In mid-June, I will be totally alone for the first time in my LIFE.

[Bouncy Ball]

For seven days, my husband and daughter will be visiting his parents on the east coast.

I will be here. The school year will be out.

I realized the other day I've never been alone for any significant period of time. Maybe 48 hours at the most.

I lived with my family, then went to college to live with anywhere from one to three roommates at a time. Usually there was a small gathering in our living room any time of the day or night. People around all the time.

I got married my senior year in college. Had a baby two years after that.

I've never lived alone. Hardly ever BEEN alone. It's a rare bathroom visit in my house when I'm not having a conversation with one of the two people I live with (though mostly through a door).

What the HELL am I going to do with myself? Seriously, I have no idea HOW to be alone for an extended period of time. It sounds like heaven, but what do I do? And if I start talking to myself a lot, will I quit after they come back?

I have the opportunity to take a road trip with one of my close friends. But I'm trying to decide if maybe I should take a road trip by myself. Yes? No? Stay at home and knit and turn up the music really loud and stop wearing clothes for several days?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. Come to California

[Bouncy Ball]

3. Ha! I wish! I can just see me calling the east coast for bail money!

By road trip, I should have clarified, I meant "in state." I don't have too much time.

And I don't know, but I'm thinking if I don't take this chance to be truly alone for a week, I'll kick myself when they come back. Wonder if it gets boring? Lonely?


(Though California would be nice. What part? Northern?)

[davidinalameda]

2. do you have cats

if not, get some

[Bouncy Ball]

4. I have one cat and one dog, why?

[davidinalameda]

17. then you'll never be alone

it's going to be you and the pooper scooper

[Marnieworld]

5. Enjoy the adventure

Stay home. I love being alone. Go ahead, talk to yourself, walk around naked, scratch anywhere and fart like a trumpet! Read a book, make some personal phone calls where privacy is not a concern. Sing and dance. Flip channels endlessly and no one will care. Explore yourself mentally and meditate. Breathe deeply. Cry deeply if you need to. Get to know you and you'll always be with a friend.

Peace!

[northzax]

6. leave the back door unlocked

I'm coming over...

[Bouncy Ball]

9. LOL

Good luck making it past the amazing ankle ripping up dog.

[DBoon]

7. I vote for the loud music

Listen to music that would really annoy your other half.

Get some new music and check it out.

Go over your collection and see if there is something you haven't listened to in a while

[Bouncy Ball]

8. Ok the music is definitely on my list now.

That just sounds too scrummy to pass up.

Meditation, too. Last time I tried to really meditate I found myself yelling, "MOMMY'S TRYING TO GET SOME SERENITY HERE!!!!" And, well, that's just not conducive to meditation.

[tigereye]

10. ah an enviable position

I remember going on a conference trip with a coworker who had 2 kids. It was rare for her to have any time to herself. She was delighted to lie on her bed in the hotel room and read. At the time I could not understand why she didn't want to go somewhere. (I was in my mid 20s at the time) Now I do. :)

[MissB]

11. I only get 5 days

And I know how I'll be spending mine. I'll be painting my house, or my kitchen cabinets, or tiling my entryway floor, or tiling my kitchen floor, or stripping paint from the staircase, or sewing comforter covers for my kids' room, or sewing curtains for the guest bedroom.

You get the idea.

Somewhere in there will be a girls night out. Cocktails, cheesy romantic movie, late dinner.

I don't want to *go* anywhere. It will just take time out of all the bazillions of projects that I have to do. I have to stay busy as hell, otherwise I will just worry too much.

Have fun, if you can. One of these days, I'd love to just stroll along the waterfront, or go window shopping. But I can't yet. Too much to do around here.

[Modem Butterfly]

12. My partner used to be a traveling consultant

He would leave home on Sunday afternoons and come back Thursday or, sometimes, Friday night. Occasionally, if work was really hairy or he was sick or something he wouldn't come home at all. It was difficult at first, but I adjusted quickly. I got used to keeping the remote all to myself, watching and eating whatever I wanted whenever I wanted, coming and going whenever I pleased (he freaked out when he found out I liked to take our Chow to a local cafe for some al fresco dining when the weather was nice), and generally living like a bachelorette again. I missed him, but now that he's home all the time, I miss that life a little, too. For one thing, the toilet seat was always down, for another, everything in my kitchen was place at a perfect height for someone who's 5'5".

So enjoy yourself, live like you want to live for a few days. You'll be surprised how easy and appealing it is.

[fudge stripe cookays]

13. Lucky you!

Before I got married, I was used to being completely alone (my brother was up and out by the time I hit my first year of junior high). I spent a good portion of high school alone, and almost always lived alone, without roommates.

I got so sick of my mom micromanaging me when I was younger that being alone was the most amazing period of my life. I got SO MUCH DONE!

I'm going to the midwest completely alone at the beginning of June for 2 weeks, and I can't WAIT!

FSC

[GOPisEvil]

14. Hello!!! Austin!!!

Come visit us!

[Bouncy Ball]

15. I'm thinking that will be on the list.

Not the whole time, but certainly part of it. And my friend is due right about then, too.

I want to drive through the hill country, I'm not taking 35 that time. I'll have the time to see some back roads.

[GOPisEvil]

16. Take 281 down to 183.

Nice drive.

[all.of.me]

18. oooooh...

i LOVE being alone! when my girls go with their dad, i buy a week's worth of groceries and go home. and stay there. i may go out and rent a movie, but i mainly like to enjoy the peace and quiet. i get up with NO stress, keep my own schedule, eat ice cream for dinner, take walks when i feel like it, not within THEIR schedules, go out to eat if the mood strikes me. mainly, i just enjoy the total freedom. i soak it up, every footstep of it.

but, of course, this took years to cultivate! the first time, i was completely lost. a friend of mine said when the kids are gone, you don't even know when to eat! haha it's true.

have fun!