Less of?

[Brandi]

What do you do less of when you are home by yourself and either your family is away,husband, partner etc...

My husband has been on a business trip for the last 10 days and I have noticed I do not have the tv turned on nearly as much as he does. It is kinda nice to hear my wind chimes and the birds singing.
And i don't seem to eat very much.:D

[teigyr]

Excellent question :D

Less TV (read into that, no tv) and movies. I read more and catch up on correspondence. I also go for walks less. The walks are for enjoyment and not necessarily exercise but I doubt if I'd go on my own. If it's just me at home, it's quiet!

[nicole309]

More eating, but less cooking!

[Brandi]

I don't seem to clean as much either.

[Voodoo Sally]

When the husband is away, it seems to be the only time I get to catch up on my reading. :D

[mimitabby]

The TV is off. I can plan my day without DH (and I do mean Dear Hubby) not running through my plans like a bull in a china shop.

When he was on hurricane duty, I learned to live alone and hated it. Now that he has a job that keeps him around, I cherish the rare days when he's not here.

[Running Mommy]

Welcome home! How was the motor city?? Do you have any pics of the final product out there in Laughlin?? UGH! I really felt for you guys out there!!

[Zen]

I can't imagine sharing a house with anyone. I've always been comfortable with solitude.

[madscot13]

things are much quieter without my housemates. There used to always be some strange noise, squeal, cellphone, or banter going on. Strange how I miss that! I spend a lot more time on the forum when they are not around. I go for longer bike rides because it is not like I am leaving them. I also spend less time taking care of them. hmm co-dependence! :rolleyes:

[East Hill]

I like quiet. Fortunately, my husband feels the same way. Our house is very calm, peaceful. We have three cats, three snakes. We don't watch television. If music is listened to, it's with headphones. Blessed quiet.

East Hill

[bmccasland]

Considering I've been single for (muffle, muffle) 10+ years this is not entirely a fair question for me.

But this week I've had contractors in the house fixing up my bathroom, and I find I've been making a point to get the dishes washed and on the drain rack before they come.

[Tri Girl]

Yes, Brandi- where are the pics from Detroit and Laughlin? I've been dying to see them (or perhaps you posted and I missed them).

Hmmm... DH is never away for more than an evening once or twice a year. But- when it's summer and I'm off school I have the house to myself all day.

I watch far less TV, but spend more time online. I can waste hours just reading articles, visiting TE, looking up trivia- etc. I love to read online, but find it difficult to sit and read a book (must be my compulsive need to be constantly moving some body part at all times- I shake books too much but the computer doesn't move).

I also make far less dirty dishes when he's not here, but I, too- eat more! :p

[emily_in_nc]

My DH hardly ever leaves home without me, other than to do yard chores/projects outdoors. He's retired so no business trips, and he doesn't go out in the evenings without me. I love him dearly, but every once in a great while, I'd enjoy an evening alone.

So I don't really know what that would be like! :confused:

Emily

[Crankin]

My husband used to travel almost weekly, for 4 days, when my kids were little. It was very stressful because the childcare arrangements changed. But I had those little boys to keep me busy!
Now my husband travels to Europe every other month. He is leaving in an hour for Sweden. I hate it when he goes, because it involves leaving on a Saturday... but I find that after the first day/night the time goes quickly. I always make a lot of plans so the time goes quickly. I plan rides with others I don't see that often and my friends usually extend dinner invitations. Nothing here is really different. My house is already quiet and we already eat less, like salads and sandwiches for dinner a lot of nights.

[roadie gal]

Definitely less TV. And I get to cook and eat those weird things that I like that my SO doesn't.

[emily_in_nc]

And I get to cook and eat those weird things that I like that my SO doesn't.

That's what I would like most....if I could get DH outta the house! :D

Emily

[Brandi]

That's what I would like most....if I could get DH outta the house! :D

Emily Oh yea that is what I do to. I love taco salads with chicken and kidney beans. I also like steak salads with hot sauce and lime dressing on top! Yummy!!!!!

[LadyinWhite]

I'm the opposite. After 22 years of marriage - when DH isn't around I don't know what to do with myself. I watch WAY more TV (if you call *click* *click* *click* remote surfing watching TV). I pace around, I get up sit down get up sit down and I can't sleep! I go to be VERY early usually - 10 - 10:30 pm. When DH is gone, I lay in bed staring at the clock.. get up.. go back to bed.. get up.. I sometimes have to take a sleep aid or I'd not sleep at all.

What's interesting is that when the kids are out - the TV is off. DH and I just talk. And talk.. and talk.. and talk. You'd think after all these years we'd run out of stuff, but we don't. Or we listen to the Yankees on the radio, sitting outside by the pool.

But when he's gone - it's like half of me is gone too! I miss him so much :)

he's the same way except that when I'm gone - he gets so restless he attacks projects to keep himself distracted and busy. I'll come home and the garage will be cleaned, or the basement or he'll have painted a room or something. he's far more productive when he misses me! I'm just pathetic and maudlin LOL.

If I can - I try to get together with a girlfriend on those nights - that helps a LOT.

T.

[RolliePollie]

I can't imagine sharing a house with anyone. I've always been comfortable with solitude.

I'm afraid I might have to agree with you, Zen. Oh my goodness, I think I am becoming a spinster. 33 years old and I've lived alone since I was 22! I am very set in my ways...I think I've becoming very selfish too...it's almost scary. I don't know how in the world I would handle having someone else living with me. I guess it would have to be a very, very special someone. Like, you know, a real Prince Charming. Now if I could only find him...

[Kano]

But when he's gone - it's like half of me is gone too! I miss him so much :)

T.


You could try what my daughter used to do when daddy was gone: she couldn't sleep without cuddling one of his dirty socks!

Surprisingly, she's turned into a perfectly normal adult!

Karen in Boise

[Laterider21958]

DH goes away for 2 nights every 6 weeks and I do less cooking (that's when I indulge in not so healthy food sometimes), less dishes (due to the above), feel less guilty if I spend a lot more time on the net or just lounging around watching TV at times I would not normally switch on, and do less clock watching (i.e. I don't have to get meals ready at a specified time, just when I feel like it).

Our holidays don't always overlap, so during those times I enjoy listening to radio or CD's while on the computer eating not so healthy food (occasionally). I'm bad!:D

[bacarver]

When my husband is away (happens about twice a year), I follow the clock less. I eat when I want/what I want. I sit less (more time on the bike and later in the day). I briefly feel less a partnership and more the independent woman I used to be before we got married. I enjoy my solo times because I create what I do each day and this requires a different type of interaction with the world and with self.

[GLC1968]

My DH just returned yesterday after being gone for 10 days.

I definitely watched less TV (I've always watched very little before I met him), but I also found that I ate less, too. I cooked more though...it was fun to cook without pressure. If I screwed it up, there is no one to care but me, so I did a lot of experimenting!

I also had less time in general because without him around, I had to do everything I normally do plus the things he does! And here I thought I did everything anyway...guess I was wrong! ;)

I did read more, I shopped more (groceries and other stuff) and I watched the clock a lot less. :)