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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think I can’t be the only one who fantasises about this scenario?

235 replies

DidYaMeanChapsWilly · 26/12/2022 22:34

You wake up one morning and everyone has disappeared. You’re completely alone - you have the whole country to yourself.

Everyone else will come back eventually but for a few weeks, it’s just you.

You can do whatever you want with no consequence. Tear-arse down the M1 at 100mph, have a wander around Buckingham palace … what would you do?

And tell me I’m not the only one who has this daydream?

YABU - it’s just you
YANBU - I have this fantasy too!

OP posts:
HowVeryLikeSibella · 26/12/2022 23:32

It's basically a supersized version of the "locked in IKEA/John Lewis/Harrods overnight" daydream. Loads of "cosy catastrophe" novels have a more enjoyable element of "how would you cope if you were alone with access to all the material goods left behind, but no people or utilities". There was a great MN thread a while ago.

namechange5575 · 26/12/2022 23:32

Oh and re the negative and immoral - you think the fantasy is negative and immoral, not OP: and you appear to be judging OP as unethical for having a thought that** you consider to be immoral. Despite OP not having committed any dubious actions. Hence you seem to be having thought-action fusion here.

WandaWonder · 26/12/2022 23:34

I am too lazy to do much but I have always wanted to be locked in a shopping centre with free access to books shops, cafes etc.

AutumnScream · 26/12/2022 23:34

I have had this fantasy! A week of no other people and providing no cctv to record what i get up to i would go to all the art galleries at night, maybe sneak onto a military base and drive a tank, commandeer an ambulance/fire engine for a bit, i would definitely have a nose around Buckingham palace, would run down the street naked just because i could. There would be so much to do i dont even know what i would start with.

Harrysutton · 26/12/2022 23:35

This thread has taken a bizarre turn. OP I love the fantasy. Amazed that some people are trying to psychoanalyse you. They’re the ones that are unnerving me, not you.

Kalasbyxor · 26/12/2022 23:37

I would l o v e it!
In my scenario, however, I will not be inconvenienced by non-operational powerstations: everything is as normal (so I can cook, use hot water, pick up refrigerated goods from the supermarket etc) aaand doors to houses, buildings and vehicles are quite magically left unlocked. Just no other people. Bliss.

DahliaMacNamara · 26/12/2022 23:37

Some seriously overwrought responses on this thread. Spoiler alert: it ain't gonna happen. And even if it did, everyone gets to come back.

Thanks for the idea, OP, but my version would have to involve all utilities and access to playback TV/box sets as a minimum. I'm not equipped for survival adventures. I totally get that I'd have to wait for everyone else to come back to carry on with Coronation Street.

TheGuv1982 · 26/12/2022 23:37

DidYaMeanChapsWilly · 26/12/2022 22:34

You wake up one morning and everyone has disappeared. You’re completely alone - you have the whole country to yourself.

Everyone else will come back eventually but for a few weeks, it’s just you.

You can do whatever you want with no consequence. Tear-arse down the M1 at 100mph, have a wander around Buckingham palace … what would you do?

And tell me I’m not the only one who has this daydream?

YABU - it’s just you
YANBU - I have this fantasy too!

I do sometimes when I’m walking the dog. What would it be like if it was just me and her left? Horrific I would imagine.

Original poster
DidYaMeanChapsWilly · 26/12/2022 23:38

Harrysutton · 26/12/2022 23:35

This thread has taken a bizarre turn. OP I love the fantasy. Amazed that some people are trying to psychoanalyse you. They’re the ones that are unnerving me, not you.

And then they wonder I fantasise about people disappearing for a bit 😂

What I find unnerving is that I never suggested anyone being killed, yet their minds automatically jumped to that 👀

I’m going to assume they have their reasons for being so sensitive about it. Enjoying reading everyone’s plans 😄

OP posts:
stairgates · 26/12/2022 23:40

How about if wild or outdoor grazing animals were still about as the grass will still grow and anyone's pets that they want can stay as they eat tinned food

MerlinsButler · 26/12/2022 23:41

MadameSzyszkoBohusz · 26/12/2022 23:18

I'm breaking into Liberty's and Selfridges and helping myself to lovely clothes and shoes.

See someone else getting in the spirit of the OP.

Definitely this.

And also the British Museum. In the basement I bet they have amazing stuff down there.

Serialcatmum · 26/12/2022 23:41

illiterato · 26/12/2022 23:13

Yeah I think about this but terminally- like what if there was a virus that wiped out humanity and I was the only one left because I was flukily immune. What would I do? I mean obviously it’s not gonna happen but sometimes it’s just interesting to think about this stuff. It doesn’t mean I actively want everyone to die.

I have this nightmare. I wouldn’t even last a day!!! Oh god j hope I’m not going to dream about this tonight!!!

SuckItNietzsche · 26/12/2022 23:42

Harrysutton · 26/12/2022 23:35

This thread has taken a bizarre turn. OP I love the fantasy. Amazed that some people are trying to psychoanalyse you. They’re the ones that are unnerving me, not you.

Yes, I think it's quite odd to be unable to distinguish between "fantasy" meaning "desire" and "fantasy" meaning "imagining what would happen in XYZ situation". To go straight to "You want everyone dead, you psychopath!" Weird.

On the subject, I'm quite self-contained, but I would hate it. I'd be scared and overwhelmed. And honestly, I'm a worrier, so I'd probably spend the whole time praying something didn't go wrong with my teeth while there were no dentists around. I have a real thing about teeth. It's like the worst health horror for me. I watched Castaway the other day, when Tom Hanks gets, well, cast away with a niggling tooth he'd been meaning to go to the dentist for.... 😨

MerlinsButler · 26/12/2022 23:42

DidYaMeanChapsWilly · 26/12/2022 23:25

Well @BloodAndFire you’ve certainly added a spin to the thread I wasn’t expecting 😂 cheered me up no end!

Im going to add you in to my scenario, now you’re stuck with me for a few weeks … get your seatbelt on! 😂

That's just mean and sociopathic OP! Wink

NooNooHead1981 · 26/12/2022 23:44

Crikey, the Christmas booze has made some posters give over-the-top and far too serious responses... lighten up! It's just a bloody light hearted fantasy and a way to have a bit of a play around with interesting scenarios that might occur in this (totally not happening) situation.

I'm not sure I'd love it totally as it is pretty scary if there were no medical professionals on hand, but I would relish the chance to have lots of time, free resources, and good food for myself, absolutely no children to worry about for a few weeks, and all the Netflix, booze and chocolates on tap... sounds good to me 🤣

MerlinsButler · 26/12/2022 23:45

And it would be great fun. Common theme of us nosey lot snooping on the intelligence / police files 😀. Might do a bit of creative editing.

So snooping and shopping for me. Test drive an Aston Martin. Make sure I don't crash.

Only issue would be if pets / zoo animals etc were still here. I'd spend all my time worrying about feeding them. So we need them to disappear for two weeks too. Otherwise I won't have time to do the fun stuff.

Soakitup37 · 26/12/2022 23:46

This is the thing about adults and fantasy, they are too literal and logical. What if I’m injured. What about Charging my phone etc….

we sadly lose the child within. I think aboht this and a million other fantasies which are just limitless by my own enjoyment of what I want to happen!

as an adult I’d relish free booze and not paying for stuff. Maybe Nick a £££ or 2, nothing too outlandish, just enough to be happy when “life” started again, I’d go and look around Bucky pally, steal and drive the best car I could find and see if I could get a cinema screening up and running for my own pleasure! Might lion round some celeb pads and nose round no.10… I’m sure there’s more…. (am an extrovert)

(Just waiting for someone to say that it would be dangerous /illegal to do any of this 🫣😂 it’s a fantasy as my dreams so get a grip)

OnSecondThoughts · 26/12/2022 23:47

Now and then when I'm on the bus I look at rows of old houses and wonder what's in their attics, and fantasize about being the only person around (everyone else has fled the city due to a dinosaur on the loose), and so I can just rummage around in attics looking for rare crockery or records!

Theseboobsweremadeforwalking · 26/12/2022 23:47

Yes except mine is more Bernard's watch and everything keeps working.
I'd speed all the way to the ritz, stay there, go running at night and be safe. Stay in the most expensive spas, go to fancy book shops and read.

showmethegin · 26/12/2022 23:48

That's the most ridiculous derail I've ever read. Who's going to explains the concept of "films" and "books" to @BloodAndFire 😂

Love the previous suggestion of rifling through the secret files at MI5!

Can I use the computers at the travel agent and use a super special made up code to pay for and book me and my family and friends luxury holidays for the next 10 years?

XenoBitch · 26/12/2022 23:48

OnSecondThoughts · 26/12/2022 23:47

Now and then when I'm on the bus I look at rows of old houses and wonder what's in their attics, and fantasize about being the only person around (everyone else has fled the city due to a dinosaur on the loose), and so I can just rummage around in attics looking for rare crockery or records!

There are a few spooky looking houses near me that have a window in the attic, and I make up stories about some relative the occupants are keeping trapped up there.... for their protection... or ours? 😉

mattyprice4004 · 26/12/2022 23:50

BloodAndFire · 26/12/2022 22:55

Op has posted that she fantasises about eradicating all human life except herself, and you think that i should get a grip? OK then.

Show quote history

Yes, you should. It’s not fantasising, it’s just a dream.
They're not about to steal Putin’s nuke codes and hide in a bunker, blimey.

Too much Christmas spirit perhaps?

ThanosSnap · 26/12/2022 23:50

I'd like to combine the bath crawl with the mi5/gov/mi6 files. Lovely bath in a mansion reading all the secrets!

steppemum · 26/12/2022 23:51

I haven't read everything, but I totally get the premis.

I am not even interested in all the things I could do, like driving down the motorway at 100 miles and hour.

I would just like everyone to go away for one week.
Leave me on my own at home for one week.
Time needs to sort of stop too, so at the end ofthe week life resumes where you left it and ou don't have to catch up with everything that you have missed.

Calm, peace and no-one else for a week. Just one week.
Especially my dearly beloved dh and kids.
Everyone.
I will sleep and read and generally have head space.

Obviously you would need to know that it was only for a week, and obviously the important things like the power etc would need to still work.

And the dog can go too, but the cat can stay.

I am an extrovert. But one with a busy life and 3 teens and just want to not be responsible for anything for one week

XenoBitch · 26/12/2022 23:51

ThanosSnap · 26/12/2022 23:50

I'd like to combine the bath crawl with the mi5/gov/mi6 files. Lovely bath in a mansion reading all the secrets!

Leave a few files in some bathrooms. Will cause chaos when everyone is back.