Whats it really like living alon

Having spent the weekend with two very rumbustious grandsons, my answer to the OP is 'peaceful'.

I've got a lurcher.....my second one and find they have the nicest natures ever! This website gives me a lot of pleasure and helps when I feel lonely.Got a partner but he,s mean and selfish!

Kick the partner out but keep the lurcher.

I'm serious

There's a few dormant threads been revived today.
Can't answer the OP as I'm not in that situation.

I think it must be different for each of us .My case, the companionship lost leaves the void, but come in to an empty house, not to share chores, garden, meals, the bedroom, opinions. Its like I am half a person. I cope quite happily being on my own,
ie reading, writing, work. But loneliness is tangible and cold.

Strange reading this revived thread. I see I commented under my previous name just 10 months after I had been widowed. I still feel the same. I still feel lonely, still hate being alone, still only spend a max of 5 weeks here before taking off and still trying to find my feet and make a new life. I think it will be an ongoing operation. For the first time since being alone I have really needed help having knackered my knee. How I wish DH was here to help with all the things I can't manage. My daily walk, where I meet lot of people and chat, has had to stop as has swimming and housework takes forever. As for hopping up and down the stairs - forget it! Sign of times to come once I am really old and infirm

geeljay How I empathise with you

I was widowed aged 33 and our daughters were 5 and 7, I was very lonely when they went to bed. As they grew older I had company again and it was great, then they married and I was lonely again, grandchildren born and they come for sleep overs, now two of the three have moved away, one to work , one to university , so alone again. That's life . This time much easier though and I have my dogs

No change from my post on Sun 09-Dec-12 23:48:40.

Ah, * CHEELU* a blast from the past. Trip, trap trip, trap

After 9 years on my own I cannot imagine ever living with someone again.

I don't live alone but I know if I did I would still had my two cats. The house would never be empty and I would always have company.

CHEELU wasn't she bullied off the forum?

Oops! forgot, there is no bullying on GN

Shouldn't have posted that should I?

been divorce 15 years,,had a few flings in my time,,and now live alone,,doesnt really bother me,there are few things you can do with partner that you cant do with friends,think ive had the best of both worlds ,,

Alright I'll be honest.To me the thought of living alone is almost a fate worse then death. I did live alone after my divorce from ex but I had a two year old to keep me company and always a cat. Had parents not to far from me.Now my only child lives in Calif. where I'm in the South.i remarried when my son was 9. I know I'd sleep to much..eat terrible and never see a soul if I lived alone. besides having a bad back that when it goes out I'm mostly helpless!

Living alone means there's no reason to go to bed early.

I'd also like to say I admire those who enjoy their lives alone. I don't know what I lack. Maybe it's something to do with self esteem. Anyway your strong women!

It's not always husbands, I got rid of him some years ago now. No it's the darling son. Some days I cannot wait to live on my own, when he has gone to conquer the world, watch tele without him passing comment on my programmes, listen to Manchester Radio without him telling me I am old, sleep when I want without him saying I am a croc etc. Roll on.

I am extremely lonely knowing he is upstairs and won't give me any company than if he were not here. I know that because his dad was the same. I felt so much better getting away from him and moving on with people who wanted to be with me, I can't wait to do it again but at the moment I feel as though my son dampens my enthusiasm, energy and want to find new people to play out with.

I often think a female roommate with similar interests and habits would be great company. Not necessarily my age but with similar neatness and consideration. We had a tv show called The Golden Girls older women sharing a house. Would be lovely if it worked!

Btw rubylady I'm not sure I could live full time with my grown son. You love them dearly but glad they've move on to bigger things!

One of the hardest things for me now I'm a widow is coping with everything alone. I have a problem with my boiler and all the responsibility is on me. When my husband was alive we would take it in turns to be the one "holding the fort" as we used to call it but now I feel I am on permanent alert to deal with all the things that crop up in everyday life.

I try not to ask my sons for help because my mum was a widow for nearly 40 years and was very demanding of my time and I don't want to repeat that pattern.

The day may come (I'm 70 next year) when I may need to call on them but yesterday I went to a store and bought a new vacuum cleaner, but how to get it home as I don't drive? I asked the assistant to carry the vacuum cleaner outside and I rang for a taxi. The driver was very obliging and carried the vacuum to the car and into my flat.

I'm learning to manage but it is lonely and everything is more complicated and tiring when you're on your own.

Falcon I am sure your sons would be happy to help now and again. Do you manage to get out with friends/family? I know it is not the same but when my husband left years ago and I was alone with two small children the nights were very long when they went to bed. I did make sure I went out at least one night. I had a good bunch of friends and the telephone was my lifeline. I learnt to do some DIY and was very proud of myself. I think access to the internet and forums like this must help nowadays

Falcon, I had to get a new vacuum cleaner after I was in hospital two years ago, as my other one weighed too much for me to use.
My son's partner took me to buy it after I had researched to find one I could afford that weighed less than 5kg.
At the moment I know I should ring up and get the boiler serviced, but I can't be bothered. However, after it's been done, I'll wonder what the fuss was about.
I definitely procrastinate about most things. It's a mix of being on your own and being more ill than I was when he died.