Some might call this a mid life crisis

Yeah, it's partly your fault for telling me this when we talked.  At first I thought it was completely nuts, but it just gnawed at me that I never get to do what I want on my holidays .  Then my boss went ice climbing in Canada and I thought "If he can do it, why can't I "

Fully willing to take that blame! Even if you're not as savagely protective of your alone-space (thankfully, Mr Seahorse and I are complementary in this need), I think there's a lot to be gained for everyone involved. You'll soon be happily kicking your wife out the door, so that she can enjoy the same benefits.

I guess I have had a mid-life crisis most of my life. I often travel alone. I would never go anywhere if I didn't.

I started traveling alone in 1987 when I flew from Texas to London for a U2 concert at Wembley Stadium when I was just about to turn 17. I'd only flown on a plane once before that and had never been over the Atlantic. After I married, I went on holidays alone and left my husband and kids to go to Paris, Madrid, Milan and Rome. At that time, my husband worked in Europe over 290 days a year so I needed a break. I also had to travel as the lone adult on travel back to Texas every year so my oldest child could spend time with his father. That included me taking flights with my middle son whose first trip was when he was three-months-old. It wasn't hard at all with any of my kids as babies or toddlers. Since I've been back in the US, I've been back to England four times without the family to go to gigs for my favorite bands that strangely don't tour the US and various cities in this country.

When I go on vacation with the family, I have to pick activities that everyone will enjoy, around everyone's schedule, I have to check and double-check that everyone had everything and I'm in a constant state of running around. Then I have to always be checking in on my pets and returning to a mountain of laundry and grocery shopping and blah! When I'm on my own, I go where I want, when I want and do what I please. So, jimbocz, enjoy your time in Jeckyll Island and eat yourself silly at the DQ!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Nothing mid-life crisis about it! We both go off on short solo holidays as much as logistics allow (usually two-to-three times a year, each, slotted around a couple trips a year together).

This is what we do as well... we go away together a couple of times a year, but I am REALLY not a good traveller, and my idea of a good time is a stay-cation on my couch or in my bed!  So Mr goes off with his pals to beer fests in the UK and on beer-hunts to Poland, and last year went to see Kraftwerk twice... in Oslo and Koeln.  I stayed home and enjoyed solitude, not cooking, not cleaning, and lots of sleeping!  Everyone's happy 

Yeah, it's partly your fault for telling me this when we talked.  At first I thought it was completely nuts, but it just gnawed at me that I never get to do what I want on my holidays .  Then my boss went ice climbing in Canada and I thought "If he can do it, why can't I "

This is why I skip boys night out.

This is why I skip boys night out.

The dangers of carousing in alehouses are much known among the civilised gentlemen of the countryside.

Although a self-selecting cohort, I wonder how much the profile of sort of person who becomes an expat overlaps with that of the sort of person who gets a lot out of their alone time. And to what extent the latter informs the former.

Someone, get me a statistically significant sample size!

Although a self-selecting cohort, I wonder how much the profile of sort of person who becomes an expat overlaps with that of the sort of person who gets a lot out of their alone time. And to what extent the latter informs the former.

For some reason when I think of an adventurous lone holiday....I think of Jeremy Clarkson.

It sounds fabulous and good for you!

I went to the US by myself to visit family and friends for 12 glorious days over New Years. I brought back 96# of American goodies (mostly from Target!) as I put all of my clothes in the carry-on! I figure DH owes me because I did the first 5 years alone with our twins in the US while he figured out the divorce/custody of son 1 from his evil ex! I keep telling him that he should feel free to go out/away but he is a bit of a homebody. He is going to a 2 day rave at the end of March in London though.

I am planning a long weekend to NYC for later this year. I hope he can come too, but if we can't get his dad to watch the kids, I will happily go alone! 

For some reason when I think of an adventurous lone holiday....I think of Jeremy Clarkson.

That's only because literally no one wants to go on holiday with him, though.

My 21st wedding anniversary is next week and my husband will be away (again as he's always away on our anniversary) to Tulsa for work on the day. He gave me my present today. One of my top 5 bands of "all time" is doing a record release gig at the Roundhouse in London on March 31st. He's got me a ticket and is using his free air miles for me. So, I'm off to the UK by myself and apart from the gig, I'm doing NOTHING but eating. I hear Jamie Oliver has a new restaurant opening up called "Barbacoa"...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My 21st wedding anniversary is next week and my husband will be away (again as he's always away on our anniversary) to Tulsa for work on the day. He gave me my present today. One of my top 5 bands of "all time" is doing a record release gig at the Roundhouse in London on March 31st. He's got me a ticket and is using his free air miles for me. So, I'm off to the UK by myself and apart from the gig, I'm doing NOTHING but eating. I hear Jamie Oliver has a new restaurant opening up called "Barbacoa"...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

What's the band?  Are you going the gig alone or are you meeting up with British friends?  Going to a gig completely by myself would feel too awkward for me.  I'd either get bored or crazy drunk. 

I walk past Barbacoa every day but I've never been in.  I have eaten at some of his other restaurants and really liked it. 

Give us a shout when you are in London and we'll have arrange a meet up.  Even if it's just me and the Seahorse I'm sure you'll be entertained.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I guess I have had a mid-life crisis most of my life. I often travel alone. I would never go anywhere if I didn't.

I started traveling alone in 1987 when I flew from Texas to London for a U2 concert at Wembley Stadium when I was just about to turn 17. I'd only flown on a plane once before that and had never been over the Atlantic. After I married, I went on holidays alone and left my husband and kids to go to Paris, Madrid, Milan and Rome. At that time, my husband worked in Europe over 290 days a year so I needed a break. I also had to travel as the lone adult on travel back to Texas every year so my oldest child could spend time with his father. That included me taking flights with my middle son whose first trip was when he was three-months-old. It wasn't hard at all with any of my kids as babies or toddlers. Since I've been back in the US, I've been back to England four times without the family to go to gigs for my favorite bands that strangely don't tour the US and various cities in this country.

When I go on vacation with the family, I have to pick activities that everyone will enjoy, around everyone's schedule, I have to check and double-check that everyone had everything and I'm in a constant state of running around. Then I have to always be checking in on my pets and returning to a mountain of laundry and grocery shopping and blah! When I'm on my own, I go where I want, when I want and do what I please. So, jimbocz, enjoy your time in Jeckyll Island and eat yourself silly at the DQ!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

What an amazing post, I always forget how many crazy stories there are out there.  You flew to Wembley by yourself at 17?  Did it turn out OK?

When you fly out for all these gigs, do you go by yourself and sleep in some hotel?  Does it not feel wierd sometimes?

Thanks for your advice and final approval, I shall indeed abuse the local Diary Queen.

Which reminds me of a story: 

Once in college I ran out of money for a week or so.  I could still eat the odd meal, but when a check finally came through I celebrated by going to the burger and ice cream place and eating like I was going to make up for some missed meals.  I ate up a storm, a big burger and a sundae. 

A few months or even years later, I was at a gig and went up to the bass player to tell him how much  I enjoyed it .  He was like "I remember you, I used to be the cook at this ice cream shop and you came in and ate all this food....."


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

One of my best concert experiences was one I went to by myself.

And there are few things I love more in life than going to a movie all by myself.  Also love having a hotel room for myself.

I'm really quite social but I am a-okay being by myself too.  I do remember when I moved to the UK and didn't know anyone how weird people found it that I would go out to eat alone.

I've been working on my buggy, getting it ready to go:



Now I just need to pack it in a bag small enough to go on a plane.  What could go wrong?

My wife made those custom side rail covers on her sewing machine.

Since I know you guys can't get enough of my kite buggy, here it is on the beach