Do you have a spot you go to when you need to be alone but want to get out of the house?

I’m still in the struggle of finding one. :(

@Syger Me too. That’s why I asked.

In the summer, the school playgrounds are empty, and the elementary school closest to my house has a “butterfly garden” that has a memorial stone for the little boy I used to babysit who died from cancer. I’d sit against the rock with my mp3 player until I calmed myself down I was there pretty much everyday last summer, I was a mess.
Now school is in session, and my mp3 player doesn’t work.. so I’m looking for a new place too.

In high school, I would drive out to where I used to live… out east on Long Island. There is this amazing bluff there, with hiking trails that lead to a small strip of a beach. The most beautiful place in New York! There is also another little park/beach on the north shore that overlooks the sound and it is very relaxing and therapeutic.

I like cemeteries… I know, I’m weird. Shh.

@MacBean When it was warmer outside, I’d do my homework on a blanket on my friends gravesite.

In previous years there were plenty of turnouts along the ocean and a myriad of parks. Where I am presently is pretty weird- I go to work or I drive to the local In & Out Burger parking lot and have a chew by myself, maybe a movie after.

Bottle of wine, sigh

I usually take a walk around the lake that is near my house.

I hide out in Chapters (local book store). They have comfy couches and expensive coffee.
Who could ask for more

I used to have a pickup truck. I’d just go park, sit in the back and read a book.

We have a local Arboretum that’s huge and woodsy and easy to get “lost” in. There’s also some woods around the community college, same idea. The library is a good place to go even though there are people there, because they generally don’t bother others. Heck, if you don’t mind “alone among others,” you can table-camp at a Denny’s – just don’t forget to tip well as “table rent.”

My car. When I needed to get away I would just drive and blast music. It always helped. Until I had a bad car accident. Now I’m stuck :(

Whenever I need to be alone I head for one of the trails in the woods that surround our house. It is absolutely beautiful and I hardly ever run into anyone. The exercise also calms me.

My perfect location would be on a beach somewhere along the south shore of Lake Superior. I have visited a few times and I wish I had the opportunity to do it more often. I could just sit and stare at the water and watch some of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen in my lifetime.

I’m one of those people who can spend hours in a bookstore or library, alone. It’s very relaxing for me.

If you are at a university, often upper floors of libraries are empty of life, even when the main floors have many people. This is especially true when the lower levels have computers while the upper levels do not.

The individual study rooms are awesome, too, even if they are tiny.

Most of the time I simply go out into the screened porch. Most of the time the dogs and I are the only ones who use it. Sometimes I sit on the front patio, behind the bushes. I am the only one who does that. Sometimes I go for a walk on the beach, and, if I want coffee while I am alone, I go to Barnes & Noble or Half-Price Books, but I don’t bring my checkbook or my credit card, just as much cash as I can afford to spend.

I’ll go to the study room at the Foley Library or the 24 hour computer lab in the main building at Gonzaga U after work if my head feels like it is spinning and I just do not feel like going home for awhile.