For the many years that I lived by myself it always used to annoy me that most food in packages, from loaves of sliced bread to four-packs of apples or peppers, were too much for a single person to use and would go bad before being consumed. One could always freeze meat or prepared food but cheese that went moldy before being finished? Packages of crackers that went stale? It seemed that the world of food consumption just assumed two person or more households. Let’s not even go into the looks of derision one received as a single restaurant patron.
Recently things have improved for unattached people. There are restaurants with communal tables or at the counter seating, and groceries do occasionally sell packaged goods in smaller sized portions. I think many of these single portion items are designed to go into lunch boxes, but no one knows who might be eating them as their dinner in front of the TV.
Pejorative words like “spinster” have thankfully disappeared now that more than one quarter of all U.S. households are single person and the number is growing all the time. So how many of those who are living alone like it that way, do you suppose?
While some of those living alone are widowed or newly divorced, alone not by their own choice, many others do so with a huge sigh of relief at not having to battle over bathroom usage or dishes left in the sink. If you are a single person who is not entirely sure you do enjoy it, how can you get to that of state of contentment?
First of all, carefully enumerate the positives. Your habits are your own and not up for scrutiny by anyone else. Wet towels on the floor, unmade bed, a breakfast of cold pizza? No one has to know. There is an enormous sense of relief in this, especially if you have recently moved out from under your parents’ or housemate's roof into a place of your own.
Second, you can express your tastes by painting the walls chartreuse or playing loud 1950’s doo-wop music. There is no need to compromise in these matters with self-expression..
Third, building laws permitting, you can have the pet of your choice without concern for anyone else’s animal prejudices or allergies and he or she can share your bed with impunity if you so desire.
Fourth, speaking of sharing your bed, you can whenever and with whomever you wish with no embarrassment or explanation.
Last of all, know that you do have a choice. No matter the size of your digs you can find a housemate easily or move with someone to larger space. There are no lack of folks of all ages looking to share rooms for financial or companionship purposes and it’s quite common these days to find men and women sharing housing in roommate arrangements. If you don’t like your situation change it!