Living alone may seem strange or very common, depending on where in the world you live.
I live in Sweden, where the most common age to leave home is between 18 and 19, and where
more than half of all households are single person, which is the highest proportion in
the EU.
I’ve done the roomies thing. 6 roomies, 7 roomies, 8 roomies. And it was a great experience;
I wouldn’t have done it any other way. But I think everything has its own time, and at
this time in my life, the zero roomies situation feels ideal to me.
It’s been interesting taking note of who I am without the influence of anyone else.
What time do I like to get up when no one’s there to wake me? Am I clean or messy when
there’s no responsibility towards anyone else involved? Do I chew with my mouth open
if I know nobody is going to judged me?
On days off, I like to spend a few hours writing. It’s a hobby that’s been with me for years,
one that also happens to help me make sense of the world and my experience in it.
Living alone has made me more appreciative of the time I get to talk and spend with other
people. I guess because of my introverted nature, constantly being around other people
made me feel drained, so it was sometimes difficult to be around others present, even
when I wanted
to be. Since I have more social energy now, I also enjoy spending it more.
Walks have always been my way of catching up with myself, just like how you’d catch
up with a friend, and since living in the city, I literally walk everywhere, so there’s
a lot of space for catching up, probably more than I need, so it’s nice to have some company.
Today that company was a podcast and my camera. I always recommend people to get into photography.
Even if it’s just for yourself! Even if it’s just with your phone. It’ll make
you see and capture things you otherwise wouldn’t have paid attention to. You never know what
you’ll find.
Speaking of nothing, I’ve realized I can’t pass a grocery store without convincing myself
that there’s something I need to get, and I always leave carrying far too many bags.
I wonder where my back pain has been coming from.
Speaking of photography, look what I picked up today! My very first film camera! I can’t
wait to play with it. I have no clue how to yet, but I’m figuring
it out.
I’ve always been fairly good at keeping myself entertained; I don’t feel bored very
often. Although I know I have a resting bored face. But I don’t want to give the impression
that I spend all of my days by myself, I find great meaning in time spent with others. For
instance, I spent all evening with a friend yesterday, having great conversations and
plenty of laughs, and I have no doubt that my overall happiness level is increased by
such events.
No situation ever has it all. Living with others meant there was always someone to hang
out with; where you could walk into someone’s room and have small talk turn into hours of
conversation; where you’d never come back to a quiet home; where you took turns to make
dinner.
But as I said, I believe everything has its own time. And right now, I just feel incredibly
lucky to have this space
for myself.