Saturday, November 7, 2009

Being Alone

Wife went to Chicago early Friday morning as daughter, Motherrocker, is really close to giving birth to her second child (our fifth grandchild). This is a week earlier than we expected so we were scrambling to figure our how to take care of everything as Wife will now be gone for the entire month of November.

This means a lot of time alone for me. And that's OK. Because it has come to my awareness in recent weeks that I really like being alone. With all the travel I've done over the decades for business by myself, I really got used to it. And as I've gotten older my desires for quiet and solitude have increased.

I never really thought about this too much until few weeks ago when I was having a business lunch with two young lawyers. They were talking about going to Las Vegas and the games they like playing there. When they asked me what I liked, I had to tell them that I don't like Las Vegas because I can't stand all the noise and the people. And I mentioned that I'm pretty much a hermit and love being alone. I might as well said I was cannibal. People are social creatures. Look at all the people that love going to parties, or bars, or shows, or sporting events. I avoid them all. Too many people.

Is it really all that odd? I suppose so.

7 comments:

terri said...

It's not odd to me. I can handle a minor crowd, but I think Vegas would put me over the edge. I took my daughter to the mall today. Big mistake. We got what we came for and got out of dodge. I couldn't stand the crowds.

Anonymous said...

I don't think it's odd, it's just a characteristic that is in the minority. We value people who are social and outgoing, but there's good things to be said for people who prefer to be alone. At least, I think so, because I married one.

Mike said...

I don't think it's odd at all. I hate people. They are obnoxious, thoughtless, disrespectful creatures. In mass quantities, they drive me insane. I prefer to stick to crowds of people that I know. Having a little time to yourself is never a bad thing.

Lakeview Coffee Joe said...

Vegas baby!! Yes, you're weird! Though some alone time is nice...even in Vegas. When I go, I usually get a cup of coffee and find a place outside, usually where the casino workers go on break, and hang out there for my daily alone time. I can't imagine preferring to be alone on a regular basis though.

WeaselMomma said...

I am a social creature myself, but sometimes would give my right arm for some quiet solitude. I don't think it's odd, at all.

Bernice said...

I,too, enjoy being alone. Dear Husband cannot begin to understand that, however.

Anonymous said...

I'm with Mike....I hate people. I can deal with them at the hotel because I'm a different person when I work there. I'm very social, smiley, and upbeat, compared to being at home where I am sarcastic and a smart-ass.

I like parties, but I like the smaller parties where it's just 8 or 10 closer friends. I can handle incompetent people in public.