Table for one please!

[peacetraveler22]

There are many things my mother doesn't understand about me, but at the top of the list is the fact I often eat alone at restaurants, go to the movies by myself, and even hop in the car and go on long road journeys in various parts of the USA - all alone. To her, this is scary, odd, and beyond comprehension. It makes sense that someone who married her high school sweetheart at age 19, and has never really been away from him, would feel this way. I have another acquaintance who wanted to see an opera recently and was in desperate search for a date, but no prince came calling. So, she sat at home and whined rather than go it alone.

The reasons I dine alone are mostly practical. First, I'm on an entirely different schedule from the rest of my family and friends. No one is available to join, even if I desired the company. I'm eating my main meal of the day around 5pm, and everyone else is still at work during this time. When I'm too lazy to cook, I never hesitate to go to a local restaurant, request a table for one, and enjoy my meal. It's the same with travel or any other type of entertainment or adventure. At age 43, most of my friends are now married and busy with husbands and family, which means lesser time for friends like me. So, what's a woman to do? :)

I can't relate to those who miss out on so many experiences in life because they are scared of solitude. I once read an article that said if single women stop eating alone at restaurants, we will have no one to feel sorry for. :)

How about you? Do you eat alone, or feel sorry for a woman when you see her sitting all by her lonesome at a table? I think it's always good to have pleasurable company, or share life experiences with a delightful man or woman. However, as usual I'd rather be alone than settle for just "anyone" in my presence to fill space. By the way, I don't recall ever seeing a Russian woman sitting by herself in a restaurant during any of my visits. I'm not talking about cafes, but a proper restaurant where a hostess leads you to a table. I think the only place where I will not sit alone is on a bar stool, although this is certainly a fun social experiment based on past experience. 

Comments

[real-marsel.livejournal.com]

The text is delicious for a English learner! I copied it for detailed studing.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Glad you like it! And I'm pleased to know I help you with your English studies from afar. :)

[real-marsel.livejournal.com]

I am glad too.

[marcusxxx.livejournal.com]

I recognised myself in this post :) I live the same way - travel alone, eat alone etc. I don't feel sorry for a woman sitting alone in a restaurant because I understand her - she is comfortable being alone, but I'd rather order food delivery.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Yes, I'm comfortable being alone. For me, it is totally ordinary after so many years of being single. :) But I will be quite pleased if I ever encounter a decent man to join me on life's journey. Unfortunately, now that I don't live in the city, there are almost no delivery options except pizza and Chinese food. I dislike the latter, and try not to eat too much of the former. :) In the city, I could order from any restaurant and have it delivered straight to my apartment door.

[moskitow.livejournal.com]

I have a bf, a child and a cat and I still eat alone(sometimes) at the restaurants or go biking (not every human in my family can survive 28 miles on a bike), hiking and kayaking. I don't see anything wrong with it.
My mom is the same :) that's why we like each other's company so much! I don't go to the movies alone....because I like to watch them at home on Netflix. If I liked movie theaters I would go. My boyfriend can go alone without me if I don't want to watch something (I'm not crazy about movies made from comics books).
I wouldn't do it in Russia though (that's why I love America so much) because a single woman attracts too much of negative attention. At least that's how it was in the past. Maybe it changed already?

[irisha8787.livejournal.com]

I usually eat at home, but when I fly to my company's headquarters for a week, I usually eat lunch and dinner by myself. It's fine, since it's more a necessity to eat than a leisure eating.

I also go to movies and museums by myself. Because I come to watch something, not really to talk.

I won't be traveling my myself though, especially since now I am married. Because I have only 10 days off a year, I would rather spend them with my husband.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I don't think you can really compare the life of a single American woman with that of a single Russian woman - esp. if they are in their 30's or 40's. I think each society views them differently, quite honestly. This is why I'm constantly shocked and repulsed to see so many comments on RuNet calling women past age 25 old, worthless, etc. I've never once felt that way in America. Not in my 30's and not now in my early 40's.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

This makes sense. If I had a partner, then I'd probably want to spend vacations with him also. But even in past relationships, I needed a lot of alone time. This is just my personality type. I'm not a social creature by nature. :)

[pin-gwin.livejournal.com]

Hi, Shannon.. Did you move?

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Move? Where? :)

[irisha8787.livejournal.com]

We are both introverts, and live like 2 crabs in one shell :)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Perfect! :)

[theodorexxx.livejournal.com]

ah, those women issues

[moskitow.livejournal.com]

I know....Even my mom has to constantly explain why she likes to live alone.....in her 70-s! People always sticking their noses in other people's business. I dislike it so much!

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

In her 70's...by then, she should be able to live alone in peace without such stupid questions. :)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

You have no issues as a man? :)

[theodorexxx.livejournal.com]

i have issues but eating alone is definitely(fuck this word but i spelled it properly) not one of them

[manulul.livejournal.com]

I'm Russian and I often eat or go to the movies alone, never thought about it like that.
What's the difference? Is it harder to enjoy a movie or a meal with no one around?

[floamaldita.livejournal.com]

I do like to go to the movies by myself :) And it's always a great time! And I often eat somewhere outside alone. And it's absolutely ok for me. I think we need sometime to stay alone for a while. We are the people of the big cities :)

[pin-gwin.livejournal.com]

You said you are not living in a city, don't you?

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

It is not an issue for me either...:) And I'm pleased you are a good speller. Male issues are entirely different than female. We are judged more harshly by society on almost every level.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Yes, for many people it is harder or uncomfortable to sit alone in a restaurant, concert of movie. Some people need constant company, conversation, and are extroverts by nature.

[moskitow.livejournal.com]

Her friends are constantly trying to find her "a guy". Can you imagine the bf material there after age 50?
It's more like nursing home candidate :) I'm telling her that they are simply jealous of her stable, worry free life, lol.

[theodorexxx.livejournal.com]

oh c'mon if a woman knows nothing she may marry someone and that's all