Do you need "away time" from your partner?

[greenleaveseverywhere]

As in... do you crave time where they go away and you have the house to yourself?

I do .. and wondering if it's normal or a sign that we aren't a strong couple?

He VERY rarely goes away or even goes out with his friends/ to hobbies etc which makes it harder I think.

Keen to know your thoughts.

Yes, we both need our own space. Married 34 years now. Last week he was away with friends doing a hobby, while I enjoyed the peace and quiet at home.

We are best pals and love one another’s company, but we both also value alone time! We always eat dinner together after work and then take the dog out, then do our own thing for a bit before bed. If we have the same day off, we usually do something together.

Absolutely, I need it. I think everyone should be able to be content with spending some time on their own.

I'd love that, I dream of living alone 😂They should teach it in schools not to shack up with men - they're usually the main beneficiaries!

I wouldn't say I crave time away from him, but he works away a lot and I believe our relationship is stronger for it. It's really healthy to have the opportunity to miss someone I think, makes you appreciate them more, and it's good for my own personal development to have some independence (especially as we've been together from a young age).

Yes, absolutely. It's "not normal", IMO, to be together 24/7.
I used to get lots of alone time because of his job. Now he is retired, we have to make more of an effort to get the space. But we have separate hobbies and we also have (some) holidays separately.
I think it's healthy, and the main reason why we've managed to survive 30+ years of marriage.
I also know that whichever one of us dies first, the surviving spouse will be more than able to cope alone, which is very reassuring.

I’m currently on a train taking myself away for a couple of nights while DW stayed at home. We both enjoy time on our own and ensure we each get it. Completely normal.

Yes, absolutely.

I love it when DP's away. I really love the sense of "freedom" I have for a few days. That might not be the right word - DP's not controlling in any way, shape or form. But I just love the sense of endless, flexible time stretching in front of me as I wave him off down the road. It's ridiculous really because I don't actually do much different from when he's home and I don't have endless, flexible free time what with work, life and the dog. But it feels like it.

DP went away in March and is next away in November. It feels like a bloody long seven months.

Yes. As you, OP, my DH rarely goes anywhere (he WFH) and when he does I'm normally home with the pre-teen. I get some alone time weekend mornings, and get REALLY grumpy when either child or DH wakes up early and takes that precious hour or two away from me.

It's very healthy to have away time.

Fortunately both DP and myself are the types who need plenty of 'alone time' and so there are no issues. I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with that.

So op if your partner doesn't then why don't you? If that's what you crave? I mean you will get a break from him when you are both at work as well.

I think this is normal - DH and I are very happy and will go to the supermarket or any errand run together just because we prefer to do it together, we love spending time together, but we still like alone time. He's out 2 nights a week with his hobby and I love those evenings because I like my own space sometimes too, I think this is fine! It's normal to want some time completely alone, and if you're never getting that then I can imagine craving it.

Haha, yes this - DH goes away with work sometimes and I always get giddy at the sense of freedom and then do exactly what I would do anyway if he was here :)

I’ve found I really enjoy some time on my own. When my DH goes to see his DM, I don’t always go as I feel the benefit of him not being here for a couple of days. We’re both retired so around each other a lot so a bit of time away from each other is good for us both, it’s the same when I go to see my DM, I prefer to go on my own for the same reasons.

Yes. We both have time away without each other. We both have different interests so makes sense.

Absolutely. Especially since the pandemic when we both started working from home all the time.

I think it’s normal but I don’t feel like this but then we are both out of the house at work/commuting 50 hours a week and he works the Saturday too so I would never want to give up our hour in the evening or Sunday

Yes very much. I personally think it's healthy. The thought of being together 24/7 makes me feel stressed! I am an introvert though so I need my space.

Yup, we both do.

It’s the main reason we choose to keep our own homes. We cohabit probably 2/3 of our time, the other 1/3 we don’t.
I’ll never give that up. Ever.

Get on well. Enjoy his company. Love love love the house to myself x

No.
We are each other’s favourite company.
We do everything,except work, together.
I can’t imagine a world where I would want to go away without him or be at home overnight without him.
We’ve been together 24 years and have two young adult children for context.

Omg this would actually be my dream... but harder with children x

Yes I love it when dh goes out for the night or on weekend trips.

That’s my perfect relationship. I can’t imagine a worse hell now than living with someone else full time