Do You / Could You Live Alone?

[mikesride]

OK.. Divorced and currently have a live in girlfriend. She is gone on a getaway with her friends at this moment.(she also has a 10yr old son that lives here at my house every 2nd week...good enough kid but no major bonding moment has happened with the two of us yet)

My problem is that I am really enjoying this time alone, and it has me thinking.

Single guys...do you think your life is better on your own? I worry about financial freedom if I end up splitting my household income in half. Do you think your "coupled" friends have it easier financially than you or vice versa?

Am I just selfish and miss the time I have right now to play with all my toys and hang out with my buddys. This week I even started to jam again with a cool group of guys....and even had enough balls to provide the lead vocals! (Garage Star!!)

Married or "coupled" guys...how is your life better because of your situation. Do you sometimes have moments yourself like I am having?

Man.... I don't know what to think

[Jim Richards]

My wife travels periodically for work. I have a little business travel from time to time. When one of us is gone, I always feel something is missing. She's (almost) always a lot of fun to be around.

[dennis in se pa]

I am married but like being alone. I go on vacations by myself. "Alone in the Wilderness" is one of my favorite movies.
What do I do? Read, walk, watch movies, think, cruise the net.

[GH85Carrera]

I married later in life (age 37) so I was single for a long time. It has it's advantages in that you can decorate the house like a man.

The disadvantage is you have to pay for EVERYTHING. It was tough for me with just my income to pay for a mortgage, insurance & all the other bills. I thought about renting out a room of my house several times but never did. Dating is expensive!

It took me many years but I finally found the perfect match for me. I dated a lot of crazy chicks before I found Miss right.

[ramonesfreak]

i lived with someone for 8 years. it was great and when it ended i thought my life was over

but ive lived alone for the past 10 years. i much prefer it. it took a long time to realize i am happier being alone. but, i dont get bored or lonely because i have alot of interests and hobbies

financially, its put me at a huge disadvantage and set me back many years. oh well

i remember back when i lived with someone, every weekend morning was the same damn question...."honey, what do you want to do today?".....and every night "honey, what do you want to do for dinner?"..... i never realized how much i hated those questions until i was alone.

now im free to drink beer for breakfast and eat pancakes for dinner every night of the week if i choose. :-)

[recycled sixtie]

Being married to the wrong person you can be lonely. Being single can be lonely. I like the companionship of a good woman which I have. However some people are happier by themselves, it depends on the individual. Breaking up is hard to do and I did it with my first wife and had no children by her fortunately.

[ramonesfreak]

oh, i see you "jam" with your buddies.

the guitar is the major thing that has always saved me from feeling alone or empty. what ever you play, dive into it and enjoy yourself.

i also love fishing and like to do what i do for as long as i want to do it. when someone else tries to limit me somehow, i start to resent them and secretly i start hating them......

i think some of us eventually realize we are just better off alone because it allows us to be closer to 100% true to ourselves which to me, is much more important than sacrificing or compromising all the time.

at the end of my 8 year term of living with a GF, i literally felt like i didnt know who the hell i was anymore

good luck

[ronster]

Been single and living alone for 25 years and wouldn't have it any other way. After living with a woman and then several women I don't miss the female perspective on life on bit. The only time I think about having a woman around is when I travel and if there was a rent a woman business I'd just rent one for the trip.

[72doug2,2S]

Everyman needs a maid.

[Rot 911]

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

My wife travels periodically for work. I have a little business travel from time to time. When one of us is gone, I always feel something is missing. She's (almost) always a lot of fun to be around.

Jim I feel the same way. My wife also understands that we don't always have to be doing something together. I don't need "permission" to go on a motorcycle trip or go have a beer with a friend. But I do give her the courtesy of letting her know. She understands that some things I like to do with my guy friends and doesn't get jealous about it.

[jhynesrockmtn]

I was married for a long time, then single. Lived with a few girlfriends and the most recent one moved in. I almost married a trust fund babe but realized I would never have enough alone time or my own life with her. She was very controlling so I bailed.

Here's the thing for me. Independence in the relationship. Not to screw around but to have your own life. Every monday is my no girls allowed happy hour night. I race vintage cars and chumpcar. Go on motorcycle trips with my son and friends. She has her own life as well. My current gf has friends and family she is close to, a serious art hobby bordering on career, etc.

The current gf moved in a few months ago and sometimes I miss the arrangement we had previously where it was 3-4 nights per week but so far this has been better and she is amazing and values her time alone as well.

[oldE]

Originally Posted by mikesride

Am I just selfish and miss the time I have right now to play with all my toys and hang out with my buddys. This week I even started to jam again with a cool group of guys....and even had enough balls to provide the lead vocals! (Garage Star!!)

I gotta tell you if your relationship doesn't have room for your activities and buddies and her activities and buddies, you both need to make room.

My wife has her 'horsey' circle of friends and she does yoga one night /week. I jam with a group 1/week and do one or two gigs/month. Sometimes she comes to my gigs, sometimes I go with her to socialize with the equestrian crowd. That works for us because our interests overlap, but there are things we both like to do that the other isn't 'in to'.

Every couple finds their own equilibrium.....or not.

Best
Les

[Tobra]

I could easily live alone. Probably would end up with too many cars though.

Is that an oxymoron? "Too many cars"

[rattlsnak]

Originally Posted by recycled sixtie

Being married to the wrong person you can be lonely. Being single can be lonely.

yep, walked into the house last night at 10:00pm after being gone for 7 days, and as im quietly unpacking my suitcase in the dark, by light of my cell phone, my wife who is laying in bed, but is watching tv, and the FIRST words spoken are her yelling at me to be quiet because she is trying to watch her favorite show.. Yeah, its good to be home..

[Rot 911]

Originally Posted by rattlsnak

yep, walked into the house last night at 10:00pm after being gone for 7 days, and as im quietly unpacking my suitcase in the dark, by light of my cell phone, my wife who is laying in bed, but is watching tv, and the FIRST words spoken are her yelling at me to be quiet because she is trying to watch her favorite show.. Yeah, its good to be home..

You need to get out of that relationship.

[VINMAN]

Yep. Id be happy with one of these... as long as I have a 3 car garage behind it...

[car 311]

i have lived alone for 6+ years and could never go back. have had a couple live in girlfriends over the past 20 years and don't see myself going back that route. once you do it for a while it'll be hard to go back. i have my habits now and like my alone time, maybe too much some might say. i can cook, pay for a cleaning lady, and have alot of car time...

[Zeke]

I always tell myself I could live alone in a small space.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by VINMAN

Yep. Id be happy with one of these... as long as I have a 3 car garage behind it...

That's me all the way. I'd live in an airstream inside a warehouse and I think I'd be in heaven. It's my secret goal.

[pwd72s]

I was born married...feels like that anyway. Can't imagine life any other way after 37 years.