The Top Five Good Things about Living Alone

I’ve lived alone before but haven’t for quite a few years. While it’s been an adjustment, and one I wasn’t quite ready for, I’m doing pretty well. Still sad at times, a little morose (remember the Irish Catholic roots) but ready to see life anew at 57 (if only my skin and body would begin anew too).

So in a tip of the hat to David Letterman, here are my Top Five Good Things about Living Alone. (Sorry Dave, I just couldn’t come up with 10, but I’m sure as time goes on I will.)

5. The bathroom. This is pretty much a given. No messes that aren’t mine, only cleaning my hair out of the tub and sink and no lingering reminders of someone else – you get my drift. Even when we had two bathrooms, it’s still that privacy issue. I’m digging my own bathroom time. (that sounds kind of weird. . .)

4.  Alone time. I can go to sleep when I want and not hear a TV. I can read as late as I want and not disturb anyone with my light. I can go all day without talking to anyone if I want. I can walk around naked all day if I want (sorry for the visual but it’s true. I don’t though. I’m afraid someone will come to the door and then faint). I don’t have to be nice if I don’t want. I enjoy quiet until I don’t. I’m learning to love this again.

3.  Cooking. I’ve always loved to cook. I enjoy trying new recipes, making up ones and cooking for friends. I’ve wanted to get back to vegetarianism. I was a vegetarian 35 years or so ago (I believe I was two at the time – or 2ish. . . I think there might have been a zero after it) and quit because it was too hard. Now so many recipes, foods to try and the freedom to not worry about cooking for someone else is awesome. I’m having fun spending a few hours in the kitchen trying four or five new recipes. I’ve started canning again. I’m tasting new things and having a blast. And I feel good about not eating anything with a face (yes, it’s my animal rights issue that is driving this). I’m losing weight too. It’s all good man.

2.  I control the remote. I will never ever ever have to watch Judge Judy again. I can watch a marathon of House Hunters, followed by five different crime shows. I won’t have to compromise. I know that sounds selfish but I’ve had to endure Judge Judy for years. She doesn’t compromise. I guess it rubbed off on me.

1.  I can do whatever the hell I want when I want to. I can dance, I can sing, I can talk to the animals (not quite like Dr. Doolittle but they listen well) I can talk to myself (this is getting to be a bad habit). I will sit for a few hours reading a book, followed by a frenzied cleaning rush at midnight. I can eat ice cream for dinner without judgement. I can cry when I want, laugh hysterically at my own jokes (told you the talking to myself was getting bad) or just be still. I can just be me.

I’m not trying to say living with someone sucks. It can be wonderful and has been. But living on my own again is making me get to know myself better and practice gratitude much more. I’m lonely at times. I’m not going to lie. But it’s easier to be lonely when you’re alone than lonely in a relationship. That really sucks.

So you’ll have to excuse me. I’m going to put my black leggings on with the glow-in-the-dark cats pattern and dance in the bathroom in the dark. Tomorrow is Halloween you know. And Reuben and the kitties think I’m pretty darn funny when I do whatever the hell I want to do.