Living the single life

There are so many advantages to being single.

After having roommates for so many, many years, it’s great to have a big house all to myself. I can go from room to room knowing everything is right where I want it to be because I put it there. If a room is messy, I know it’s my mess and I’m not having to navigate around anyone else’s mess. If a room is sparkly clean, it’s because I hired a good and trusted friend to make it that way!

I never have to worry about running out of gas while driving down the road because I’m the one who filled the tank, cleaned the windshield and checked the tires.

No one ruins my plans. No one gets sick and expects me to clean up the aftermath. No one tells me I can’t hang up pictures on my walls, because I’m in control.

Granted there is a flip side — not having someone to go some place with, not having anyone to bring me back to health and no one to hang the pictures at a height I can’t possibly reach.

Still, the trade-off seems to be OK. I can come and go as I please. I don’t have to answer to anyone, and if I want to sleep all night in a chair in the living room with every light in the house on, I most certainly can.

The ice cube bucket is always full because I always remember to fill the trays with water, a trick I could never teach to roommates. And if I had a newer refrigerator, I wouldn’t even need to do that!

If I go someplace alone, I can enjoy the event without being pestered about leaving early or staying too late. I can also find a parking spot to that event knowing it suits me just fine.

I never have to worry about eating something that I won’t like because I’m entirely in charge of the grocery shopping.

Knowing that any mistake or miscalculation falls solely on me means that I’m able to spin my version of the truth of the matter. If a room is messy, I can point out to myself that I’m better off because I had more time to pursue life, liberty and happiness.
I’m not sure Jefferson had me in mind when he penned those famous words, but I’m forever grateful he did as I can use them to justify most any excuse that needs justifying.

Granted there are days when I think it would be nice to have a companion with an extra paycheck to share, or a built-in date for social gatherings — once we get back to having them. For now, I’ll just enjoy things the way they are and even convince myself that not having someone around to get me a roll of toilet paper is just an inspiration for another column.

 

Miriam Nelson is the news editor of the Wittenberg Enterprise and Birnamwood News. Readers can contact her at mnelson@newmedia-wi.com.

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