Pros and Cons of Living Alone

On By amanda (Just in Queso)

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Back when I was living with my parents and brother, I so looked forward to the day that I could live by myself in my own (or rented) home, sans roommates. I fantasized about having total peace and privacy and being able to do chores according to my own timetable.

Now that I’ve experienced several years of living alone, I have to say – it is pretty awesome in a lot of ways. Admittedly, however, living alone is not all sunshine and rainbow-colored unicorn poop…

Pros and Cons of Living Alone

Pro: Eating a mountain of junk food, with no one around to judge me

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Con: Gaining five pounds, because there’s no one around to judge me

Pro: Not having to pick up anyone else’s messes
Con: It’s always my turn to vacuum
• “How can all this filth be MINE?” – me, on a regular basis

Pro: Putting on socks and doing some kitchen ballet!
Con: No one to peel me off the floor when I inevitably fall

Pro: No one to talk to after a bad day at work

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Con: No one to talk to after a bad day at work
• Note to self: get a pet

Pro: Not having to cook for anyone
Con:  

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Pro: Repairing minor fix-it issues by myself, and feeling a sense of accomplishment
Con: Having to kill cockroaches myself. I cannot do this. No.

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Pro: Can sit in my shower or bath as long as I want
Con: Should I drown, it’d be a long time before anyone found me
• Note to self: get a pet get a Lassie

Pro: Free to roam my apartment in varying degrees of nakedness
Con:

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Pro: Feeling proud and independent about paying bills, cleaning, carrying groceries up a flight of stairs, calling the repair man, and everything else that I do without any help
Con: Feeling paranoid that maybe I’m too good at living alone, and that if I ever have a roommate, I may one day take drastic measures just to get some privacy.

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Those of you who have lived alone, are there any pros or cons you’d add to this list? What about those of you who have NEVER lived alone?

 

19 thoughts on “Pros and Cons of Living Alone”

    1. It’s definitely an experience! I know a lot of people don’t like living alone, and I really don’t blame them. But for me, the pros do outweigh the cons a bit – even though that cockroach-killing thing does make me strongly consider getting a roommate.

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      1. Well I lived with my sister for years and none of us liked killing cockroaches. Thankfully it didn’t come up much but there was incident where we fought all night about who would get to dispose the body of a rat that had somehow gotten into our apartment…yes, yes.

        I’ve never lived alone but I’ve always lived with family except briefly with my husband before we married. If not for that, I would probably have chosen to live alone…rather than with a stranger that is!

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      2. Oh god, I can’t imagine a rat. I had a teeny tiny mouse that I set traps for, and I was worried all night long about having to dispose of its body. Rodents and roaches are big no-nos.

        Yes, I would definitely rather live alone than with a stranger! The roommate I had in college was technically a stranger, but we were in a dorm, so it seemed safer and less weird somehow.

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  2. momsranting

    I have never, ever lived alone. I did however, briefly have my own room once…. between divorce and 2nd marriage… that was nice while it lasted 😉

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  3. I lived on my own for a combined total of 3 months. Now that I have children, conversations sometimes go like this at work:
    Me: “If I leave at the EXACT right time and traffic isn’t bad; I will have approximately 38 minutes to myself.” I then close my eyes, imagining such a luxury.
    Additionally, I think you’ve seen my hamper posts, right? My husband will strip anywhere, anytime and have clothes strewn around. I implore you…..(grasping your arm with desperation), LIVE IT UP!!!! 🙂

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    1. Hahah! I will enjoy the alone time for the both of us! 😀 I do sometimes get a bit lonely, but then I’ll spend a weekend with friends’ kids and NOT be super enthused about them knocking on the door while I’m in the bathroom haha. Or making gigantic, gross messes. Those moments make me lose any sense of loneliness really quick!

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  4. Haha, I’ve mostly lived with roommates or husbands, but you’re reminding me of the few years I had in my own apartment. I remember the thrill of having total command of my space: everything I ate, when and if to clean, and waking up on the couch in my underwear with old Monk reruns playing and cheese in my hand.

    I think it’s great, as long as you get enough outside socialization to stay balanced.

    You’d think having two kids under five would be the opposite dynamic (they even follow you into the bathroom), but they’re remarkably non-judgey. They don’t see anything wrong with running around in your skivvies eating cheese.

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    1. I’m not sure what it is about eating in your underwear that is so fantastic and freeing, but it is! I think the reason I like living alone is because my job is very people-centered, and it’s nice to come home to a little quiet. I admit that I tend to get a bit more stir crazy on the weekends though, when there’s not as much going on.

      You make a good point about the little ones approving of the undies & food lifestyle – they probably wouldn’t even mind a little kitchen ballet 🙂 But eventually they’ll become preteens and get all judgy. Yuck.

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      1. So true! Before long, they are going to be mortified. 🙂

        Having observed that little kids love being in their underwear, I believe we adults repress this desire and can only let it fly when living alone… Have fun 🙂

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  5. Haha, this is amazing. I love the “Note:need to get a pet” when you crossed it off and wrote ‘get a lassie’ I laughed out loud. I only lived alone for about 3 months until my now-husband moved in. But, I will agree. The freedom of eating whatever the hell you want without judgment/someone knowing is pretty damn awesome. Killing cockroaches? Cats are good for that 😀

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  6. Hi! I’m Megs and new to blogging and happily came across your blog today! 🙂
    What’s funny is that I have a list of blogs I want to write, and this topic was on the list!! Until I was 31, I’d either lived with family, roommates, or my (ex)husband, so living alone has been this new adventure for the past year and a half. You’ve basically covered everything I had in mind, though I do have my dog to entertain/save me if I fall/complain to when I’m sick.

    When I read past FB posts, though, I’ll see how excited I’d get about having the house to myself if my ex went away for the weekend. It was a whole event — I’d plan the movies, DIY spa treatments, singing loudly at my dog… Now I can’t decide if it goes on the Con list that I don’t get excited anymore about making it an event? Or if it’s on the Pro list because everyday is a “I have the house to myself!” event.

    P.S. In case you don’t know, bleach kills scary roaches in an instant. I lived in the creepiest, most infested apartment once, and kept a bottle of cleaner with bleach in it on my hip so I could whip it out and get ’em without touching them.

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    1. Hi Megs! So glad you found my blog! When I still lived with my parents, I used to do the exact same things as you when they went away – I relished all the time alone! Especially all the junk food and the spa nights 😉 You make a good point – I haven’t really “celebrated” the solo life in a long time! Maybe the idea that we’ve gotten too used to it is both a pro AND con.

      Oh my goodness, that is the best idea ever! I’d started to think of roaches as indestructible monsters, so I’m relieved to know something will do the trick. Thanks for the tip 🙂

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