I’m neither an only child, nor am I anti-social (I like having people around) but, in general, there are many, many things I prefer to do on my own. Up until recently, I strongly prefered travelling by myself. Now, I might actually appreciate the company. However, the person I travel with must be of the same temperment as me. I like exploring cities on my own pace. When I used to play in a European band and tour, I would always explore the cities myself, and let my bandmates do their own thing together. I wasn’t trying to be a loner; I just didn’t feel like friggin’ going shopping (which is all they seemed to do). I like to get lost in a city and not have any plans, see where my whim takes me. Having someone else with me usually makes this impossible (there are exceptions, though.)
I have no problem going to fancy restaurants by myself. I want to try things out for myself, and most of my friends aren’t interested in the same stuff as I am.
I don’t think there’s anything unusual about this.
There are many things I’d rather do on my own. I’d rather go to a movie that I want to see by myself than have someone along who doesn’t want to see it. I’ve been in many cities by myself and have ventured out to better restaurants than the hotel restaurant. I’ve been to many sporting events by myself as well. I think it is a good thing.
I like being alone, when the mood takes me. I need my own space. My lady is the same, and that’s good, and I have friends who are also like that, but it’s harder to find time alone now that I have a little boy. I have become something of a night-owl as a result.
I’ve done everything from gonig for a short drive alone, to heading into the outback alone, to jumping on a long-haul international flight alone. Love it.
I do more on my own now, but I used to have to have someone with me to go just about anywhere. It might have to do with location, or just the fact that I changed somewhere down the line.
Now that I live in Ballard, there’s all kinds of places I can walk to by myself, restaurants to go to, coffee shops to sit in and read, even little “tourist” type areas like the Locks, with its park and garden, I go to alone. Last year I was going to take a stroll to the Nordic Heritage Museum to see one of the few Christmas dealies they had going on, but ended up missing it for some reason or another (think I had the flu). But I will go there this year, likely alone, unless my husband isn’t working that day. I shop alone, dine alone, sight-see alone. Not always, but often. Since I’m not working, it’s better than sitting in the house all day.
I don’t usually go places on my own. I like company. (Except shopping if I’m actually looking for something specific, and the library.) So if I go somewhere, I will usually be with a friend. I like to have someone to talk to. Also, part of the experience of going somewhere (for me) is sharing it with someone.
Yes, I regularly go out alone. Movies, restaurants, fairs. I am single and 43 and used to being alone. I enjoy company too and have many friends to do things with, but they are and addition to the enjoyment, not a requirement.
I don’t think this is because you were an only child: the person I know who is LEAST capable of doing things alone–she likes to have company at the grocery store–is also an only child. Being an only child may have intensified tendencies in both you and in my friend, but those tendencies must have been there to start with.
I don’t mind going places alone, but I do like to talk, so I prefer having someone (usually my husband) to talk about things with. Aside from that, my favorite way to go out is the way it works at events for the high school where I teach (football games, concerts, plays, etc.). I always go alone, but since I know everyone I know there are going to be tons of people to talk to. So I can play the social butterfly, flitting from group to group, gossiping and chatting, and then move on. I get the social interaction I enjoy, but I am not responsbile for anyone else and can leave exactly when I want.
Oh yeah, when I was single I used to go out alone all the time. There was a pub about a mile away that I used to walk to, timing it so I’d arive in the late afternoon. The pub wouldn’t be very crowded. I’d read the newspaper or my book, have a pint, and then maybe a second pint with dinner. I got to know a few people there, as I did at a couple of coffeehouses, where I usually went later.
But it took me awhile to get to the point of being able to do that. I never would have done it before; I’d thought if you didn’t have someone to go with, you just didn’t go. Until one time I was visiting San Francisco by myself, and enjoying the live music in North Beach. When I got back, I thought it was ridiculous that I could go out by myself when travelling, but not when I was at home. And after that I never looked back. It was good to detach from my loser friends, like the would-be “intellectual” who couldn’t make it past Chapter I of FOTR. It wasn’t as if they were helping to change my unattached condition. Eventually I met my future wife on one of these nocturnal ramblings and we’ve been together 10 years.
For things like hockey games and faires, I prefer to have company - I enjoy the social aspects as well as the event itself. When I was in my 20’s I never would have gone to a game or concert by myself. However, when Mr. SCL was working weekends (3-11pm) at the local looney bin, my situation was either go alone or sit home alone. Once I got used to going to hockey games alone, it empowered me to do other things alone if it was something I really wanted to do and no one else was interested.
I’m not missing my hockey. I was a totally no-sports-liking girl until I went to my first hockey game. It was like I’ve heard crack can be - I was an instant addict. Season tickets and the hobby of buying game-worn jerseys followed. Then the booster club. Early October I start the process of getting the apartments ready for the players. In other words, to quote a friend, I"m “ate up with it.”
I’m single but I rarely go out places alone. It helps to have two very close friends and a bunch of acquantances within 10 minutes walking distance. The most frequent place I go alone is to the supermarket, but sometimes while I am walking I’ll run into one of my buddies and we will continue on together. I’m right across from a college, so there are a lot of people who live in and work in the immediate area. It’s rare that I go out and I don’t see someone I know.
The other place I go to alone is the Nature Conservatory. I like being alone when I go there, although I occasionally take friends.
You bet. I actually like drinking alone in bars; there’s something very worldly and independent about it. Of course, if friendly people approach, that’s great too. A long walk by oneself is also calming and centering.
One thing I will not do alone is go to the movies, especially “art houses” or revivals in New York. You’ll see some truly pathetic and sad people there, and it was hard not to feel like one of them.
I prefer being alone, but I have no sense of direction and don’t drive well so I don’t go places alone very often. I do go for walks by myself sometimes, but I tend to get harrassed by men I pass (I’m not very attractive, and creepy men are jerks), so that discourages me.
I do most things alone, certainly including mundane things like shopping or other errands. One of the less ordinary things I most often do alone is walk about and explore a place while taking a bunch of digital pictures. I particularly like to walk around cities and have more than once driven for a couple hours just to do that in a certain place. Of course, I haven’t yet encountered anyone who I think would even want to join me in driving two hours and then wandering aimlessly on foot for five miles just for the purpose of looking around. :dubious:
Places I do not go alone, however, are restaurants, except fast food or perhaps simple lunch places, and movies. I just eat or entertain myself at home instead.
I do a lot of things alone. I used to hate it. It just felt wrong to go to restaurants and movies or do sight seeing by myself. Then I started traveling a lot for work. It wasn’t the sort of travel where I’d go with others or go to a conference where I’d have a built in set of people to do things with. I went by myself and would spend the evenings by myself.
I got kind of tired of being in fun places (like NYC, New Orleans, etc.) and doing nothing but ordering room service. So I ventured out on my own and found I really enjoyed it.
These days, I will do things by myself at home if I find my friends don’t really care to see a particular movie, exhibit, etc. I don’t very often eat out by myself at home. I don’t mind eating by myself, but I’d rather not spend the money on a restaurant meal if I don’t have a social reason to go or an expense account!
One of the great things about doing things alone. I do movies and meals alone. Have gone to Coachella alone. I’lll probably end up going to Nocturnal Wonderland by myself. I’ve even travelled alone, spending a solo week in Walt Disney World.
About 50:50 for me. I don’t mind watching movies alone and I go to lots more than most people I know. I love dawdling over a meal on my own while reading something I am enjoying.
I used to do a lot on my own. It made it hard with friends who thought I was pissed at them. My roommate in Europe had a pathological addiction to human companionship and would lose his mind if I left him in the apartment.
Interestingly, ever since I got married I have gotten used to spending time with other people. Even when I am not out with the wife, I’ll call someone else to go out for a brewski. Hopefully, once she eventually divorces me I’ll be able to get back into enjoying my own company.
