give the brain a workout, but also sometimes ill sing along to the radio or even put on a favourite movie to singalong to
Eat and drink what I want when I want - love this. I eat when I’m hungry, I get to buy and eat exactly what I want more or less (have to resist the urge to live on twiglets, ice cream and rum & coke! 😂)
Chat on the phone or on messaging apps with friends and family. Mainly my dd who is away studying, I get more out of her in one conversation these days than I did for the whole of the years of her aged 15-17!! 😂😂 And if I don’t answer straight away she’s like “where are you?!!!!”)
Read - anything and everything! From the usual novels to biographies, news articles, even textbooks on subjects I’m interested in - loads available on kindle often very cheaply and sometimes free.
Play on my phone - anything from simple mindless stuff like solitaire to quite tough quizzes and puzzles. Also long storyline sim type games. Used to be one “brand” now onto another for a change.
Mn’ing - of course! Love mn.
Cooking and baking - less so in the winter as I feel less inclined then generally speaking but I still make a batch of soup each week for the week, need to try some new recipes really I tend to just do a carrot based “back of the fridge” job to use up ageing veggies. Always tastes good though and it’s not the same veggies every week so there is some variation. Usually end up batch cooking some kind of casserole too which is then frozen and used as leftovers when I cba cooking from scratch but want something filling and nutritious. Occasionally knock up a batch of fairy cakes or a sponge cake of some kind. The dishes after take longer than the baking and I tend to defer to the following day.
Crafts and creativity - this time of year is good for starting to make Christmas gifts if that’s your thing. I’m thinking of learning to knit properly, I know the basics. I also cross stitch, draw (badly! Purely for my own pleasure), and do calligraphy.
Chores - there’s always something needs doing, from the basics to reorganising to whole renovations.
When I’m not housebound and covid not an issue I also:
Sing in choirs - I’ve been singing since I was very young and been in choirs most of my life, church and school initially and then later other community based ones. I’m not a lead singer but I’m fine in a chorus. I can read music and follow direction.
Exercise - I used to be a runner but I can’t do that any more. I am physically disabled so I’m limited what I can do now. I mainly swim and walk (on good days) and I used to go to an over 60’s yoga class (I got permission as I wouldn’t cope with a more intense one and I checked with the participants, it’s a small group locally and they’re lovely)
Go to cinema/theatre/museums/lectures - quite happy to go on my own, this is more common than I think people realise. Let’s me enjoy whatever it is in peace, though I’ll invite someone else if i think it’s of interest to them. Very few people tend to be interested in 3 hour lectures on semiotics funnily enough 😂 I love them! Your local colleges and unis usually have free lectures on in the evenings you’ll probably find and the breadth of subjects can be great. I did take drag my mum along to one on the history of musicals. She left school at 14 and was thinking that
1 it would be dry and boring
2 she wouldn’t understand it especially any “in jokes”
Well she understood a lot more than me as she’s watched so many! And she was pleasantly surprised to find it quite entertaining as well as informative. Next time I asked her along to one I thought she’d like she jumped at the chance!
Occasionally I feel lonely, but that’s been true even when I was in relationships! The loneliest I felt ever was when I was married! He was army so obviously when he was deployed especially after dd was born and when she was still tiny I felt quite trapped and I didn’t know anyone well at that base. But even when he was home he’d be playing video games or watching a sports match and I’d feel disconnected and ignored at times.
You can feel lonely in a crowded room, and be alone at home and not feel lonely at all.
I’m 48, with multiple health issues inc mh I honestly don’t see me being in another relationship long term. I might date a bit if I get much more well than I am now but tbh I like my singledom and have for a long time. Even when dd was little and I was limited what I could do of an evening I did stuff during the day while she was in childcare if I wasn’t working or studying, I even had the odd lunch break date (gives you a great get out if it’s not going well!)
I don’t think I’m suited to living with others. Even pets would irritate me though I’ve had them in the past. Might get another dog in the future though it’d need to be an older/less lively one as I’m not up to a young energetic wee thing
As for the occasional shag with a live in partner well that’s what vibrators are for! Generally more reliable than a man in many ways too! 