When you live alone

[susandennis]

When you live alone, you can make your own rules. It's a great perk. Whenever my mother was asked if I had ever remarried she would answer, 'no, and she probably never will - she likes to be in charge of the tv remote'. And, indeed I do.

I was still a kid when I saw this movie about a girl raised by her father on a tiny boat. I remember the girl was played by Hailey Mills. They had a simple, rustic and isolated, but good life. At some point, another kid comes to stay on the boat - a city kid who, the first night, changes into pajamas. Hailey Mills is astonished. "You wear an entirely different set of clothes just to sleep in??? For heaven's sake, why??"

That stuck with me like glue. And has caused me to rethink stuff I might have taken for granted otherwise. I often sleep in the clothes I have worn all day if they are comfortable and sleep worthy. I drink my coffee out of an insulated travel mug and I rarely wash it. I may rinse it out once in a while but I just refill it ever day with coffee (I drink my coffee naked - no cream, no sugar).

I have a people me and a regular me. The people me is very conscious of other people. I have a list of things I don't do/say/wear around other people that I might well do/say/wear when the door is closed on my condo. I think everyone does this but I think when you live alone, the list is longer and, it becomes more difficult to remember when people are around.

The internets have made this even more challenging. Most if not all of the people reading this have never met me face to face. I can wear what I want, fart out loud, talk to myself, and make funny faces while I type these words and no one will be offended, annoyed or surprised cause they won't know. It's my kind of people crowd.

Here's where you get the point, the punchline, the reason for this entry. Except, I don't really have one. I've just had these thoughts rattling around in my brain for a couple of days and I thought I'd let them out so something even more useless can get in there.

You are welcome.

Comments

[gavin.livejournal.com]

I farted while reading this...and then belched the first few letters of the alphabet.

[susandennis]

oh, ok see belching the alphabet is a talent that shouldn't be wasted on alone. farting, in my book, is always more fun and satisfying when i don't have to share.

[lolleeroberts.livejournal.com]

yes, but do your cats give you dirty looks when you fart? Mine have been known to leave the room with rather pointed sniffs of disdain.

[susandennis]

The other day, I was sitting in my usual cross legged way and Travis was roaming around trying to get settled. I let out a very large fart that startled him. It was also very odoriferous and pretty soon his nose was in my crotch trying like he was trying to dig the fart out. It was pretty funny.

[mixter11nm.livejournal.com]

Be glad it's not a dog. Ours will come over and sniff your ass if you've farted. I guess she wants to see if you smell like all the other canines she knows.

[johncomic.livejournal.com]

“I drink my coffee out of an insulated travel mug and I rarely wash it. I may rinse it out once in a while but I just refill it ever day with coffee (I drink my coffee naked - no cream, no sugar). ”

Finally someone who gets it! I have a Naked Coffee Mug at home, which gets similar treatment for similar reasons. My wife basically copes by trying not to think about it much, but I know she doesn't approve.

[susandennis]

When my friend, John, used to visit, he was so freaked out by the very idea that I always just put the damn thing away until he left - easier than hearing about it.

[johncomic.livejournal.com]

Well, not all Johns are like that. :D

[lolleeroberts.livejournal.com]

There is actually a name for the discoloration the mug gets - it's called "the scunge of benign neglect". Some people swear that if you wash the cup the coffee doesn't taste right anymore.

[susandennis]

I *know* that is correct. I do wash out the actual coffee pot once in a while and always regret it.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

None of what you've written surprises me. I'm prepared to like either Susan:) I have lived alone most of my life and am used to having complete autonomy in my home. I've been wondering if I will ever again invite someone into my life, other than for a visit. As I type these words, it's Noon and I'm sitting here in my flannel night shirt, hoping for motivation:)

HUGS!

[susandennis]

I truly cannot imagine working around someone else's schedule, tripping over someone else's mess, having someone bitch about mine! other than the cats, of course.

At this point, I am what I am. In my next life, I may make some changes... but mainly cosmetic - smaller ass, fewer chins - I think.

:)

[dizzdvl.livejournal.com]

I agree with you! It's great making my own rules. Yeah it would be nice to have someone to go to movies with sometimes, but this is my space and I don't want to give any of it up.

Plus farting whenever I want is awesome.

[kightp.livejournal.com]

I've lived alone most of my adult life, and everything you write here resonates with me. (-:

[ruralrob.livejournal.com]

Well, we know you're wearing yellow stripes today . . .

;-)

[geordie.livejournal.com]

I clean, or these days Stasia may get to it first, my insulated mugs once a year whether they need it or not. My work mug is getting a bit crusty now. I use the denture tablet method Susan Dennis told me about, it works like a charm.

[susandennis]

that susandennis is one brilliant bitch.

[mikeybill.livejournal.com]

I completely understand where you are coming from. Sometimes I wonder if I am becoming too set in my ways, after so many years of living alone. I too have habits that I must remind myself not to display outside.
You make complete sense to me.

[south-wind.livejournal.com]

Exactly.
I've lived alone now for four years and I love it.

[pisceandreamer.livejournal.com]

I *loved* living alone. I liked it even better when I wasn't in a relationship.

My brother is the near-invisible roommate, so it's pretty close to living alone and I can be the slob I want to be. Just can't run around naked unless he's out of town.

[sea-weed.livejournal.com]

Cool post. I've fantasized about living alone, but on the plus side it's good having someone else to put the rubbish out. :-)

[through76.livejournal.com]

I am surprised you sleep in clothes considering how warm you are most of the time.

Like the poster above, taking out the trash is the downside to living alone. I have a pile near my door that keeps growing.

[susandennis]

The sleep thing is funny. I not only sleep in clothes but except for the very very very hot nights, under covers. I never really thought about it before... it is weird. I'm only day hot!

[machupicchu.livejournal.com]

.
.
This was interesting to read. There are some things I do miss about living alone -- for instance, the freedom to keep the TV off and crank my music, which I did a lot more when I lived alone. But, farting? Shobhit and I both do that whenever we want, whether the other is around or not. Also, we both sleep nude and we both regularly hang out around the condo nude. So much of it, when living with someone else, is really compatibility (in fact, after all the time I've spent thinking about the ways in which Shobhit and I are incompatible, this is making me think of all the ways we actually are compatible, when it comes to day to day living). In certain ways, living with Shobhit is actually just like living alone.

There's a big difference, though, between living with someone with whom you're in a relationship, and simply having a roommate -- something I would be happy never to do again. This is why I hate it when Sachin spends the night -- I always have to be dressed!
.
.

living alone rocks

[henare.livejournal.com]

one of the reasons i took so long to get a new housekeeper (after my last housekeeper moved on in january) was the specter of having someone *new* in my space ... someone who needs to understand the rules (like "no rearranging the crap on the kitchen table or on my desk--i *know* where things are and if you rearrange it then i won't ... ").