I like being alone . I’m not lonely at all. I have family, friends, kids and younger years were surrounded by the masses… whether at work or home , so now its my own good company. I realized a while back that 30’s and 40’s were more social times, 50’s started to change a bit and not in early 60’s am as happy as a clam in my own company. When I need people around me, I seek them out…. but I have learned that solitude is not lonliness. The most lonely I ever felt was when someone was right beside me in bed. I do as I please at this point. Not unhappy, quite the contrary, happy as a clam.

I love to have alone time. The only problem with it is deciding which project to do or book to read. But, now that my daughter and her two children and my mom are living with me, alone time is just a fantasy. However, I have discovered that if I go out and clean the garage everyone is more than happy to leave me alone.

Have always been a loner by nature and as an only child learned at an early age how to entertain myself. When single I could, and often did, go for days without talking to a soul and be quite content. No longer single for many years, I still need time alone, but have learned to love the comfort of having someone you love just “be” there.

I don’t mind being alone when my husband travels. It affords me uninterrupted time with my multitude of projects (drawing, yard work, scrapbooking, ect). The hubby likes it too; he gets a reprieve from my “endless honey-do’s”! The extra bonus…it makes more space in our queen-size bed for me, our two cats, our dog and let’s not forget the two “grand-kittens”. Yes, I said “grand-kittens”. Our adult son is back home for a while and with him came his pets. He’s busy with his work and friends so much of the time, we rarely see him. “Grandma’s bed” is “grand central”!

A few days gives me back myself. Too often, running and rushing,living life according to the demands of the datebook. I sometimes forget I am in charge of what goes in there. A few days here and there of solitude help me remember that no one can live my life fully, happily, and as well as me. And it doesn’t hurt to be able to take a me time to pamper without interruptions either.

I love,, love, love it. Up until recently my husband traveled one week out of every four. I love having the house and all the time to myself. I read in bed all night if I want to, don’t cook, watch what I want to watch on TV, rent the movies I want to see. I feel most like my authentic self when I am alone and not trying to please, or avoid disagreements with others. Now that he is home all the time and constantly dreaming up things for us to do because he never had any interests besides work I feel my space has been totally invaded.

I work at home all day, and I love the productivity that it gives me. (It does not offer freedom if you are serious about what you are doing.) The biggest drawback is that my circle of friends over the years has diminished very badly because I don’t generally go out in the evening and I don’t drink. Otherwise, it’s great, but I like my own company.

This semester, my husband and I have such diverse schedules that we seldom see each other except on weekends and late at night. However, I love the occasional solitude, and I love having lunch with my friends. Being good company for yourself is just as important as being good company for others! I love to be around people, and he’s quite the loner. I was raised in a houseful of siblings and he was an only child - and don’t think THAT didn’t require some de-programming when we got married! That’s a whole ‘nuther topic, though. When I’m alone in the house, I crank the music - MY music - up really loud, and I read and surf the net and write ahead for my clients and I get some serious essay-grading done. I can’t work in silence and my husband LOVES the silence. “Peace and quiet” are not my friends. The many hours of solitude we’ve both had this semester have suited us well. There’s always the weekend and the late-night antics for the “togetherness” thing. :) Then again, is anyone with three cats ever really alone?

I couldn’t be happier with this topic, as I’ve been worrying lately that I’m some freak of nature because I love my alone time so much. I was not like this when I was younger, I couldn’t wait to live with my husband then. Since my divorce 10 years ago though, I have had NO desire to live with anyone. At first I had my son, but now I’m alone and honestly don’t want to change that. Most of the time I don’t even want to be in a relationship! When I do find myself in one, I long for more time alone again. I have wonderful friends who I can call or visit anytime I want to, and I love eating what I want, when I want, and having no one to have to consult! It has been so helpful to hear other women feel this way too. I find that most people think it’s weird!

I was the wild only child of two quiet parents who were astonished at what they had produced. I was forever dragging other little kids home after school and asking my mother if they could become my “brother” or “sister” so I guess being an “only” was not my preference. Compensated by having lots of children, half of whom are adopted, all of whom are greatly loved. Now they have kids and I’m flattered that they like to “hang out” with me; I’ve learned a whole new vernacular from them which amuses them greatly. Except when my family was young, I’ve had great, long stretches of alone time and it’s very comfortable. I spend hours drawing, painting, making collages- pursuits that really require the mental space that being alone brings. I read all the time, sitting outside on my deck on sunny mornings and warm, summer evenings, and I paint outside, too. Various of my children have “dropped in” for a few months, and, while it’s delightful while they’re here, it’s sweet when they leave because I regain my space, my freedom to sing at the top of my lungs or to wander around the house naked, my sense of owning my little world. I think I’m a kind of a woodland creature at heart…love running into other animals in the forest, but I’m happy just being in my surroundings on my own, too.