It’s been a little over a year since I moved into my apartment with the help of a good moving company Utah, my first place living completely on my own.
I was both nervous and excited about living alone. I was grateful that I was able to find an apartment within my budget because the last thing I wanted to do was find a roommate. I worried about getting lonely, feeling unsafe, and paying all the bills on my own. But I was thrilled about having a space entirely my own, not having to worry about working around another roommate’s quirks, and walking around my apartment sans pants whenever I wanted.
I didn’t realize how unhappy I had been living in Tampa until I moved into this little apartment in St. Petersburg, where I’m closer to my mom and my friends. Don’t get me wrong – I loved living with Roomie and I am so thankful that I got to spend a year being her roommate, but Tampa is not where I’m meant to be. I have a lot of friends who live in Tampa and love it, but it’s not for me. I’m glad I tried it out, but I’m even more glad to be a St. Petersburg resident once again.
I’m a homebody and a bit of a hermit, so I really enjoy having a space I don’t have to share. I actually enjoy coming home to a quiet and empty apartment; it brings me so much pleasure. I know most people hate that, but it’s soothing to me. After a day at work where I’ve been bombarded by bright lights and people and conversations and emails, it’s so comforting to come home to my apartment where I don’t have to talk to anyone. I can simply take a bubble bath, make dinner, and snuggle into bed early – alone with my thoughts, my books, and my dog. Those nights are so precious to me and I cherish them.
It helps that when I come home to my quiet apartment at the end of the day, I’m enthusiastically greeted by my dog. So, I’m not coming home to a literal empty apartment – there’s still a living being here that I have to take care of. But, thankfully, a living being that doesn’t expect more from me than walks, food, and snuggles. He’s A-OK in the silence, not needing to fill it with inane conversation or a jabbering TV in the background. It’s honestly the best of both worlds and I know it helps me to feel less alone.
I like that I can be as messy or as clean as I want to be without worrying about making a roommate annoyed at me. I’m not a naturally messy person, but sometimes the dishes stay in the sink for longer than a day or a countertop becomes a dumping ground for junk before I take the time to sort through it. It also means that I don’t have to contend with anyone else’s mess. I wouldn’t be able to handle a messy roommate, nor one who loved clutter, because both of those things give me anxiety. For the most part, my countertops are clear and my sink is free of dishes and my floors are swept and mopped frequently. One of the best parts of living alone: my mess is my mess alone and nobody else’s.
There are downsides to living alone. All the household bills are up to me, which scared me at first, but hasn’t been a problem in this last year. I’m the one responsible for killing the bugs and batting down the spider webs (thankfully, I’ve been bug-free and only have had to deal with one spider web). It can be lonely, especially if I have an entire weekend without plans. As much as I love plan-free weekends, there is such a thing as too much alone time. But the loneliness hasn’t been too difficult to deal with. I’ve managed to fill up my life with dinner dates with friends, time spent with my mom, and group classes at the gym. And I know if I am feeling lonely and craving human interaction, I can reach out to my friends and they’ll be there for me. As a single lady nearing thirty, I am oh-so-grateful for that.
Living alone isn’t everyone’s cuppa tea, but man, it has been a completely wonderful experience for me. It truly makes me happy and while I do hope this isn’t it for me – I’d like to be married and I’d like to have a family – I feel utterly thankful that I get to live alone and that I enjoy it as much as I do.
Image credit:
Patrick Perkins
Is that picture of your apartment??? If it is, it’s SO CUTE! Love all the plants. I would like to have more plants in the house but the cat gets into them!
I lived alone for 8 months during my 4th / last year of university. I’m glad I had the opportunity to live alone as it was a great experience for me. I also remember being soooo grateful for Webster at that time because it was so nice to have another living thing in the house! Also I kind of feel like I live alone when Eric is on night shift because I see him for 20 minutes at night when I get home from work and before he leaves for work and for 20 – 30 minutes in the morning when he gets home from work and before I leave for work, ha. So my nights when he is on night shift are very quiet and usually spent puttering around the house and then retiring to bed early.
I have never lived alone, and what you describe sounds pretty perfect to me. As an introvert, I NEED alone and quiet time, and I rarely ever get it. I am so thankful for Caleb and Jerry, of course, but sometimes the noise and mess overwhelm me… I know you’d get it lol. If I hadn’t met Jerry, I would have loved doing the same thing you’re doing! I understand it can get lonely at times, but it also sounds pretty awesome. Enjoy it!
I loveloveloved living alone, & while I like living with Mike just as much, I was definitely worried that I wouldn’t. Living with my last significant other was really hard for (& on) me, & I was desperately afraid that moving in with Mike would be more of the same. I feel so lucky that it hasn’t been – it tells me I’ve found the right person for me! – but I admit that I do still cherish week/ends when he goes out of town & I get to “live alone” for a bit. He’s in Boston this week, & I’m indulging in every single-girl behavior… including cleaning the whole place?! Ha.
PS: IS THAT YOUR ACTUAL FREAKING APARTMENT BECAUSE OMG IT LOOKS BEAUTIFUL.
Your apartment is so cute! I love all the plants. You should post more pictures of it sometimes.
I lived alone for 12 years, which is crazy to think about as that time when so fast. But I absolutely loved it. It is expensive to live alone but I just loved having my own space to return home to each day. Like you, I am a total introvert so I need more alone time than the average person. I think that everyone would benefit from living alone at some point if their life as it really teaches you another level of independence and it shows you that you really can be ok on your own. I know it’s not for everyone, though, so I can see why some opt not to do it, but it was a wonderful living arrangement for me. Now I live with my husband, which I also love. I was worried about moving in with him after living alone for so long but it was actually a pretty smooth transition. I still get plenty of alone time as he goes to his mom’s every Sunday so I try to spend part or most of that day at home and in the evenings I often go up to bed to read at 8 while he watches shows on Netflix (that I have no interest in seeing – ha). Carving out our own time is really important for both of us so I”m glad we’ve found a way to be together and apart under the same roof!
I loved the few years that I lived alone. It taught me a lot about myself and what I liked/didn’t like, and I learned a lot about myself. Sometimes a quiet place is just what the doctor ordered, other days I was itching to get out and be with other people.
I’m so glad that overall it’s been a good experience for you!
I don’t think I could live alone, but I also couldn’t live with just any roommate. I’m lucky that Ryan and I don’t annoy each other on the daily because we’ve been living together for 8+ years now. :p
The thing you said about messes is definitely part of why I like living alone so much. It’s just my mess – my choice to make the mess or clean it up. And if I work from home and stay in pajamas until dinner time, that’s cool too. No one here to judge me. 🙂 I’ve been living alone for about five years now and it’s been great. I was definitely scared at first, but it’s only gotten better and better.
I sometimes wish I would have had the opportunity to live in an apartment all on my own. I think I would have enjoyed it… but that was never in the cards for me somehow.
I am glad you’re loving it so much.