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Original poster

Do you, or have you ever lived alone?

256 replies

velvet24 · 19/01/2022 20:12

I have not, home, uni, then home briefty and moved in with then bf now dh. I sometimes think how I would have liked to have my own apartment at some point and lived by myself, not get settled down at 21. Now it probably wont happen of course, just one of those things....i watch these dramas and feel a tiny ping of envy seeing someone going back to their own apartment, pouring their wine and just doing what they like! Of course wouldn't change my house of teens and pets and comings and goings but the thought of my 20's in my own apartment, would have been nice......

OP posts:
BrightYellowDaffodil · 19/01/2022 22:03

It's not for everyone but I love it. There have been a few times when I wished someone was there - mostly around the time of bereavements - but if someone was there I may well have wished them away.

Covid lockdowns were hard (and the effect on people living alone was just one more bit of collateral damage that was treated like it didn't matter) but I'd still not change it.

Ginflinger · 19/01/2022 22:05

Yes, for 2 years in my 20s in a very isolated place. One of the best times of my life.

H1Drangea · 19/01/2022 22:06

I bought my own flat when I was 27
Married DH at 33 , we didn’t live together before we married ( holidays and staying over , but not living together )
I liked having my own space

GrandTheftWalrus · 19/01/2022 22:11

I went from parents house to living with exdh. Near to the end of our marriage I used to fantasise about living in a flat or house by myself.

I then lived alone for a year before now dh moved in.

I loved living alone and I look forward to when dh is nights over the weekend and my parents have the kids lol.

However I do now love living with someone who actually likes me and our wonderful children.

SmellsLikeTeenageBoys · 19/01/2022 22:12

I did. I loved it. I haven’t had time to relax on my own at home since pre-covid. I am losing my mind.

SilkLabrador · 19/01/2022 22:12

Yes! I miss my own space and the fact that without a dog/husband/children it stayed so clean and tidy!

CoverYourselfInChocolateGlory · 19/01/2022 22:13

I did for about five years in my 20s. Sometimes it was totally brilliant and I loved my little flat, but I also found it hard to keep tidy, was definitely lonely and sometimes felt unsafe.

Loved that I could choose all my own furniture and decorations, watch whatever the hell I wanted on TV, have parties and invite over whoever I liked.

But then there were also miserable lonely Sundays when I sat surrounded by chaos and just wanted to cry. Grin

Mummywantsaweewee · 19/01/2022 22:13

Lived alone for a few years in early twenties, always wanted to live alone before cohabiting or marriage. Feels good to know I did everything on my own once. I know how to fix things, manage bills, enjoy my own company. Now I obviously love living with a family but I have nice memories of getting home to my lovely flat after work and doing my own thing Smile

Lucia23 · 19/01/2022 22:14

I've lived alone for 2 years after years of living with other people. For the most part, I love it and think I'll find it hard to give up in future.

PersonCareHotline · 19/01/2022 22:15

Yes, a few times. The first time I did it I loved it. But on subsequent occasions I found that I would be busier and busier with things outside the home in my spare time.

groovergirl · 19/01/2022 22:16

Ambivert here, and I fondly remember my lone decade, 23-33, in a neat little flat in a neighbourhood full of dance and music clubs, cafes, parks, bicycle trails and fashion boutiques. I had privacy and company in equal measure, and locked up, left and travelled when I wanted to.
Unfortunately, being married (to someone who hated music, dancing and female freedom in general) didn't suit me at all, so now I live with my teenage DD and we dance whenever we like.

SmellyWellyWoo · 19/01/2022 22:18

I was a single parent for a long time so lived without another adult but not completely alone. It was very restrictive and I spent many nights alone. I could do it again if I had to.

FlamingoQueen · 19/01/2022 22:22

I’ve never lived on my own, but crave it! Even the little tiny houses that appear on Instagram. Not forever, but just for a few weeks (years).

PrettyBluebells · 19/01/2022 22:23

When I hit home from uni I bought my own house and lived alone for 7 years (an ex briefly lived with me in that time). Was great.

Redland12 · 19/01/2022 22:30

Been living on my own now for 2 years. It’s absolute heaven Best thing ever. I have a huge social circle so it’s never lonely or boring. Putting that key in the door and everything as you left it is perfect. Total freedom.

MsAgnesDiPesto · 19/01/2022 22:31

Yes! I moved to London to start my career after I graduated, and lived on my own in my lovely flat for five years. There’s no way anyone in my position would be able to afford that now, but it was 30 years ago and I’m so grateful I had the opportunity. I loved every second of it - having my own space, knowing I was supporting myself, and able to live exactly as a chose.

I recommend to all young women of my acquaintance that they should live alone for a while too - I see so many of them bounce from living with one partner to the next, and never find the joy of being self reliant and independent, and are then lost when a relationship breaks down.

I still need my space, despite having lived with DH for over 20 years now. I’m a home worker and have found it hard to adjust to him being home all the time, as he now WFH permanently too. But we are getting used to it!

user1497787065 · 19/01/2022 22:32

I loved it. Loved going to bed early and no one complaining if I was up early. In very much a morning person so some days would go to bed at 8 and get up at 4. Loved it.

D0lphine · 19/01/2022 22:35

Loved it until the pandemic!

housemaus · 19/01/2022 22:35

I did for a year. I really enjoyed living alone - I like being by myself anyway. I think it's the first time I properly felt like "an adult" - before that I'd lived in house shares, so it didn't feel quite as independent.

Scarby9 · 19/01/2022 22:36

I've lived alone for 38 years.
I love visiting people, having visitors or going on holiday with others. But a week or 10 days at most is enough.
I love having my own space in which to do my own thing when I want, how I want.

D0lphine · 19/01/2022 22:37

I've also travelled alone. So freeing. Never be afraid to be alone it's truly wonderful. Sets you up to be the best partner.

DENMAN03 · 19/01/2022 22:37

I live alone now and have done for nearly 10 years. I love being able to do my own thing. I have a very good social life however, so don't get lonely, although the lockdowns were tough. Downsides are that every thing falls to me re chores / repairs.

MeanderingGently · 19/01/2022 22:38

I live alone and have done for many years. I totally love it and while I have many close friends, I will never live with anyone ever again.

The loneliest years of my life were the later years of my marriage; I have never felt lonely living alone.

Starseeking · 19/01/2022 22:50

I lived alone for 5 years when I bought my first flat at 25. I loved it; I refurbished the whole place by myself, and it was always so cleans and tidy...All. The. Time.

I now have 2DC and we're about to move into our own home following a relationship breakdown. I'm looking forward to it, given we've lived with family for 7 months and really need our own space now.

Sharrowgirl · 19/01/2022 22:53

I have never lived alone. I can’t imagine what it would be like.