20 Reasons to Celebrate Being Single

[Svenskaflicka]

20 Reasons to Celebrate Being Single
by Nancy Evans, Editor-in-Chief, iVillage

Why is it that your best friend could be in the relationship from hell, your cousin could be in a monotonous and uneventful marriage, but people still feel sorry for you for being single? Is something wrong here? Your single days can be the most exciting of your life. If you're not convinced yet, check out why some iVillage women love solo-status.

1. "You can have male friends without having to defend yourself and explain that nothing else is going on."

2. "Free drinks at bars! Men seem to know when you're single and tend to be very generous."

3. "You can spend as much time as you want with your family and nobody's lip will drag the ground."

4. "You can shave your legs and the razor is never dull from his face."

5. "You can talk to your girlfriends for hours on the phone without getting dirty, exasperated looks."

6. "You can spend your paycheck on what you want."

7. "You never have to worry if the milk carton had been directly drunk out of."

8. "You don't have to check to see if it's okay to tell someone yes or no to an invitation. You can accept on the spot."

9. "You can fill the fridge with fresh fruit and veggies, bottled water, one-percent milk and applesauce instead of cold cuts, beer and Velveeta."

10. "No more Cinemax, American Flyers, Steven Seagal or Jackie Chan. You are free to watch Emeril and Ming Tsai three times a day if you want."

11. "You can be happy with who you are, not who he wants you to be."

12. "If you are depressed or mad at the world for a few minutes, you don't have to worry about having your 'outlook on life' analyzed."

13. "You can eat garlic or onions without a second thought about breath mints."

14. "Not only are your dinners free when you go out on those first dates, but they take you out to nice places."

15. "You don't have to give yourself lame excuses for not devoting time to yourself."

16. "No snoring!"

17. "No one gets insulted when you spend the day at the beach checking out the lifeguards."

18. "You can have eight hours of undisturbed sleep with the covers all to yourself."

19. "You can go to bed in flannel and plaid rather than Frederick's and Victoria."

20. "The toilet seat issue -- need I say more?"

I love 5 and 20, but I just don't get 13. I eat whatever I want, guy or no guy.

 

[CharleyH]

What about the top reason: GREAT fucking sex!

Obvisously author has not been single


Not referring to you Svenska - you have already proven your point with me. And somehow - I am still . . .

 

[Svenskaflicka]

I'm in a grey zone myself. I'm in a relationship where he lives on another continent, I see him maybe 3 times a year, and we talk on the phone about once a month.

If one of my friends would behave towards me the way he does, that friend would be degraded to the level of Aquaintance.

Great. Even the man of my dreams is a nightmare.

Des, Renza... are there any training camps where you can be hypnotized into switching sides?

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Solo Style: Being Single Isn't a State of Waiting
by Sherry Amatenstein

No matter how "together" a couple feel, how melded, how much a unit, even if their two hearts beat as one, it'll take more than true love to get them into a movie theater; it'll take two -- not one, two -- tickets. Whatever a pair of lovers want to do together in life, unless they're literally joined at the hip (though this might be a gray area), on some level they've got to go it alone. Read the stub: ADMIT ONE.

Actually, I prefer going to movies alone. If I want to bawl loudly, belly laugh or dive-bomb into a keg of greasy popcorn, there's no need to censor my urges. I can let all the stuff that would embarrass an "other half" all hang out. It's just me and me at the Bijou and we're having a wonderful time.

I'm not anti-romance. I'm not advocating hermitdom. I'm simply saying there's nothing shameful about relying on one's own company as entertainment on a Saturday night. It sure beats dating someone boring (brain-dead?) so you won't be branded a loser. Check the dictionary: "loser" doesn't mean "dateless"; it means "squander." As in squandering your time, your heart, your soul, not to mention the TV clicker.

Your life doesn't start when two-become-one; single isn't a state of waiting. If that's how you regard it, wake up and smell the opportunities, babe. You're missing out. In the decade-plus since my divorce (gee, time flies when you're having fun), I've seen Costa Rican sunsets and Alaskan northern lights, performed with the Rockettes and the Moscow Circus and co-hosted a live TV talk show with Matt Lauer. I've also furnished my apartment, set up an IRA and sponsored an overseas foster child. I have highs, lows, great friends and a great need for down time: time spent alone.

I'm not saying no to remarriage, but saying "I do" doesn't guarantee forever. Even if I don't want to always live alone, that's the way I'll enter heaven (if that's my final destination). And while I'm here on Earth, I can hitch a ride but I can't freeload on someone else's ticket. Hey, the lights are dimming; the movie's starting. Enjoy. The popcorn's on me.

 

[CharleyH]

I'm in a grey zone myself. I'm in a relationship where he lives on another continent, I see him maybe 3 times a year, and we talk on the phone about once a month.

If one of my friends would behave towards me the way he does, that friend would be degraded to the level of Aquaintance.

Great. Even the man of my dreams is a nightmare.

Des, Renza... are there any training camps where you can be hypnotized into switching sides?

LOL . . . I could soooo comment - but compassion reels from my veins tonight. As for Aquaintances, aren't those the ones who cum over every couple of months when you deciide to call? Damn - need my Webster's.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

No, no. Aquaintances comes from the latin word aqua, meaning water. Ergo, an aquaintance is someone you have sex with in the bathtub.

 

[Lovepotion69]

I have a feeling I've dated different guys than her. They were always pedantic...

Oh, and men will still buy you free drinks, no matter if you're single or not...

Nice places on the first dates? Ehm, I've only been on two official dates and those never went furter than dinner!

If I checked out the lifeguard he'd usually join me...and I'd join in checking out the girls...

/LP

 

[DarlingNikki]

Hmm... I do feel sorry for this person, but not because she's single. Apparently she's had some obnoxious relationships.

I'm in a long term, committed, snuggly relationship and the only things I'm missing out on from that list are 2, 14, and 16. He sometimes buys me drinks and take me to nice places although I try to keep things as equal as I can afford. He does snore, but oh well.

I never minded being single and if my relationship meant I couldn't enjoy my own food or TV programs or spend time with my family or friends or do what I like with the money I earn, I'd dump the guy because he'd be a control freak.

 

[Couture]

I'm in a grey zone myself. I'm in a relationship where he lives on another continent, I see him maybe 3 times a year, and we talk on the phone about once a month.

Girl, you need to get you some strange.

 

[champagne1982]

[...]Oh, and men will still buy you free drinks, no matter if you're single or not...[...]/LP

How much do these men pay for these free drinks when they buy them?

 

[A7inchPhildo]

Svenskaflicka,

Cute as ever!

I don't mind your list as it really don't apply to me. It did make me chuckle to think I am so happy being single myself. Then there is always those moments you wish you had a special someone to share it with.

Like I said I am happy being single too!


Phildo

 

[destinie21]

How much do these men pay for these free drinks when they buy them?

I think it works te same as a free gift with a 75 dollar purchase

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Girl, you need to get you some strange.

Huh?

 

[NoJo]

When I started reading this thread, I realised that I've been on a date as a single person only once. I found the whole thing pretty stressful.

I go out on dates with my partner -- I'll be honest, it's always at her instigation -- and we go for a nice meal and a movie. But there's no "game playing"; we know each other really well.

I've had girl-friends and a few one nighters as a single person, but I just don't remember dating.

I go out for a meal every week with a single male friend of mine, and we talk about stuff. Usually we whine about our lives, and the one who has less to whine about pays for the other one. I don't know if that counts as dating.

When I broke up with my partner for a year or so, I was really looking forward to playing the field again. My single male friend took me out to cool clubs, where I met women, and got drunk. It was fun to flirt without the safety net of having someone waiting for me at home.

But I found that far and away the best thing about being single for me was having my own space, and just being peacefully by myself.

 

[Guest]

But I found that far and away the best thing about being single for me was having my own space, and just being peacefully by myself.

I understand that. Ever since being married with children I have found solitude a luxury. When I would suddenly find myself alone in my home I'd simply sit down and enjoy the quiet and feeling of space. I still do that.

Even now that I basically live alone (my youngest son is home again while looking for work) I still value solitude. I hate going to social events unless it is only among my brother's family. I hate walking along a street and having someone come up to me, even a friend, because I like being anonymous in crowds.

So, I love being "single", as it's put, and hope never to "date" or live with anyone else again. Fucking of course is another matter.

Perdita

 

[Monazwx]

Number 6 happens regardless.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Nice to see you again, Mona; haven't done so in a long time now.

 

[TheEarl]

17. "No one gets insulted when you spend the day at the beach checking out the lifeguards."

Sigh, when I was a lifeguard, we always seemed to attract crushes from 14 y/o girls. Why couldn't any of you lot have come to my pool when I was single .

The Earl

 

[Monazwx]

Nice to see you again, Mona; haven't done so in a long time now.

Hi there sweetie.

It's good to see you too.
I've been working part-time until I can get a full-time spot.

Luckily, the boss is out running errands.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Like my new hairstyle?

This AV is so ME. I like this old brawd. She's sassy and cool.

 

[lucky-E-leven]

So, I love being "single", as it's put, and hope never to "date" or live with anyone else again. Fucking of course is another matter.

Perdita

Will you marry me? We don't have to live together or date, but the rest...well, as you said, it's another matter.

~lucky

 

[lucky-E-leven]

Sorry, Flicka, I hope you don't mind, but I saw this today and it tickled me so I'm posting it to tickle others. Only thing I'd change is number 8...what's wrong with that?

It is good to be a woman:

1. We got off the Titanic first.

2. We can scare male bosses with the mysterious gynecological disorder excuses.

3. Taxis stop for us.

4. We don't look like a frog in a blender when dancing.

5. No fashion faux pas we make, could ever rival the Speedo.

6. We don't have to pass gas to amuse ourselves.

7. If we forget to shave, no one has to know.

8. We can congratulate our teammate without ever touching her
rear end.

9. We never have to reach down every so often to make sure our
privates are still there.

10. We have the ability to dress ourselves.

11. We can talk to the opposite sex without having to picture
them naked.

12. If we marry someone 20 years younger, we are aware that we will look like an idiot.

13. We will never regret piercing our ears.

14. There are times when chocolate really can solve all your problems..

15. We can make comments about how silly men are in their presence because they aren't listening anyway.

~lucky

 

[Guest]

Will you marry me? We don't have to live together or date,

Get to San Francisco quickly before Bush shuts down our city hall.

I used to think being married and living in separate homes would be ideal, e.g., flats next to or across from one another (but only I would have a key to both ).

Anyway, Lucky, we can always just fuck.

Perdita

 

[lucky-E-leven]

Get to San Francisco quickly before Bush shuts down our city hall.

I used to think being married and living in separate homes would be ideal, e.g., flats next to across from one another (but only I would have a key to both ).

Anyway, Lucky, we can always just fuck.

Perdita

I am definitely not above just fucking...I'm on my way!

~lucky

 

[Svenskaflicka]

5!!!! ROFL