As a single woman, what sort of things do you take yourself out to do that your friends usually do with their DH/DP?

[BellaJoob]

I feel I'm missing out being long term single. Am also a single parent, but have some free time to myself.

More often than not, friends are tied up with their DH/DP or simply not interested in the same things as I am. Currently trying to extend my social group.

This. I'm doing exactly this. Today. Before Storm Isha hits.

I did ask a friend if she wanted to join me but she's just got back to me saying her and DH are going looking for wallpaper. I felt oddly relieved.

I'd go looking for wallpaper on my own too

I think I feel more self-conscious doing things solo when I'm feeling a bit lonely and unloved. Other than that I really don't notice/don't care.

Not single but have done many a thing by myself as DH worked overseas for many years. Cinema and theatre I can’t see why anyone would have an issue with this also a sit down music concert. Everyone is in a seat looking forward. I have also been to many art galleries alone. Also don’t mind eating in a cafe alone though I draw the line at a very formal restaurant.

I do everything but then I'm in my fifties, so dont really care what other people think of me.

I think it's so important to be brave and just go out and BE a lone woman so that other younger (and older women for that matter) see that it's perfectly acceptable to be a woman, out and about on your own.

The more of us that do it, the better and easier it'll be for the rest.

Holiday. I've been on many weekends abroad by myself. Love it.

To be fair I have a lot of single/childfree friends to spend time with though, and my friends who have partners also do things with me sometimes. I don't know anybody who only does things with their partner.

@Beezknees My friends with partners also do do things with me sometimes, though never seem to go it alone. Most of my friends are not into all the same things as me, either. A girly spa day is not for me, neither is an afternoon tea, or going on a group outing for a gig/activity that I have no interest in.

I do think that it's probably best that to try look at establishing friendships with men and social groups, based on shared hobbies and interests.

I'm interloping here as I'm in a relationship but I live alone and my partner doesn't like eating in restaurants (he's not very interested in food and he's a vegan anyway).

Therefore I often go out to eat alone in restaurants that specialise in meat dishes, and I listen to a podcast for company.

Cinema: he's a massive fan of Ken Loach and I thought Thor Ragnarok was the best film I'd seen in five years, so we often go to cinemas alone too.

We both do things on our own quite frequently. I like to do things on a whim and if he's already doing something or he's not keen I'll just go alone. Exhibitions, concerts, the usual stuff.

Pleased to come across other non conforming females.

I’m married but do the following things regularly on my own.

Go out and eat.
Theatre
Cinema
shopping/coffee out
Go on holidays
Spa days

I do some of these activities with my friends but I really do enjoy them on my own and my friends are lovely but not very adventurous or keen to try new activities.

I also do these activities with my DH.

Can you explain why you wouldn’t? Just don’t fancy it?

I wanted to the pub alone to watch the
footy today, but didn't. My family and wider society would have looked on it badly. Maybe I'm trans or one of those other genders we don't talk about.

Because I would feel awkward / odd going to those places alone, I wanted to watch someone at the cinema once but no one wanted to come so I didn’t go, the thought of going alone to me seems depressing amongst friends and couples, would rather wait till I can watch it at home. As for restaurants definitely not something I would ever consider.

PkI thin’ that’s sad @WinterSnowFox
You should feel free to do whatever you want to do. I enjoy both alone. It’s nice to do things with friends/significant others, but it shouldn’t feel awkward to do those things alone sometimes.

Eh? What’s gender (or sex) got to do with it?
And what do you mean ‘we don’t talk about’?

I don’t mind what people think I would still never do it.

You said you would feel awkward because these things are usually done wit( partners/friends. That does seem to be about what other people think. I just think it’s a shame you can’t do things you want to do, and don’t seem to be able to say why either.

Can you expand on this ?

My family and wider society would have looked on it badly.

Obviously I can't speak for your family, but why do you think 'wider society' would look badly on it ?

Maybe I'm trans or one of those other genders we don't talk about.

I don't understand what you are saying.

I mean I’m just not going to change it, yes I would also worry about looking like I’ve been stood up (in a restaurant)

@NewName24 Are you male or female? How do you present? I can guarantee you've never been out alone in the general public. The general prices do not accept women watching footy in the pub.
2nd question: it's not okay to be born female, look female, but behave like a male. Or I something you've never encountered/another gender?! Sorry for not showing femininity/masculinity as you understand it.

What do you mean ‘behave like a male’? Because liking football and pints isn’t it.
Edit: how can you possibly imagine that the poster you are replying to has never been out alone? That’s weird.

Sure. Report back to me tomorrow when you do anything that's even remotely unacceptable for a female to do alone in the UK. We live in a patriarchal society. If you interests don't break put of that mould, I guess you'll never know.

I just do whatever I fancy doing. Sometimes with a friend or on my own. Never even think about whether other people are things with their partners. So I go to the gym, dinner or lunch out, walks, theatre, comedians, ferry the kids around, watch TV, holiday etc. Normal regular stuff!

Gym, hikes, galleries, theatre, cinema, talks, lunches and coffees, classes, weekends away. I don't tend to go out for dinner on my own but everything else is fair game.

I'm sometimes fine on my own, but other times, I do notice that I'm the only person on my own, especially when there's lots of couples, and it can make me feel a bit sad, so it's not about other peoples judgements. It's about my feelings. I think it does feel different when you're on your own a lot of the time and going out on your own is your normal existence versus having a partner who is at home at least some of the time and you do get to do things with at other times.

I think it does feel different when you're on your own a lot of the time and going out on your own is your normal existence versus having a partner who is at home at least some of the time and you do get to do things with at other times.

I agree with this, I went on holiday on my own last year and a couple of times I thought I wonder if anyone has noticed I’m on my own, but I never felt awkward because I was enjoying the novelty and luxury of having time to myself knowing on my next holiday I’d be travelling with my DH.

Massive assumption (wrong) that I don’t already…
Edit: what do you mean by ‘unacceptable’? A few arseholes might be a bit judgey from time to time but why would you listen to them? Yes, the patriarchy exists. No, you do t have to listen to it in terms of your own choices.