Do you stop and take time to be alone?

[liv2bike]

You have to. With 4 kiddos (twins plus 2) all under the age of 6, the word "alone" has left my vocabulary...and my wife's especially. Even though my family thinks I am nuts, I wake everyday at 0400 to:

a) have a cup of coffee in peace
b) use the bathroom w/o kids knocking the door down or having little fingers/random objects sliding under the door
c) train so I can stay fit and...sane.

[mainemike]

I love to be alone, I require it and seek it out. Since I moved to Maine I can count on two hands how many bike rides I've taken w/anyone else. Last Summer I sailed alone a lot, and I loved it. I am not the world's most experienced/intrepid sailor, so for me, this often takes a bit of nerve, and the experience is exhilarating, producing nervous energy, excitement, fear, adventure, and lots of singing/talking to myself. I freaking love it. I also love to sit on the mooring and stare at the stunning surroundings, the same views I've known since childhood. Sometimes I'll get up in the dark, drive down to the boat, row out to the mooring and watch the sunrise before work, it's like a quick trip to another country, though familiar. I like to surf alone and paddleboard as well. I don't know how to describe the feeling other than thrilling and peaceful. This winter there will be lots and lots of skiing. I get up way before my ski buddies and generally have an hour or 2 of skiing alone, provided I don't run into another bud. I love it. This is perhaps the only time I give technique a thought, what I'm doing, how I'm doing it, what needs work, and the singing...always the singing!! To me, the key to skiing lies in the songs you sing in yer head while doing it, makes all the difference. Fascinating stuff huh?! ahhahhah

[WadePatton]

It's easier to moderate my aloneness with this web. Alone is so different for us all. Low-flying, noisy, 2-seater aircraft funk up a lot of my alone time, when i'm reaching for solitude. puppies rule.

[Brandon White]

I will add two more things.

1) Awesome dogs rule and are great "alone" companions.
2) While I love being "alone" for small bouts of time, I don't do well with long term alone time. If the wife and kid goes to Brazil for a few weeks or a month without me - I have a hard time doing meaningful things - I pace, I move things around, I fiddle with unnecessary things. I mentally feel very busy but busy doing nothing.

[David Tollefson]

There are times when I think I'd be just fine living as a hermit. I can go days without having any conversation at all. When I was living alone (had my daughter part time), I really enjoyed the time to myself.

But then I think that, no matter what happens between now and then, when the time comes, we all truly die alone. So I should enjoy the time NOT alone now while I can...

[Eddie]

If I'm in the wilderness alone, I always get an urgent sense to pee for some reason.

Whew - glad I'm not the only one. I always chalk it up to the excitement of experiencing solitude.

[lukasz]

Whew - glad I'm not the only one. I always chalk it up to the excitement of experiencing solitude.

There's only one thing more exciting. Pack some TP, man.

[Nierman]

Whew - glad I'm not the only one. I always chalk it up to the excitement of experiencing solitude.

It's in our instinctual animal behavior to stake claim to unclaimed territory. I tend to rut trees while mountain biking.

[Cookietruck]

oh man i always piss out in the backyard with the dogs after it's dark...

[monadnocky]

As I've mentioned before somewhere in this forum-

My Garmin history shows that I went for 114 rides in 2013. I believe that about all but ten or eleven of these were alone.
There is a reason for this. I don't think it's misanthropy, necessarily. It's just something I prefer to do by myself.

[Eddie]

oh man i always piss out in the backyard with the dogs after it's dark...

One thing I REALLY don't enjoy about having moved to a city: no more pissing in my own backyard.

OK I lied, I just don't get to do it quite as often.

[Eddie]

oh man i always piss out in the backyard with the dogs after it's dark...

One thing I REALLY don't enjoy about having moved to a city: no more pissing in my own backyard.

OK I lied, I just don't get to do it quite as often.

[Too Tall]

At least you don't go feral.

When my family had a vacation property I made a 50 ft. long climbing rope made of three 1/2" ropes braided. You had to be able to climb 10 feet unassisted to begin to take advantage of hand holds I augured into a huge pine and this lead to a crows nest 10' from the top where you had a solitary view for miles of inland waterway and wetlands.

Now that was some serious "me" time.

Agree with you about dogs, they get it.

I will add two more things.

1) Awesome dogs rule and are great "alone" companions.
2) While I love being "alone" for small bouts of time, I don't do well with long term alone time. If the wife and kid goes to Brazil for a few weeks or a month without me - I have a hard time doing meaningful things - I pace, I move things around, I fiddle with unnecessary things. I mentally feel very busy but busy doing nothing.

[Noteddy]

Perhaps the most profound thread I've seen here. I require time alone to recharge. People drain me - loved ones in a pleasant way. Others not so much. It has a lot to do with why I love this sport. I can count the number of rides with others on one hand this year. The groups can be fun. And, one of the joys of riding is being part of a well-oiled paceline. But, I don't require it. I don't structure my life to make the group rides. And, I don't regret it.

Work involves constant meetings 11 hours a day. Being with the dogs, or on the bike, or gardening are all cleansing, vitalizing, energizing times. Add the mental renewal to the beneficial physical effects of riding and it's easy to see why it is draws some of us.

Fortunately, I'm married to a wonder woman who feels the same.

[Noteddy]

One thing I REALLY don't enjoy about having moved to a city: no more pissing in my own backyard.

The right sized acreage is one where you can exercise this privilege without embarrassing the neighbors.

[Mike Mcdermid]

Whew - glad I'm not the only one. I always chalk it up to the excitement of experiencing solitude.

That has to be some primordial territory marking thing...but boy it made me LOL

I spend all day alone in the shop , even when i worked with others it was a very solitary team

[robin3mj]

For a city of 4M people, North Ave beach is surprisingly empty at 7am on Sundays. Doubly so when it's 10F out, which is the dog's favorite weather.

Keeps me sane.

[nahtnoj]

I have to work really hard at not taking all my time to be alone.

[prcrstn8]

A few minutes sipping an espresso out in front of the coffee shop every day at about 6:30. Utterly alone despite people walking by head down, traffic rushing by, and horns honking.

[GonaSovereign]

I love being alone and the silence that comes with it, but there's never been a time I woudn't rather enjoy that alone time with my dog.