Having lived by myself for a few weeks now (Caitlin and I broke up after four years a few months ago and our lease just ended… it was a clean/happy break… that’s all we need to say on that), I’ve gathered some thoughts…

45 Perks
#1 silence
#2 eating when you want
#3 sleeping when you want
#4 watching what you want
#5 watching what you want when you want
#6 cleaning at your leisure
#7 nobody to share bandwidth with
#8 the dvr is full of things i want to watch
#9 thermostat always comfortable
#10 stereo always plays something good
#11 shower is always vacant
#12 toilet is always vacant
#13 sink/mirror are always vacant
#14 not apologizing for passing gas
#15 not apologizing for dropping a really smelly load
#16 unused side of bed doubles as storage
#17 colors are my colors
#18 art is my art
#19 toilet paper usage is way down
#20 the whole bed
#21 no more makeup cleaner bleaching sheets
#22 wine bottles are not made for one
#23 buying a lot of new stuff
#24 no “man cave”
#25 the only problems are your problems
#26 schedule flexibility
#27 downsizing
#28 shades are open more often
#29 no femine products to step on
#30 lots more amy’s microwaveable meals
#31 go to bed sweaty if you want
#32 living in a new area and loving it
#33 looking just an extra bit
#34 dining room table? unnecessary
#35 nobody to tell you you can’t have an arcade system in the living room
#36 bikes make great wall decoration
#37 no girlie foot stink (seriously, women are masochists when it comes to their feet)
#38 nobody to be grossed out by your toenail fungus on a daily basis
#39 if there are streaks, they’re mine
#40 two nightstands
#41 two pillows
#42 one hypothalamus
#43 ordering whatever you want on your pizza
#44 eating it the next day
#45 staying up until the wee hours of the night on the laptop… blogging… in bed

25 Negatives
#1 it’s always quiet
#2 need to send an e-mail when you have something quick that you must share
#3 cooking for one
#4 grocery store for one
#5 nobody to share the little things with
#6 nobody to take care of you when sick
#7 nobody ever buys you dinner
#8 nobody ever makes you dinner
#9 wine bottles are not made for one
#10 buying a lot of new stuff
#11 when the car is broken, it really needs to be fixed
#12 nobody else to blame for messes
#13 not splitting utilities
#14 no more “man cave”
#15 traveling alone
#16 needing to taxi to the airport
#17 i’m not meeting anyone in a ’93 civic
#18 moving
#19 downsizing
#20 no 2nd dish to try/finish.
#21 more microwaveable meals
#22 bugs
#23 leaving neighbors
#24 apartment life
#25 starting over

Now I know you’re probably saying “Damn, 45 good things and 25 bad? Sounds like he really needed out.” No… I wrote this because I jokingly posted perk #43 on Facebook and my Sister asked me what the others were… So I set off coming up with those 40+ items. As my thoughts slowed, I figured a few things could also go down as negatives… So they did, and I added even more. I’m sure I could expand on both lists, but it’s late, and I do need sleep.