Things you will / won't do alone

[AlwaysBloodyWorrying]

I do alone:
Eat out
Shop
Cinema - although I've only done this once and it was last minute (Prima Facie)
Drink alcohol
Travel / holidays

I won't do alone:
Eat out IN a candlelit type restaurant
Bars / clubs
Theme parks
Festivals

Wouldn’t want to, see them all as social events.

I'd most things alone. I like my own company. Travelling for work gets you used to eating alone.

We invited BIL to tag on to a bit of holiday once in Rome but he wouldn't as he would have had a day on his own at the end and "people would be looking at him" doing things on his own! He's single and misses out on so much because he won't do stuff alone.

Happy to do alone:
long weekends away
birdwatching
visiting gardens/museums/galleries
cinema
theatre
watch a match
cafe
restaurant
shopping
pub
travel on public transport

Not happy to do alone:
Longer than 4 days. I miss people

I hate even walking into pubs and restaurants to meet friends on my own, let alone actually staying in them on my own. I’m 56 years old and I really have no idea why. I usually try and persuade someone to meet me at xx spot outside and then we can walk in together. Baffling.

Fine with cafes, cinemas, theatre, galleries or whatever.

I went ( alone of course) to watch a dance performance at Sadler's Wells the other day, and in front of me was a huge 6"2 chap telling the woman he was with that he was 'scared' to eat alone. I really wanted to ask why.

Would you not do any of those just for the fun of doing them tho? So if an actor you loved was in a movie that looked great but no one was free? Or you were away with work and needed to eat etc?

No I wouldn’t I don’t really like films so rarely go to the cinema anyway and I would get a takeaway if I was alone.

The things I wouldn't do alone are things I really do for other people really - theme parks are the main one as though I enjoy them as part of seeing the kids enjoy them and getting swept along in it, I wouldn't get much out of it without the right people, and certainly not enough fun to justify the cost.

I guess a candlelight restaurant is the same - why would you go alone unless it's literally the only way to eat in the area you're stuck in that day?

If people won't eat out alone I wonder what they do when they need to travel alone - just live on snack foods?

I'd do everything on both your lists alone apart from a nightclub (and it really depends on the bar; hotel bar or old style pub with a book to read yes, waiting for friends in any bar, yes, busy town bar Friday night just on my own, no).

Cinema and theatre yes, any restaurant yes, holidays yes, zoo yes, museums yes, shopping yes, although I hate shopping in general I prefer to do it alone when it's necessary.

I haven't done a festival on my own but I have been to a concert. I went to Disneyland on my own and it was brilliant; rinsed all the single rider queues and saved myself loads of time :)

Interested to hear from those who won't do much alone, why not?

I can't think of a single thing I wouldn't do alone. I am always surrounded by people and so being by myself is my dream.

I've had to do lots of solo things for work anyway so am completely hardened and not bothered by what strangers might think.

Also can't think of anything. Wierd thought process. I mean there is not much you can't do alone.

I've done practically everything mentioned here on my own.

I wouldn't do theme parks or festivals even in a group though, they're just not my thing so I haven't done them alone at all.

Comedy shows aren't quite as good alone as being with someone but I've still done that a few times. Music gigs I actually prefer being alone as I can squeeze between people to get to the front a lot easier when I'm alone.

I love going to restaurants, cafes and pubs by myself and do it pretty regularly as a treat to myself. With DH, two teenagers (one with autism) and two dogs at home it's lovely for me to get some time to myself when I can as I never have any time alone at home now.

The only little issue I have is if I need to use the toilet as I wouldn't want to leave food or drinks at my table as they're likely to be removed, and unless you have a coat to leave at a table you risk someone assuming you've left and taking the table, so I just have to make sure I go before I sit down or when I'm about to leave.

Wouldnt swim in the ocean or go deep sea diving alone.

Interested to hear from those who won't do much alone, why not?
One of my friends think it’s sad to do anything on your own, for example when my DC went to Cyprus this this year she was like poor so and so, even though he had a great time. She prefers to do thing in a massive family group and would prefer not to have a holiday than leave the partner of one of her adult DC our because they can’t get annual leave at the same time.

I think my other friend get anxious , she’ll go shopping but that’s about it. She’s not keen on a lot of the activities on the list even with someone else. She says she is but then would cancel or not commit to doing any of them.

I agree with others - wild swimming (altho sea swimming on holiday I’d do alone), bowling, rock climbing outdoors or a club are prob the only things I wouldn’t want to do alone.

Other things I wouldn’t enjoy because I’m pretty socialable but would do if I needed to.

Do semi/regularly - drink, shop, gym/classes, travel, walks, general exploring, sit for a coffee etc

Have done and would do again if needed - cinema, theatre, eat out

Haven't done yet but am considering- gigs, festival (but ones that have a dedicated solo group e.g camp wildfire, probably wouldn't rock up to Glastonbury on my own!)

Wouldn't do -bars/clubs, theme park

The things I wouldn't do or have done but don't do regularly are just more because I'm either not bothered about doing them at all, or the main enjoyment I get from them is the company aspect - e.g. I'm not a great foodie so usually only go to restaurants to meet up with people. If it's just for feeding myself I'd be just as happy saving the time and money and getting a sandwich or takeaway if I wanted something to eat rather than going to a restaurant, however have done it on a number of occasions when needed. Same with cinema -I used to work in one so have no problem at all going alone but I'd rather just wait until its released online.

Things I prefer to do alone:
All forms of shopping
All forms of exercise (the dog can come on walks)
Sitting in cafes (pref with a paper)
My hobby (too outing to say what, it's niche)
Spa / pampering type activities

Things I'm happy to do alone, but would prefer to do with someone I like:
Cinema
Restaurants / Eating out
Travel
Most days out (primarily because I tend to stick to family activities so would be odd not to take the kids...)

Things I never do alone because i wouldn't want to (would be fine doing it alone if i did want to though):
Theatre
Pub

Alone: most things
Not alone: go down the basement

I wouldn’t eat out, go to cinema, theme park, festival, restaurant, bar or theatre alone. I have never really thought about why, it’s definitely not that I can’t, or that I mind my own company, it just seems wasteful of time and opportunity to do something with someone. I am a bit socially awkward and find an activity/clearly defined activity/expectations much easier. I’d never wonder why someone went alone.

I wouldn’t drink alcohol alone, I’d find that weird and pointless.

I would swim in sea, run in the dark, walk off beaten track, travel to unknown town/city or country alone. I would prefer to go to a gallery alone - I think this is probably the awkward “are they still looking at that” can we move onto next thing, do we have to find some commonality in our reaction to the art etc etc would ruin it.

Have done the following alone, very happily:

Holiday in Greek islands
Camping
Cinema and Theatre
Walking in various mountain and wilderness settings (Lakes / S Downs / Greek gorges / N American national parks)
Eat out
Gigs
Drive long distances

Most of these I also do with family and friends. There are only a tiny number of people I would go to an exhibition with.

Can I ask why people are reluctant to go to the cinema alone?

There's not much I like to do alone, my anxiety makes it tricky. Grocery shopping alone is fine, other sorts of shopping I'd rather have company if possible. Don't think I've ever eaten out alone or even gone for a coffee alone actually- although I think just coffee would be okay.

I can’t bear going clothes shopping with anyone else.

There is no difference between what I do along and in company.

Eg Don't do theme parks regardless

Love restaurants, take either a companion or a book. I'm pretty equally happy with either.

Life works do.much.better like this.

Go in the loft , after the time the step ladder fell over and I had to wait until DH got back. I was at the point of trying to figure out what I could use to wee in !

Would have been interested to read responses had the original question been modified with '...but you would if you had someone with you'. Because a lot of things people are mentioning I wouldn't do anyway.

I go on holidays abroad, to cinema, concerts, days out, sporting events etc on my own. I'll happily sit in or outside a pub if I'm out and about during the day, but I wouldn't specifically go for an evening out at a pub on my own; that's something I would do with a pal.