Short Term Bachelors

[Rem]

The family is away this week enjoying the school holidays, up the coast, without me (first meeting of new Council this week). I kidded them that while they were away I would eat what I wanted every night, rent the DVD's they won't watch with me yada yada .....

The truth is I don't have any free time to indulge myself because I'm staying at work longer and have to do all the chores they normally do (mainly associated with the pets).

I will have Fish and Chips for dinner tonight though (the thought of which is nearly always better than the realisation) and I was wondering if other Cyburbanites indulged themselves during short periods of bachelordom? Please share, whether it's a fantasy (keep it clean) or something you really do.

 

[Michele Zone]

Well, I sometimes do the single mom thing for a few months. I stay up late watching movies that I wouldn't normally watch. I pick the house up in the first week or two that he is gone and it actually stays fairly neat. I go do more charity work. When we had a king sized bed, I would leave my piles of books and magazines on his side of the bed -- or my laptop -- and sleep that way. They were convenient to wake up to. This last time, I used the 4 month absence to indulge in the luxury of sleeping on the floor and NOT dealing with the issue of having no bed until I had finished dealing with the mildew problem.

I basically have "two lives" and that has been true for a long time. In Kansas, he was gone 6 months out of every year, part of that time to Saudi. I went and visited relatives for weeks at a time, put sweat equity into our house... there is too much to tell.

 

[lakelander]

The wife and the kids will be visiting freinds and relatives this Thursday-Sunday. I plan to enjoy the break, by doing some things I don't get to do as much as I use too. I plan on attending a young professionals socializer, head to a beach festival, eat at a soul food hole in the wall joint, help a freind tile his house and do a little urban photography. Depending on how everything goes, I'll also try to visit the local African American History Museum.

 

[michaelskis]

Well lets see, I get up at 5:30 am to go to the gym, without having to worry about getting kids off to school. Then when I get home from work, I cook a quick meal, or go out with friends for a bit to eat. Then I go play basketball, volley ball, mountain biking, or what ever I feel like.

Don’t get me wrong. I want a wife and kids someday. But I am going to fully enjoy the moments that I have.

 

[Cardinal]

Short periods of bachelordom? It has been going on for too long now. SOmewhere at the end of my twenties or beginning of the thirties, it wasn't as attractive as it used to be.

 

[Downtown]

Rob gets to be a STB (short term bachelor) much more than I do - my family is three hours away, i couldn't heave a rock from my porch without hitting one of his relative's houses. BUT, it is the beginning of golf season, and I do enjoy my golf widowhood. Well, maybe not so much with a new infant, because now it is more like golf single motherhood.

 

[el Guapo]

When I get to go STB

1. Boxers as the full extent of the weekend dress.
2. Science Fiction Movie with Arnold and Jessie
3. Mexican Food
4. Lots of Quake 2 with the sound patched to the home stereo (big loud gun sounds)
5. The dog gets hot dogs and little bits of steak (shuuush, don't tell the wife!)
6. No bed time
7. History Channel 24-7
8. I pitch things and hope she doesn't notice.
9. I make many varried gas noises with my body.
10. I buy hobby related things and pretend I have always had them.

 

[Tom R]

stb

Define short term. I just passed my 10 year divorce anniversary. Still ain't long enough. Bless all you happily married folks. It just wasn't for me.

 

[Repo Man]

When my girlfriend goes away for a weekend or a night I totally do the bachelor thing (well I guess I am still technically a bachelor). I usually grill something or make something for dinner that she doesn't like such as mussels, lamb, or hot and spicy thai or chineese food. I rent movies that she doesn't like and crank music super loud.

 

[JNA]

Short periods of bachelordom? It has been going on for too long now. SOmewhere at the end of my twenties or beginning of the thirties, it wasn't as attractive as it used to be.

I agree with you.
my problem was in my twenties and early thirties I couldn't afford myself - living hand to mouth, no health insurance :-c
let alone provide for /support someone else.

 

[Budgie]

My indulging

Here are a few of the things I used to do, I'm a divorcee full time now.

1. 2 or 3 large and messy chili dogs;
2. Beer before 11:00 am. (obviously);
3. Baseball game;
4. Wander around town reading;
5. Music extremely loud;
6. Long hot uninterupted bath;
7. Nap in the backyard;
8. Trip to be pub for stout and trivia; and
9. Fishing.

 

[Duke Of Dystopia]

The only thing that sucks more than the long term life of a bachelor is being locked in a long term death match with a spouse.

Its not what you do, it is the freedom to know you can do it if you want

Like having eggs, bacon, chicken strips, and a pitcher of margarita before 9 am in peace

 

[NHPlanner]

Two words: Golf and beer.

 

[Queen B]

Having gone though many stages in my life, I believe that one of the greatest joys of fewer people in the house would be that when you clean it, it stays that way.

My eating habits vary between the ability to eat anything I want, to the ability of not going to the store at all and letting the cabinets go bare. My daughter freaks really bad when she comes home to an empty refrigerator.

Opposite of not having a bed time, if I have had a really hard day and I decide to go to bed early I can do that without anyone thinking I am sick...

 

[Richmond Jake]

I'm starting to make my list for when my divorce becomes final.

1. Yes, beer before 10:00 am is first (but not on work days).
2. Watch more baseball on TV.
3. Nose picking and crotch scratching.
4. Fishing with my sons.
5. Sleeping in on the weekends (but not too late, see No. 1).

 

[otterpop]

Last year I went ot the APA conference in Denver and then the Montana Association of Planners conference in Big Sky. These were opportunities for me to be a bachelor - away from wife and two year old son.

The first couple of days were sweet. When I got back to my room, there was no one to talk at me. Silence. Sweet, empty silence. I ate what I wanted. Slept when I wanted. Read a book. Watched TV unsuitable for a two-year old.

After a couple of days I missed them and when I got home I was so glad to see them.

Last year for my birthday I took the day off and put my son in daycare. I hiked to Mt. Helena and went to a movie (which I hadn't done in years), then I drove out of town and went shooting. Good times.

Short term bachelorhood to me is time to be alone and quiet.

 

[Tom R]

stb

I agree completely, but I put fishing higher on the list. Saw some Steelheads up at the lake yesterday like you dream about. But thew were too spooked to bite.

1. 2 or 3 large and messy chili dogs;
2. Beer before 11:00 am. (obviously);
3. Baseball game;
4. Wander around town reading;
5. Music extremely loud;
6. Long hot uninterupted bath;
7. Nap in the backyard;
8. Trip to be pub for stout and trivia; and
9. Fishing.

 

[Lee Nellis]

Well, I am hitting the road for a month of STB tomorrow and I must say that I don't look forward to it. I suspect that most successful marriages involve quite a bit of personal space, but ours seems to thrive on being together 24/7. Its probably 'cuz we both like to hit the trail, take naps in the yard, watch a ball game, etc. It is true that I won't have to go shoe shopping for a month or more, but I have found that it is a character building experience.

 

[Gedunker]

It is true that I won't have to go shoe shopping for a month or more, but I have found that it is a character building experience.

The opposite, however, is that K will not have your calming influence to repress the urges to buy lots of shoes. (At least if she's anything like Mrs. G.) :-D

 

[Michele Zone]

I suspect that most successful marriages involve quite a bit of personal space, but ours seems to thrive on being together 24/7.

a) Lots of personal space is part of the reason my marriage failed.
b) Lots of personal space is one of the reasons we managed to tolerate each other this long.
c) Real marriage is a deep commitment between two people, deeper than what you typically see in this day and age. That is one of the reasons my marriage lasted so long: we make each other nuts but we are both very committed (or, perhaps, need to be "committed" :-D ). What you have is intimacy, and I envy that. My husband was just saying for the umpteenth time (2 days ago) how I have no clue who he is. And my response was to the effect of "Ditto".

 

[michaelskis]

ahhh... all these ideas make me realize how good I have it being single!

 

[JNL]

Another full-time single here. But when I get the house to myself (housemates away) I like to turn my music up loud and sometimes dance around the house. I used to like having the occasional candlelit bubble bath but current house does not have a bath It's a good opportunity to catch up on movies you've been wanting to see.

 

[nerudite]

When I'm a Short Term Bachlorette, I do a lot of the stuff mentioned here. The nice thing is doing whatever you want without little prying eyes all around or little ears for that matter. Even stuff like chatting without little people waiting to use the computer or watching what I'm writing is nice. Often I'll watch some chick flick or something that nobody would ever be interested (foreign chick flicks especially). Or being lazy and fixing something like tuna salad on toast for dinner instead of a more elaborate (and balanced) meal. Luckily, I get every other Friday to myself from 8:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., so I get 'me' time on a regular basis.

 

[Planderella]

My STB time consists of spending the weeknights and Saturday mornings at the gym. When I'm home, I like to sit on my bed and listen to music while reading a book or magazine.

 

[boiker]

I'll get about 30-45 minutes of STB when I have to pick up some paper plates, forks, spoons, napkins, etc. for an office pot luck.

I feel selfish when i get STB time, because Mrs. Boiker is home with the kids all day and she needs the time off much more than I do.

 

[ludes98]

My STB has been limited. I usually binge on movies, TV, fast food, and computer games. I once called in sick...bad idea. Spouses apparently don't like you playing hooky when they can't too.

 

[Zoning Goddess]

The only thing that sucks more than the long term life of a bachelor is being locked in a long term death match with a spouse.

Its not what you do, it is the freedom to know you can do it if you want

Thanks, you said it better than I could. I was stuck with Mr. Smother-Me and all I wanted was some time alone, which thank goodness, I finally have.

 

[Rem]

Thanks guys - I enjoyed the lists. Reading it I realised I haven't contemplated STB in daylight hours, only outside work time.

Today I got up to go rowing and turned all the lights on (I ususally get dressed in the dark) which was a small pleasure. Tonight I am definitely renting a DVD and ticking a few things of your lists.

 

[Doitnow]

When I am alone I listen to some very loud music( mostly catching up with the heavy stuff), watch TV late into the night, clean up the place, do things on my wishlist, try to realise the importance of those people who are missing, call over a few select friends for beer and cook dinner for them, go for a drive and things like that.

 

[The Irish One]

1. Biking
2. Concerts
3. NY Times channel (discovery channels)
I'm such a spoiled rotten bachelor it makes me sick to look at myself in the mirror. Perhaps I'm one of those people that needs to be married? Men definately have a biological clock and mine has been yelling for me to hook up and reproduce sooner and not later. A couple of weeks ago I had a dream that I was looking at my fulll grown twenty something son and I was gawking at how beautiful this kid of mine was. I woke up thinking what the f%ck was that! That was just one tick tock of my bio clock. Having said that I wont force anything and I'm sure it will all work out.

 

[JNL]

Today I got up to go rowing and turned all the lights on (I ususally get dressed in the dark) which was a small pleasure.

That reminds me! When I was living with ex-SO, I used to get dressed in the dark and creep around quietly. Now, I LOVE the fact that I can turn on the lights and listen to the radio I like to catch the 7:00am news and the weather forecast. This is an LTB luxury, rather than STB.

 

[Rumpy Tunanator]

I like getting yelled at for stuff I didn't do. Seems as if I wasn't there the cats would take the heat. I'm always quiet in the morning, but the SO is loud, and I'm the one who gets crap if the floor creaks when she's sleeping. Soon to be LTB at the end of the lease. :-( :-| :-s | :b:

 

[JNL]

I'm the one who gets crap if the floor creaks when she's sleeping.

8-! that is a little OTT! How long till the lease ends?

 

[Rumpy Tunanator]

8-! that is a little OTT! How long till the lease ends?

August, yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!! Better not upset the sleeping lion until then.

You looking for a roomate, I like all kinds of food

 

[JNL]

August, yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!! Better not upset the sleeping lion until then.

Is it kind of like a smoker giving up? i.e. 'I will quit in August, but I'll keep smoking in the meantime' Isn't that weird/hard?