A Celebration Of The Single Life!

Subject: RE: A Celebration Of The Single Life!
From: gnu
Date: 17 Feb 03 - 04:02 PM

Oh yeah... the house finishes. In my new (old) house, I painted the walls and ceilings with Kitchen & Bath semi-gloss white. It's bright and clean and easy to wash and makes the rooms seem bigger. I have only one picture hung in the entire house. And the bathroom's 1950's pink wall tile with black border tile looks just fine. No need to rip it all off and replace it. And the exterior, white over orange is... well, I might have to repaint the orange, being of Irish Catholic descent. Then again, how would I ever get a modern exterior paint that would "stay" over the old 98% lead paint ? Nah, can't paint that without causing a maintenance problem. To hell with it... it's an olive branch to my orange brothers. Yeah, that's my story. End of discussion. Good job g. Thanks g. Let's have an ale. Sure, grab a couple... but just one glass. (Reminds me of another perk.)

Subject: RE: A Celebration Of The Single Life!
From: Bill D
Date: 17 Feb 03 - 03:59 PM

*copied from a web site*

"According to tradition, when a student asked the ancient Greek philosopher, Seneca, whether to marry his sweetheart, the wise man answered: "Marry or not, my child, whichever you do you will regret it."
Married people are sometimes happy, sometimes unhappy. This is also true of single people. Lincoln had a saying as well,....."Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be!" The grass always looks greener in the other person's yard. The divorce rate reflects much of that. Interestingly enough though, for as long as records have been kept, most divorces have ended in...........marriage. That is, most divorced people have re-married. What does that tell you? (Some wag labeled the phenomenon as "The triumph of hope over experience!"

Subject: RE: A Celebration Of The Single Life!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Feb 03 - 03:38 PM

leaving the toilet seat down!

Subject: RE: A Celebration Of The Single Life!
From: GUEST,Loqui
Date: 17 Feb 03 - 03:30 PM

leaving the toilet seat up

Subject: RE: A Celebration Of The Single Life!
From: gnu
Date: 17 Feb 03 - 03:28 PM

It's been about three years now and I find the conversation just fine. I was asked once, by a visitor who heard me talking as he was arriving at my door, as to whom I was speaking with. My reply was, "Me. It's okay to ask yourself questions and it's okay to answer yourself. Now, if you ever ask yourself, "What was the question?", it's time to seek help."

One of the best parts for me is only having to focus on the results of a task and not the means or methods. I only care that the floor is clean and not as to whether it should be mopped or scrubbed or done so in a clockwise motion, ccw motion, back and forth, or... shut the f*** up or wash the d*** floor yourself.... what ? No, f*** you. Ah, sweet memories.

Another is the pleasure of working on a task alone. My ex use to be so keen the help me. I would explain what I was doing if she wasn't familiar and would ask her to assist by passing me tools, cleaning along... well, it's part of the job and you did ask if you could help... but I'm teaching you as we go... yeah, but if you don't learn about it first, you could get hurt if you make a wrong move... no, I didn't say you were stupid, just that you don't have enough experience at... no, the broom won't fit there... what ? No, f*** you. Kodak moments, eh what ?

Subject: RE: A Celebration Of The Single Life!
From: Naemanson
Date: 17 Feb 03 - 02:58 PM

Snoring - Well, sometimes I wake myself up! If I find a woman to share my life she better be a heavy sleeper!

"Nothing you put down moves, however long you leave it." - You'd think so wouldn't you. However that doesn't seem to be the case. there are some kind of gremlins that move things around even though I am alone in the apartment.

"Walk around au naturel whenever you so desire." - Ah, but in my last two relationships that was no problem. And it was a delight to see them in the buff.

"I can commit to a 3-nights a week class or to an impromptu party without having to check with someone else." - But I am part of a singing group and that is like being in a part time marriage. I can't do anything else on rehearsal night and gigs take precedence.

Various comments on music choice/volume/repetitions: Since I lost my taste for music this hasn't been a problem anyway.

CraneDriver, I don't think many of us are against a committed relationship. I just want to convince myself that it's OK to be single.

DaveO - you are hereby ostracized and ejected from this thread. Pack your bags and go! *Grin*

I'm surprised no one has mentioned there's no need to be polite about bodily noises/smells/functions!

Subject: RE: A Celebration Of The Single Life!
From: harvey andrews
Date: 17 Feb 03 - 02:56 PM

Naemanson, problem is just when you get used to being on your own...it's no fun anymore and you start giving off the scent that attracts the opposite sex and before you know it your agreeing with Uncle Dave O!
I know....'cause I was there..20 years ago and then I married her.

Subject: RE: A Celebration Of The Single Life!
From: Crane Driver
Date: 17 Feb 03 - 01:59 PM

No-one to complain about MY snoring, no-one saying that I'm spending too much time logged on to the Mudcat (except possibly some of the other Mudchat users!), no-one complaining that I'm going out to play music again ....

I have no trouble living on my own. That's not to say I'm against a committed relationship - just not one that involves living together, thank you very much.

Andrew

Subject: RE: A Celebration Of The Single Life!
From: Ebbie
Date: 17 Feb 03 - 01:57 PM

I've lived a single life most of the time since I was 28 years old- a very long time ago. There are MANY good things about singlehood:

* I don't have to watch the clock to see whether it's time to go home to get dinner
* If I feel like going to a movie before going home from work, I can.
* I can commit to a 3-nights a week class or to an impromptu party without having to check with someone else.
* I love being able to stay up or out as late as I want without having to justify it to anyone else.
* I can read an absorbing book without being interrupted.
* I can repeat a CD song as often as I wish, at any volume I wish, when I'm learning a new song. Same with a song I'm learning on the guitar.
* I don't have to wonder: Is he upset with me? Nor do I have to wonder why I stay with him when we have so little in common.
* When I go home, I close the door on problems.

Those are all pretty superficial benefits, I realize- suffice it to say that for me, being a single is an easier life.

Subject: RE: A Celebration Of The Single Life!
From: irishajo
Date: 17 Feb 03 - 01:53 PM

Leave the bathroom door open all the time.

Walk around au naturel whenever you so desire.

Read in bed until 2 a.m.

Talk/laugh/groan/sing to yourself without having to explain anything.

Subject: RE: A Celebration Of The Single Life!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Feb 03 - 01:38 PM

I have a mix of the situations listed so far: My kids are with me five nights a week, and spend weekends with their Dad. So I have the motility of objects, the hugs and occasional "thanks" for stuff during the weekdays, but on the weekends I have the house to myself and can catch up or just hang out. Okay, okay, so I fixed sinks all this weekend because the kids would be underfoot if I tried it during the week. . .but most weekends I enjoy on my own, probably because I know that I will have company the rest of the week.

Given the stress in Brett's recent life, a quiet time on his own and rediscovering that he can be good company for himself all by himself is a good thing.

Subject: RE: A Celebration Of The Single Life!
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 17 Feb 03 - 01:22 PM

Just to be the Devil's Advocate, here:

At least twice, maybe three times a day, maybe more, out of the blue, apropos of nothing, I say to my Beautiful Wife: "Thank you."

She'll say, "What for?"

"For marrying me, and saving me from a life as an Old Bachelor."

Bachelorhood was a dreary, emotionally unsettled, socially unstable, trying way to live. I had thirty-three years of it. I've now had thirty-eight years of a great marriage, and it's LOTS better. Your mileage may vary.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: A Celebration Of The Single Life!
From: gnomad
Date: 17 Feb 03 - 12:52 PM

Nothing you put down moves, however long you leave it.

Deciding to go to bed at 1.00pm is not seen as an indication you hate someone (nor as an unwanted advance).

If you want to eat quantities of garlic/ baked beans/ chocolate cake/ marmite (delete as appropriate) nobody is going to argue.

You can argue with the idiots on the radio without getting locked up.

That bed that was just perfect before you got out of it can stay that way, all year if you are slob enough.

No fighting about how warm is comfortable.

Subject: RE: A Celebration Of The Single Life!
From: Peg
Date: 17 Feb 03 - 12:44 PM

you can eat what you want when you want; no squabbles over which restaurant, or what to get on the pizza, or whether to make dinner now or in a couple of hours...

no snoring to keep you awake.

freedom when travelling to do whatever you want without having to keep track of each other.

staying home from a party so it won't look "weird" if your mate shows up without you...

hanging your just-washed lingerie from the shower rod without worrying about someone else's need to shower...

opting to go to an impromptu invitation or film or concert without having to call and check in" with anyone...

freedom to be intimate with someone without worrying about being unfaithful...


that's about all I can think of for now. I personally think the best situation is to be in a relationship where you are free to all this stuff anyway...

Subject: A Celebration Of The Single Life!
From: Naemanson
Date: 17 Feb 03 - 12:21 PM

In an effort to come to grips with my return to being single I thought this a good idea for a thread. I was going to suggest that we nominate the day after Valentine's Day as Single's Day.

Anyway, I have been thinking of how good it is to live alone. I invite others to join me in celebrating the single life.

Things you can do:

a) The remote is all yours!

b) You don't have to justify time or expenditures to anyone but yourself.

c) TV and Stereo volume is never in dispute.

Anymore?