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entremet · Mar 23, 2017

I was reading an article that more and more people are living alone and for longer periods. Mostly due to the decline of marriage as an institution.

Even older demographics are choosing to keep their residences to themselves instead of cohabitation or marriage in the dating scene.

I do think everyone should try living alone at least once in their lives. But I don't begrudge those can't due to finances or romance. Cities are very pricey.

That said what's your longest stretch living alone? No cohabitation, marriage, roommates, or family? Pets obviously don't count.

Also what where the advantages and disadvantages of that situation?

For myself, division of labor is probably the hardest. You cook, clean, laundry, home repairs, animal care, grocery shop all on your own. Add a busy job and trying to have semblance of a social life and it can get exhausting. Luckily, there are more conveniences, but they can get pricey. Housecleaning services, dog walkers, etc., don't come cheap.

Slaythe · Mar 23, 2017

Well from 22 to now...
So quite a long time...

I actually never lived with a so. Hadn't thought about it.

Aiii · Mar 23, 2017

13 years and counting, hope to make it another 50 or so at least.

Division of labor is not an issue, almost everything is automated and living alone means you have half the workload in everything.

jb1234 · Mar 23, 2017

17 years and counting. I was dealing fine with it when I was in school and had an active social life. But after disability and retirement, the loneliness can be crippling.

Pankratous · Mar 23, 2017

I've been living alone for like 5 days since my flat mate moved out, and my new tenancy move in date got moved back a week.

It's depressing.

Grimsen · Mar 23, 2017

I've never lived alone, which is something I wish I had lived. I think I would have liked it a lot.

entremet · Mar 23, 2017

jb1234 said:
17 years and counting. I was dealing fine with it when I was in school and had an active social life. But after disability and retirement, the loneliness can be crippling.

Pankratous said:
I've been living alone for like 5 days since my flat mate moved out, and my new tenancy move in date got moved back a week.

It's depressing.

Yeah the loneliness can get to you.

Bad_Boy · Mar 23, 2017

8 years now and counting.

jb1234 · Mar 23, 2017

entremet said:
Yeah the loneliness can get to you.

On the other hand, it's nice having my privacy when having a bad day. It's a tradeoff. I personally don't notice any of the division of labor issues because I've done everything myself ever since I moved away from home. It's all I've known.

ZackieChan · Mar 23, 2017

Been living alone for 3 years or so while traveling, except for 3 months in 2014-15 living with a girl in Tokyo. It's awesome. I go on enough dates/have sleepovers that I'm never really alone for too long 😏

entremet · Mar 23, 2017

jb1234 said:
On the other hand, it's nice having my privacy when having a bad day. It's a tradeoff. I personally don't notice any of the division of labor issues because I've done everything myself ever since I moved away from home. It's all I've known.

Yeah. I do get jealous of my married friends. I'm a clean freak. So I spend tons of time cleaning. Food shopping is another one.

PerfectFlaw · Mar 23, 2017

I think the only time I ever had my own place was when I was in the military. I've never lived by myself a normal setting. Crazy, now that I think about it.

jb1234 · Mar 23, 2017

entremet said:
Yeah. I do get jealous of my married friends. I'm a clean freak. So I spend tons of time cleaning. Food shopping is another one.

You and I would not make good roommates.

Myriadis · Mar 23, 2017

I'm often at my parents on weekends. Otherwise I live in my own apartment for 18 months now. Don't feel lonely, actually love it since I have an active social life.

entremet · Mar 23, 2017

PerfectFlaw said:
I think the only time I ever had my own place was when I was in the military. I've never lived by myself a normal setting. Crazy, now that I think about it.

That's the norm though.

Before living alone was considered untenable. People lived and home then married. Living alone was a rare thing.

chicko1983 · Mar 23, 2017

Going on 3 years now.

If you can afford your own place and still have a social life, I definitely recommend it.

Nothing better than walking around the house naked.

NipplesAndToes23 · Mar 23, 2017

Never. I'm broke.

bluethree · Mar 23, 2017

Nearly 8 years now.

SuperBanana · Mar 23, 2017

Living solo? In this city? Bwahahaha. I can barely live with people it's so expensive.

A Fish Aficionado · Mar 23, 2017

None? I mean the first months of college might count. I transferred and my roommate was never there. But then we became good buds. Then I moved back home and now share an apartment with my brothers.

spuckthew · Mar 23, 2017

I've never lived alone. Parents until 24 and now almost three years living with my girlfriend.

But I don't think I could tbh. I enjoy the level of disposable income that we share, and the only way I'd have close to the same amount of money to spend living alone is if I lived in a small studio apartment in a shitty area. For sure it would be easier outside of London, but most of my friends live in Greater London and I just love being in the city.

Besides, I get moments of alone time anyway because my girlfriend semi-regularly goes to France to catch up with her best friend and god-daughter, and she sometimes has events going on at her work where doesn't get home until quite late into the evening. I get the best of both worlds really.

Dishwalla · Mar 23, 2017

I'm nearly 30 and single as fuck with no desire for a relationship, but I've never lived alone. Have always had a roommate.

Ethelwulf · Mar 23, 2017

For about 3 years. Then with roomies. Now I'm living with my girl things are looking bright

DonMigs85 · Mar 23, 2017

I think I would get tired being with an SO. I don't like sleeping right next to another person or constantly having someone in my face. I value my solitude, and I guess Facebook can sorta act as a substitute for some human interaction.

NumberThree · Mar 23, 2017

Been living alone for the past 5 years (if I remember correctly). Not really given it a thought to be honest, that's how people generally live here unless they're in a long-term relationship..

thetrin · Mar 23, 2017

I love living alone. I have an active social life, so it's totally fine. I'm not isolated.

I don't really like the idea of sharing my living space with someone else, so it's totally fine for me.

Always-honest · Mar 23, 2017

From 19 till 23 or something like that. Short while.

Oibignose · Mar 23, 2017

Never really thought about this but an interesting discussion.

You've made me realise I've never lived alone. I left the family home when I was 22. Went travelling for a year staying with friends and then house shared for a year or so before buying a house and living with a good friend for 3 years.

Sold my share in that house to my friend and moved in with my then girlfriend, now wife. Now we have three children and a busy lively household.

I'm 36 now and don't think I'd like living alone at this stage of life. Not that I don't enjoy my own time alone but I can count on my fingers the number of nights I've spent alone in a house.

Rektash · Mar 23, 2017

10 years and counting.

I actually really like living alone and desperately need my breathing room. I'll be 31 in a month.

Robin64 · Mar 23, 2017

Been about 5 years now, the loneliness is kinda kicking in.

Grakl · Mar 23, 2017

Never lmao

Banzai · Mar 23, 2017

...a couple of days, maybe. My first 'own' place was with three roommates. The second (current) place I technically live alone in but my girlfriend's there 6/7 days a week.

Living with friends was a lot of fun but a bit stressful sometimes. Living in your own place has its own share of hardship.

StayDead · Mar 23, 2017

I've lived on my own since September (always lived with family prior to that). It's amazing. I live with my cat and I wouldn't want to live with anyone else again I don't think.

Being able to do whatever you want whenever you want is fantastic.

blanchot · Mar 23, 2017

since i was 15

NekoFever · Mar 23, 2017

Technically in the sense that I have my own place and don't formally live with anyone, about six years now. Although most nights for the last six months either my girlfriend is at mine or I'm at hers. We'll probably look at moving in together in the not too distant future but as we both own our places it's not as easy as moving out of a rental.

I don't mind living alone. If you can afford it it's great.

Moose Biscuits · Mar 23, 2017

Six years so far.

Honestly, I'd rather pay extra to not have to share my living space with other people. I never feel truly comfortable with other people around in close proximity. Plus I imagine I'd make other people uncomfortable if I lived around them for long periods.

I like being able to talk to myself, not worry about cleaning/tidying regularly, fall asleep on the sofa watching YouTube videos about guns or spiders, and look up bizarre fetish pornography without repercussions.

I also don't like sharing. Sharing sucks.

Seigyoku · Mar 23, 2017

Days. Here and there days.

It's... not good for me. I like having a space I can close the door and get away but an entire place to myself, I can't do it.

Piichan · Mar 23, 2017

From 18 until now (28). Huh, can't believe it's been 10 years since I left my parents' home.

iFirez · Mar 23, 2017

I moved out of my parents when I was 22, I'm 25 this year.
I live alone.
I don't socialise.
I have a dog.
I love it.

Fuck others. Me and my games are all I need.... and my dog too, he just sleeps on me while I game though.

Everyone else I know lives with a roommate/housemate or SO and I couldn't stand it, it would annoy me, others aren't me... so fuck them.

Leflus · Mar 23, 2017

3 years running now.

After living with 3 other people for a few years, having my own kitchen and living room is heaven. It makes it a lot easier for me to have friends and family come to visit.

Team Alucard · Mar 23, 2017

About a month. Roommates went back home for winter break while I stayed in town.

It was pretty nice. I suppose long-term it could get lonely but I'm already a very emotionally broken person who does their best to shut-out the world.

I will never be able to afford to live on my own though so it's irrelevant.

Jubern · Mar 23, 2017

7 years and half, from high school graduation to moving in with my fiancée some time after we started dating.
I come from the French sticks and went through 6 years of higher education in Paris, 1 year of exchange program in Tokyo and another 6 month of precarious employment also in Tokyo before we moved in together.

I don't think I ever felt it was a bad thing, being a huge nerd who loved his alone time, games and boring routine, but looking back on it I certainly cut myself off a lot of opportunities and encounters during what might have been the most exciting time of my life.

Not having to engage people daily made me pretty egoistical and I find myself struggling for to keep up with even my best friends when it comes to socializing.

I feel kind of depressed writing this out as I may have never reflected too much about this, but yeah, don't spend too much time living alone.

Mendrox · Mar 23, 2017

3 years now. Best thing ever. I don't even want people sleep over all the time.

Everything just works in my case cause I optimized everything:

- going to work Fridays, starting my washing machine and dish cleaner, putting it into the dryer after work

- after work Fridays I will just clean dust and put everything from the dish cleaner away

- will buy groceries on Thursday with a friend of mine with whom I cook on Thursday so win/win and he helps me if it's too much

- cleaning the floor? thank you vacuum robot from Xiaomi

- cleaning the windows? thank you new cleaner for 20 that cleans it perfectly with no effort

- bathroom gets cleaned on Fridays too in just 20 minutes cause it's really small

Annnd... perfect weekend without having to do anything.

LeadenStride · Mar 23, 2017

Have never lived alone and wouldn't want to either. I have plenty of time for myself though. If this wasn't the case, it would probably bother me.

itsbenoclock · Mar 23, 2017

Will be living alone next year at university, in a studio flat. I can't wait, having housemates is a real downer...even the nice ones eventually get on my nerves.

Vincent Grayson · Mar 23, 2017

I've never lived alone. I don't know that I'd care for it, as I'm a pretty social person.

GrizzleBoy · Mar 23, 2017

Never.....Ever......Didn't even think about it.

Married with kid so hopefully that doesn't change o_o

Lemonz · Mar 23, 2017

22 years.

always crazy bacon · Mar 23, 2017

I think it was for about 5 years, but I had girls over for casual sex when I could. Worst thing was the expense and not being able to split bills. Best thing was the freedom to do whatever you liked.

Joe White · Mar 23, 2017

My longest stretch was about 3 years.

entremet said:
Also what where the advantages and disadvantages of that situation?

Most obvious advantage was the freedom to do anything I wanted. I could stay home, go out or even take a trip without notice and return when I felt like it. Also, I could watch porn on big screen, get wasted daily, have friends/guests/random pickups coming over and have orgies, sports events and lan-parties etc.

The disadvantages were mostly related on those freedoms. I needed to be responsible for every decision and their results, because at the end of the day, there wasn't anybody else cleaning up my mess at home. And that was also the reason, I would also got lonely at times.

Anyway, living solo is something that I can recommend. You learn plenty from yourself and about taking care of your place. And now that I'm happily married, I kinda miss those freedoms (but luckily there is a wives upcoming 6 week trip to US soon that will provide me time living on my own.

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