Coupled Jellies: If you were suddenly living on your own (for whatever reason), how different would your living arrangements be?

When I moved out of my marriage, I rented a 3 bedroom house, with expectations of kids being with me. As custody issues were a struggle, I moved into a two bedroom two bath apartment. That was perfect for me,and gave me room for when my son was over.

I got a three bedroom place when my daughter came to live with me too. But now that both kids are off to college, I can see myself getting into a two bedroom place within a year.

It’s something I’ve thought about, not because I have any plans to leave Matt, but because I like to know I can make it on my own if the need were to arise.

It’d be rough. I could probably swing the rent of our two-bedroom apartment for awhile on my own, long enough for me to find another place, but it wouldn’t be fun.

I don’t think I’d be able to stay this close to the city on my own. A one-bedroom around here isn’t much cheaper than a two-bedroom. I could get roommates, or I could move farther away and deal with the longer commute. I don’t have a car, though, so I wouldn’t be able to move outside the reach of the commuter rail. Grocery shopping without a car would suck too.

It’s not something I want to explore!

When I divorced I got a 2 bedroom apartment and quickly decided apartment living wasn’t for me. I could hear my neighbors sneeze! I looked for a house for over a year and ended up with a 3 bedroom, full basement house on an acre. Mainly because the price was right and the neighbors weren’t very close. I do regret having a basement though. Lots of stairs just to do laundry.
I am still single and take care of it by myself, but I do have a yard guy.

I am potentially facing this scenario and I’ve been thinking about it a lot.
My housing situation would not change, I would remain in our home, so that will be the same and the finances would remain as they are. I am mostly in charge of caring for the house and the pets, so that would also remain the same. I am happy in my home, which is modest in size and has a long family history, so if I could live anywhere I wanted, I think that I would still choose to be here.
The biggest adjustment for me would be psychological. I don’t like being alone and I have never lived alone in my entire life (I grew up with siblings and I moved in with my husband as soon as I left my parents’ home), so I’m accustomed to having family around me every day. I fear that I would be incredibly lonely. I might have to get a roommate. Or host an exchange student. I am much more of a team/partnership oriented person than I am independent, I don’t think that it would be good for me to live alone for very long.

There’s no getting around it. When it comes to ” the nest”, we husbands are there to finance and maintain the ambitions of “those who know best.”

@stanleybmanly: Okay, but how would you choose to live if on your own?

Also, your premise doesn’t apply to me as my wife and I make about the same amount of cabbage.

My butler would sleep with m…woah, what!?!

I’d live in a town, as close to the centre and the train station as possible. I dislike being reliant on a car to get everywhere.

If I were alone, and had my ‘druthers, I’d live in a small but complete motor home which I’d use to travel from faire to festival, year ‘round.

And I might just be taking steps to make that happen, anyway, with the husband and son.

@cookieman the cabbage situation often bestows on men the illusion of power, but when it comes to “the nest” and “nesting” arrangements, I am but an instrument to the will of Her Highness.

I’d get some damn peace and quiet, and actually get to bed on time.

Currently, I live close to work, and I love this house, despite how little it does to muffle people walking around above my room, but on my own I would not need a 5 bedroom, 2 bath, 2 car garage house. Once I leave here, I imagine I’ll be in a one bedroom apartment, preferably with off-street parking and in-unit laundry.

I’d also love to skip out on the TV in the bedroom.

@Seek

Maybe you’ll be Going Mobile.

I’d be so happy to not bicker about what’s for dinner I could live in a tent and be content.

@stanleybmanly: I’m sorry it worked out that way for you sir.

I would move into an independent living home with all my meals prepared for me, weekly maid service, and a small one bedroom apartment with a view overlooking the ocean. They would have daily enrichment activities which I could participate in.

I’d like a custom built house, about 1900 sq ft with an attached garage on around two acres. Apartments in this neck of the woods have roaches-no matter how nice the apartments.
It would have the open concept as they say and I could look right through it. The doorways would all have oval tops on them and wide enough to handle a wheelchair in case I ever need one. It would be large enough to hold leather den furniture plus my cherrywood dining room stuff I got in the mid eighties. A.fireplace would be a necessity as would a whole house generator. It would be a two story house so I could look out the upstairs bedroom window and see wildlife amongst the trees. I’d have a small vegetable garden, maybe a clothesline for sheets and a covered front porch. It would also have an electric fence. Dream on.

I’d have a couple of options. We own a duplex, and have joked that if we ever get divorced, we could each live in one side. I’m the only breadwinner, so I could also move to a smaller place. It would have to be pretty cheap, but all I really need is a bed, a bathroom, small kitchen and some space to work from home. Having it all on one floor would be an improvement…these stairs are getting to be a bitch!

@chyna I’d consider moving your laundry area upstairs. Even to the bedroom level, if possible…that would be so convenient!

If single again, I’d probably move in with my parents and find a job, get my own apartment until I saved enough.