# What do single people do? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 13, 2006, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-single-people-do/348156 "2006-03-13T14:07:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![whistlepig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/73ab20/32.png) [@whistlepig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whistlepig)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-single-people-do/348156/21 "2006-03-14T14:12:24Z")
I hike, surf the net, volunteer at the library, play on a volleyball league, work out, read and cook. I try to get together with friends once or twice a week for sports, hiking, a meal or go out for a drink. I generally feel like I don’t do much but people always say, “But you have so much going on!” Married friends talk about how nice it would be to have all that time but I’d would honestly rather be in relationship. whistlepig ---
**Author:** ![whistlepig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/73ab20/32.png) [@whistlepig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whistlepig)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-single-people-do/348156/22 "2006-03-14T14:14:58Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > I would then spend the rest of the summer getting drunk and hitting on desperate Jewish girls on Fire Island. :wally I just couldn’t resist the chance to use the wally as Yiddish. Sounds like a great time to me. whistlepig, who long ago broke up with the one Jewish girl in Montana ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-single-people-do/348156/23 "2006-03-14T18:21:47Z")
> [@whistlepig](#): > > :wally > > I just couldn’t resist the chance to use the wally as Yiddish. > > Sounds like a great time to me. It really is. I usually go out there a couple weekends as a guest. Basically it’s kind of like a cross between summer camp and and the good parts of a frat party (but less asshole-y) for people in their 20s and 30s. It’s like the Jersey Shore but without the Guido factor. It’s physically demanding to drink like that though. We hit it hard until 4am every night I was there. I don’t know if I could handle every weekend for an entire summer. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-single-people-do/348156/24 "2006-03-14T18:49:34Z")
I chatted on AOL and posted on the AOLSDMB when I was single & living alone. ---
**Author:** ![threemae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f9b8f/32.png) [@threemae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threemae)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-single-people-do/348156/25 "2006-03-14T19:57:15Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > If my GF broke up with me (which may happen in a few weeks as one of marriage deadline ultimatum approaches) As one straight guy to another, **msmith** , I think I love you a little more each day. ---
**Author:** ![phall0106](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phall0106/32/5934_2.png) [@phall0106](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phall0106)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-single-people-do/348156/26 "2006-03-14T20:44:13Z")
My six month membership with eHarmony is coming to an end, and of course, I’m getting more matches now than I have in the past 6 months. ::sigh:: However, almost all the matches ask, “What is an activity that you current do that you’d like to share with your partner?” So, I thought, “Hmmm…what exactly does take up all my time?” and I really thought about what I’ve done over the past two weeks or so. As a single parent, over the past two weeks, I have done the following: Went to the grocery store at least once a week. Laundry. Cleaned up after pets (Hallboy is 12, so he cleans up after himself fairly well). Cooked lots of meals. Joined Curves and worked out 4 times per week. Laundry. Read lots of books and magazines. Watched television. Laundry. Surfed the net. Worked 37.5 hours per week. Visited the Maple Sugar Festival for 65 minutes. Laundry. Cleaned the house. Raked the yard. cleaned out the car. Laundry. Okay, I have no social life…Maybe that “shared activity” could be laundry… ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-single-people-do/348156/27 "2006-03-14T21:12:53Z")
My two big time-killers are work and the gym. I’m kind of a lazy person, so my days off are very unstructured. I’ll shop, I’ll clean, I’ll hang out by the pool, I’ll bond with my bird, I’ll go online. I’m used to being single so I don’t get lonely, but I occasionally miss my friends. I moved to a different state last year and left behind a fantastic group. I keep in touch and visit as well as get visited, which makes me happy. I have a few friends here that I go dancing or bar-hopping with, or catch a movie and talk with. I currently spend a lot of time reading up on personal finance and real estate. I don’t intend to live paycheck to paycheck for the rest of my life, so I’m learning ways to get my money working for me rather than vice versa. ---
**Author:** ![Ea\_calendula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5e925/32.png) [@Ea\_calendula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ea_calendula)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-single-people-do/348156/28 "2006-03-14T21:43:12Z")
Single really doesn’t equal ‘extra time on my hand’ - I sometimes wonder how I would manage to fit a boyfriend in… But I guess it also depends on how much you need ‘time to yourself’ and how much you need the company of others. Me, I’ve always looked forward to the weekends that I knew I would have all to myself - not seeing anyone and just having time off, from everyone 🙂 Most of the time, I seem to have too little time to all the things I want to do - including time with others as well as time off for myself. It really depends on how much you need the company of other people. If you do, then you should think about how to do that - like taking classes or going places to meet others. If you don’t - well, I guess you wouldn’t have asked then - just been relieved that you now had time for yourself 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![633squadron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/ee59a6/32.png) [@633squadron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/633squadron)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-single-people-do/348156/29 "2006-03-15T00:29:31Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > I’m planning a summer of things to do, largely independently: > > 1. Move to a larger place and redecorate. > 2. Pick up my training routine by running and swimming longer/faster. > 3. Buy a new bicycle and join a riding club. > 4. Sign up for some triathlons in the area. > 5. Spend an evening or afternoon each week in the local Borders just browsing the isles and drinking too much coffee. > 6. Buy a new laptop with wi-fi to browse SDMB in the local Panera. > 7. Perhaps do my PMP certification. > 8. If I get excited, my J2EE certification as well. > 9. Try writing again. Then burn it all in disgust. > 10. Flirt with attractive women at every opportunity. (not my usual M.O.) > 11. As always, enjoy my children and stay in touch with friends and family. My replies: 0) Good idea. 1. EXCELLENT IDEA. That’s what I’m doin’ this summer 2. To heck with riding clubs. If it’s a touring club, go do some long nice rides with 'em, but racing clubs suck unless you’re either a) arrogant or b) a USCF Cat 1 racer or c) (and most likely) both. 3. Go for it. Where are you? in the SF Bay Area there are tons, even for newbies. 4. To heck with Borders. Look for an indie shop. 5. yeah. I know an indie coffee shop with free WiFi. You gotta supply your own power, though. 6. ? 7. Geek! J2EE rules 8. go for it. 9. go for it _double_. Can’t hurt. 10. yeah. Just about the same that I do, except that I serve on my local STC chapter’s admin council, _and_ my local ski club’s board, _and_ do projects from Make magazine, and have about 3 dozen other hobbies. The plus side is that I hardly ever watch TV. ---
**Author:** ![threemae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f9b8f/32.png) [@threemae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threemae)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-single-people-do/348156/30 "2006-03-15T01:57:00Z")
> [@633squadron](#): > > 1. To heck with riding clubs. If it’s a touring club, go do some long nice rides with 'em, but racing clubs suck unless you’re either a) arrogant or b) a USCF Cat 1 racer or c) (and most likely) both. I’m not going to lie. Both _do_ help, but my team is awesome for everyone, I thinl. You just have to find the right team and then actually racing I think is a lot of fun. I’m not single but that’s what I do with the rest of my free time and if I had to choose between either my girlfriend or my bike I can’t tell you how fast I’d be working on Dear Jane letters. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-single-people-do/348156/31 "2006-03-15T02:50:53Z")
> [@633squadron](#): > > Just about the same that I do, except that I serve on my local STC chapter’s admin council, _and_ my local ski club’s board, _and_ do projects from Make magazine, and have about 3 dozen other hobbies. > > The plus side is that I hardly ever watch TV. Dude… when do you sleep? My list is ambitious enough and I loves me some TV in the evening before bed. But I hear ya on the racing clubs. I actually meant local (N. Virginia) riding groups and some guys from the gym whom I’ve ridden with in the past. A racing team might be worth a try just for the novelty and experience. They can’t all be arrogant bastards, can they? 🙂 BTW, I lived in S.F. for a couple of years and used to ride there. Gah, I miss that place. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-single-people-do/348156/32 "2006-03-15T05:33:05Z")
It’s been my experience that many single people spend a lot of time trying to not be single anymore. 😉 I’m single and childless, I work a pretty standard 40-hour week, and I don’t have a pet – or even a houseplant. Short of being independently wealthy and not needing to work, it’s impossible to have any more “spare” time than I do. \ How do I fill it? Let me count the ways:[ul][li]I’m in grad school, about halfway through my M.A. program. This year I’m just taking one class per semester, but next spring I hope to go back to taking 2 credits per semester.[/li][li]I’m the President of my Toastmasters club, which I founded 2 years ago.[/li][li]I’m also an Area Governor with Toastmasters, which means I manage the four clubs in my immediate area. All club Presidents report to me, making me my own boss (in a way). Heh.[/li][li]I play in a friendly poker tournament every Friday, and it’s almost always followed by dinner out.[/li][li]I have two good friends in the area who I try to see at least twice a month (it helps that they’re married to each other). When we get together it’s usually for an entire afternoon and evening.[/li][li]I like to watch TV in the evenings/on weekends.[/li][li]I also like to read at night/on weekends.[/li][li]I play my piano.[/li][li]I hang out here. :D[/ul][/li]I plan to add a gym membership to the above list soon: it’s something I’ve been wanting to do all year, but I got a little sidetracked. I’m focused again now, and the gym I’m going to join is having an “intro to spinning” class on the 25th that I am determined to attend (which means I have to be a member by then). Looking over the list it sounds like a lot, but I still have plenty of time to do nothing. Usually I enjoy doing nothing, but sometimes I wish I had someone to do something – or nothing – with. 🙂 The Toastmasters stuff will all be done at the end of June, at which time I’ll probably step up my efforts regarding dating. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-single-people-do/348156/33 "2006-03-15T05:58:46Z")
I shop. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-single-people-do/348156/34 "2006-03-15T06:20:09Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > I’m over forty. Even if I did drink, I couldn’t go out to bars, get drunk, and hit on girls; that would put me somewhere between ‘bitter old man’ and ‘dirty old man’. Then move to Tokyo, where (1) there are a lot of bars with women who are in their 30s and 40s, and will give you the time of day, and (2) some women in their 20s who don’t care if you are in your 40s. Even as a 40+ guy, I had no problems finding girls to hit on when I was single. I did a lot of drinking and going to bars with friends. Plus I started golf. Lots of fun. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-single-people-do/348156/35 "2006-03-15T06:40:22Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Not exciting but should serve to keep me from jumping off a bridge from boredom and loneliness. My solution, for a while was personals. I would write huge in depth personal ads and usually got tons of replies. I rarely went a week without a date of some kind and lots of time in IM chatting with various replies that eventually lead up to in person meets. I bought a house during that time as well, part of my personal ad for a while was “seeking a queen for my new castle”. Any of the time I was not engaged in expanding my social circle I tended to play alot of computer games. Used to be one of the scariest interceptor pilots out there in Alleigance. Playing Master of Orion II on insane difficulty levels and Various large scale online conquer the galaxy type stuff like dark galaxy or Neveron were also good for eating up free time. ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-single-people-do/348156/36 "2006-03-15T06:57:38Z")
> [@Misnomer](#): > > [li]I’m the President of my Toastmasters club, which I founded 2 years ago.[/li][li]I’m also an Area Governor with Toastmasters, which means I manage the four clubs in my immediate area. All club Presidents report to me, making me my own boss (in a way). Heh.[/li]The Toastmasters stuff will all be done at the end of June, at which time I’ll probably step up my efforts regarding dating. Enlighten me. I thought that toastmasters were just people (mainly guys) that got together on occasion, had a meal, and took turns making toasts for some reason. There has to be more to it. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-single-people-do/348156/37 "2006-03-15T15:26:44Z")
> [@dnooman](#): > > Enlighten me. I thought that toastmasters were just people (mainly guys) that got together on occasion, had a meal, and took turns making toasts for some reason. There has to be more to it. Toastmasters is a quasi-professional group for people looking to improve their public speaking skills. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-single-people-do/348156/38 "2006-03-15T16:04:48Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Toastmasters is a quasi-professional group for people looking to improve their public speaking skills. The name Toastmasters really confused me too, until the organisation’s purpose was explained to me. Of course, this was not helped by the fact that I created a superhero character named Toasterman, whose head is a two-slice toaster. Toastmasters looks quite interesting and useful, and is on my list of Things To Get Involved In At Some Point. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-single-people-do/348156/39 "2006-03-15T16:06:36Z")
> [@TokyoPlayer](#): > > Then move to Tokyo, where (1) there are a lot of bars with women who are in their 30s and 40s, and will give you the time of day, and (2) some women in their 20s who don’t care if you are in your 40s. Even as a 40+ guy, I had no problems finding girls to hit on when I was single. > > I did a lot of drinking and going to bars with friends. Plus I started golf. Lots of fun. Well, the UEA convention is in Yokohama next year… I just might pay a visit! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-single-people-do/348156/40 "2006-03-15T22:14:06Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Toastmasters is a quasi-professional group for people looking to improve their public speaking skills. And leadership. Everyone always forgets about leadership. Which is one reason Toastmasters recently revamped the educational program to focus equally on leadership. \ It may sink like a stone, but I’m starting an “Ask the Toastmaster” thread over in MPSIMS. One question, one partial answer, and one confession of former confusion all in one thread tells me that there might be other folks on this board who wonder about Toastmasters … and I know there are other Toastmasters on this board. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-single-people-do/348156.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-single-people-do/348156.md?page=3)