Night alone. What would you do. What would you eat?

[NoEscapingMe]

Just that really. DP is working away and I have the place to myself. I'm thinking a nice long bath, something really lazy to eat (probably a ready made lasagne) and lots of chocolate. Not very exciting but I'm tired today. Just wondering what others do or would do with a whole night to themselves?

I adore me time l. I must be a psycho introvert too at least part-time. There's nothing better than being alone. Has to be healthy. I feel so relaxed. Processed so many thoughts

I end up screwing him all night. Tonight is my R&R

🤣🤣

I don't live with a partner, but I have a house full of kids, and it is only possible to have a massive long bath and watch crap on TV uninterrupted on the very, very rare occasion they are all away.

I agree with @Healingsfall — Mn seems to fall disproportionately into two categories, one where a spouse being away overnight involves a virtual nervous breakdown, anxiety and fears of ghosts and/or burglars, and has other posters, perfectly seriously, advising the solo poster pull all the curtains at 5 pm, go upstairs immediately after dinner, leave all the lights on, and the tv, and have the children, if any, sleep in her room for company OR women who only seem to be able to eat what they want, watch what they want, or take baths, if their partner is away.

A thread bring ‘lighthearted’ doesn’t take away the underlying premise, which seems to be that you can’t do what you want if your partner is at home.

Kids is different though, they are dependent on you. A fully grown man (or woman) isn't and you aren't expected to be looking after them whilst you enjoy a long bath or eat chocolate watching TV.

Absolute bollocks.

I'm like the OP. I do very much as I please whenever I bloody well want. I still enjoy nights completely alone as well.

It’s not ‘absolute bollocks’. Both types of thread come up all the time. The premise of the ones like the OP’s is definitely not ‘I do exactly what I want on evenings DP is at home’. If it were, why would a solo evening warrant particular foods, tv watching etc?

bath with a bottle of wine, macaroni cheese and chocolate in bed with netflix

I agree. I can understand dinner, because people are likely to cook one meal for both rather than separate, so having a treat to yourself such as a takeaway or ready meal would be something to look forward to. TV, I guess if you only had 1 TV with no access to it via a tablet or phone that either of you could watch your crap tv on then you'd probably watch something you both enjoy together.

But the replies on here that people say they'd do if their dp was away such as long hot baths, eating chocolate, having wine, going to bed early (to sleep or to just watch netflix), going to a spa, working on a hobby or craft etc, don't suggest these things are done whilst their dp is there which to me is bizarre.

Sounds fantastic although I'd have to bathe after ribs. There's no way I can eat those without it ending up all over my face.

I appreciate I'm late to the party and this was last night, but for future reference -

A bubbly bath and fresh PJs followed by baked Camembert with stuff to dip in it and a large glass of red (preferably French to go with the Camembert). Then some easy watch TV (and maybe another glass of red or two). Finally, an early night sprawled right in the centre of the bed .

Obviously I do all of this when DH is here too, but then I have to share the Camembert, the wine and the bed!

I genuinely do what I want when he's here. But if there's chocolate for example I do share. I didn't share last night. And eating. We decide what we fancy and the vast majority of the time he cooks it. He enjoys cooking I don't so only cook if he's getting back late from the office. If he's watching something I don't like I take myself off and do something I want. Or snuggle in bed watching netflix. There was no way I was cooking a meal just for me last night so I bought in. And incidentally, I ended up chatting to my DM for hours which I think would be rude if he were here and had been at work all day.

It wouldn't be rude talking to your DM for hours with him there! If you only saw him a few nights a week and chose to talk on the phone for hours when you were supposed to be enjoying an evening together then fair enough. In your case you live together but that doesn't mean you have to be with each other every evening and having a long phone call certainly isn't rude (unless it was most evenings). Whilst you're on the call he would probably enjoy doing something for him such as a nice bath, a TV show only he likes etc.

This is my kind of night! Plus the new seasons of SLC and NY are available so could be a Real Housewives marathon 😀

I think most people do broadly what they want when they're with their DP.

The joy of having a night alone is that you can do EXACTLY what you want, without having to consider the needs of anyone else.

So in my case, I'd get a Dominos. Usually me and DP would get a pizza each and a couple of sides to share. With DP not there, I don't have to consider her choices, I can get whatever the hell I want.

I can chuck my music on throughout the house and not have to worry if it's too loud for DP in the other room.

I can move all the furniture and stick my VR headset on and not have to care about whether DP wants to use the living room.

I can start a film at midnight and not have to think that it might wake DP and DD if the explosions are too loud.

Most people never live alone. From family to housemates to partners and kids. Living with someone involves lots of little compromises every day, so having a night alone can feel like a treat, even if you don't actually do anything different to a normal night.

Smoked salmon and cream pasta, white wine, Pride and Prejudice (BBC version)

I love the odd night on my own! Dh is veggie - although he's perfectly happy to make his own meals if the rest of us are having meat, if I'm the one cooking I do try to consider him and which elements of the meal will be suitable.

I would have a posh ready meal which would be too pricey for all of us, hence the treat element. Plus chocolate and probably ice cream. Watch country house based stuff on telly and read my magazines. Bliss!

I agree, there's something about a night on your own - he wouldn't dream of stopping me doing any of this if he was around, but complete selfishness and silence is heaven tbh. Although I also enjoy the odd (infrequent) night dd is with her father hugely, whether dh is around or not!

I find it quite hard to eat a meal at night if I'm alone. I'd probably eat earlier in the day then just break out the wine, crisps and haribo!
I'd probably watch some horrible true crime doc. Then realise I'm going to have nightmares.
I also like eating cheese just before bed sometimes so that won't help!

Do people cease to exist when their partner is away?

Lazy tea

Bath

Catch up on trashy shows on Netflix which I know DP won't like, I.e Emily in Paris

Well as that is me every night now that youngest has gone to uni, I just eat whatever I fancy! Last night it was a tasty microwave pasta with sausage meat ragú, garlic bread and salad. Watched Dark and then Bake Off with DD watching it in her room at uni. Tonight - hmmm, I have some roasting veggies but think I need to get some sausages or meat to have with, so probably microwave chicken korma!
I'll get back to cooking soon - plan on making my delicious pumpkin soup tomorrow. My DD hates the smell of it but I don't have to worry about that!

Apparently yes, otherwise these kind of threads wouldn't exist because it would just be another evening if they could do exactly as they pleased.

Ok. I'll rephrase it. He's my most favourite human to spend time with and I won't deprived myself.

Even favourite humans need interests/time outside of each other. Doesn't mean you like/love each other less, it's just a healthy dynamic. I'd allocate an evening for example to speak to my dm on the phone without thinking it was rude to my dp, because surely he would realise I have other interests/people outside of him as a priority too without him thinking I love him any less.