Sunday, December 11, 2005
eZine issue - Dec 2005
1. Traveling Single
Some singles tell me they hate to travel alone. I, on the other hand,find it thrilling. It can make you more spontaneous about where you go and what you do. Also, you’re more likely to talk to the locals and other travelers that you meet if you don’t have a built-in companion.
Travel broadens your horizons; traveling alone broadens them even more.
I have an advantage when it comes to traveling alone because I dance. Before I go to another city, I get on the Internet and find out about social dance clubs and studios that have public dance parties. Then I can contact people through websites to verify that their dances are singles friendly. Taking dance classes in a strange city is an especially good way to meet people.
If you're not a dancer, you can still use a similar technique by finding groups that share your hobby, whatever it is. If you're in an organization in your town, find out if there's a chapter in the town you're visiting. If you can contact any of the officers, you can find out if any club activities - official or unofficial - are
happening while you're there. Just think, a ready-made group of potential friends. And they share your interest!
Obviously, the local paper's community events section is a great place to start when looking for things to do and places to socialize.
I also have an advantage in that I’m fifty-five. No, don't laugh. If I get hungry for company during the day, I can always find an activity at a senior center. There may be a dance, discussion group, lecture, or card game to attend. I’ve met fascinating authors, performers, and artists by crashing parties at senior centers.
Everywhere you go – sightseeeing or eating out – ask the locals, “Do you know of any fun events going on over the next few days?” It’s an insider’s guide to what's going on.
For instance, that’s how I heard about a great, free, rooftop concert in downtown Madison, Wisconsin. Not only that, but the people who tell you about the event will probably be at the event. When you get a glimpse of them in that sea of strangers, they’ll seem like old friends!
Finding your way around an unknown locale can be a challenge – but a fun challenge. Prepare to get lost since you won’t have a navigator.
View getting lost as an adventure. What the heck, you’re not punching a time clock on vacation. It’s so rewarding and empowering to find your way to a brand new destination (even if you did take a scenic route you hadn’t planned on). I love the feeling that comes over me when I start to know my way around a new place.
To me, an ideal combination is to visit someone you know but to have the freedom to go off on your own.
If you get lonely and wish you could share your travel experiences with friends, email them from the library or an Internet cafe. If you’re going to send post cards, you might print out friends’ addresses on self-sticking address labels before you go.
Surprisingly, some of my best travel adventures have been internal. While on vacation, I have more time to write. I have a friend who takes vacations specifically so he can concentrate on his song writing. Another friend takes his sketchbook on vacations. You can create fond memories of quiet, beautiful, meditative times alone at a sidewalk café, museum, art gallery, or national park.
Of course, it’s also wonderful to travel with friends or family. I’m just encouraging you not to limit yourself by saying you can’t – or won’t – travel alone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2. Stats about Singles
The Washington Times published some eye-opening facts about singles in
their 8/17/05 issue. The article, by Cheryl Wetzstein is called “More
Homes in U.S. Go Solo.”
Some key facts from the article:
“Single-adult households have displaced two-parent families with
children as the most common kind of U.S. household, according to the
Census Bureau.”
”Single-adult households are continuing to grow and might even hit 34
million by the 2010 census.”
”This is because people are most likely to live alone "at either end
of the life cycle" - in youth or as senior citizens - he said, and
baby boomers are just starting to move into their 60s.”
”However, not all of those adults living alone are living completely
alone, said Mr. Francese, who tracks trends for the Ogilvy & Mather
marketing communications firm.”
”Professional, commuter couples might live alone during the week, but
share weekends together, he said. Single parents might regularly have
their children in the home, and single adults might have lengthy
visits from friends or lovers.
"There is a tremendous diversity in this [living-alone] group."
~~~~~~~~~~~
3. Humor
Comic Rita Rudner, had a couple of funny quotes on marital transience
at http://www.quotationspage.com:
- In Hollywood a marriage is success if it outlasts milk.
- When I meet a man I ask myself, “Is this the man I want my children
to spend their weekends with?”
4. Embraceable You
Touch deprivation is a common complaint I hear from singles. To avoid this deficiency, I like to cultivate friendships with people
(especially guy people) who are happy to hug. Recently I had a funny conversation in which we coined a new term for hug addiction.
Me – I need my quota of hugs every day.
Him – You’re such a flirt when you want a hug.
Me – Yeah, I’m just a hug slut.
Let your inner hug slut come out and play. But be sure to find out which of your friends are willing huggees, first. Some people aren’t comfortable with it, and we have to respect that.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Some singles tell me they hate to travel alone. I, on the other hand,find it thrilling. It can make you more spontaneous about where you go and what you do. Also, you’re more likely to talk to the locals and other travelers that you meet if you don’t have a built-in companion.
Travel broadens your horizons; traveling alone broadens them even more.
I have an advantage when it comes to traveling alone because I dance. Before I go to another city, I get on the Internet and find out about social dance clubs and studios that have public dance parties. Then I can contact people through websites to verify that their dances are singles friendly. Taking dance classes in a strange city is an especially good way to meet people.
If you're not a dancer, you can still use a similar technique by finding groups that share your hobby, whatever it is. If you're in an organization in your town, find out if there's a chapter in the town you're visiting. If you can contact any of the officers, you can find out if any club activities - official or unofficial - are
happening while you're there. Just think, a ready-made group of potential friends. And they share your interest!
Obviously, the local paper's community events section is a great place to start when looking for things to do and places to socialize.
I also have an advantage in that I’m fifty-five. No, don't laugh. If I get hungry for company during the day, I can always find an activity at a senior center. There may be a dance, discussion group, lecture, or card game to attend. I’ve met fascinating authors, performers, and artists by crashing parties at senior centers.
Everywhere you go – sightseeeing or eating out – ask the locals, “Do you know of any fun events going on over the next few days?” It’s an insider’s guide to what's going on.
For instance, that’s how I heard about a great, free, rooftop concert in downtown Madison, Wisconsin. Not only that, but the people who tell you about the event will probably be at the event. When you get a glimpse of them in that sea of strangers, they’ll seem like old friends!
Finding your way around an unknown locale can be a challenge – but a fun challenge. Prepare to get lost since you won’t have a navigator.
View getting lost as an adventure. What the heck, you’re not punching a time clock on vacation. It’s so rewarding and empowering to find your way to a brand new destination (even if you did take a scenic route you hadn’t planned on). I love the feeling that comes over me when I start to know my way around a new place.
To me, an ideal combination is to visit someone you know but to have the freedom to go off on your own.
If you get lonely and wish you could share your travel experiences with friends, email them from the library or an Internet cafe. If you’re going to send post cards, you might print out friends’ addresses on self-sticking address labels before you go.
Surprisingly, some of my best travel adventures have been internal. While on vacation, I have more time to write. I have a friend who takes vacations specifically so he can concentrate on his song writing. Another friend takes his sketchbook on vacations. You can create fond memories of quiet, beautiful, meditative times alone at a sidewalk café, museum, art gallery, or national park.
Of course, it’s also wonderful to travel with friends or family. I’m just encouraging you not to limit yourself by saying you can’t – or won’t – travel alone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2. Stats about Singles
The Washington Times published some eye-opening facts about singles in
their 8/17/05 issue. The article, by Cheryl Wetzstein is called “More
Homes in U.S. Go Solo.”
Some key facts from the article:
“Single-adult households have displaced two-parent families with
children as the most common kind of U.S. household, according to the
Census Bureau.”
”Single-adult households are continuing to grow and might even hit 34
million by the 2010 census.”
”This is because people are most likely to live alone "at either end
of the life cycle" - in youth or as senior citizens - he said, and
baby boomers are just starting to move into their 60s.”
”However, not all of those adults living alone are living completely
alone, said Mr. Francese, who tracks trends for the Ogilvy & Mather
marketing communications firm.”
”Professional, commuter couples might live alone during the week, but
share weekends together, he said. Single parents might regularly have
their children in the home, and single adults might have lengthy
visits from friends or lovers.
"There is a tremendous diversity in this [living-alone] group."
~~~~~~~~~~~
3. Humor
Comic Rita Rudner, had a couple of funny quotes on marital transience
at http://www.quotationspage.com:
- In Hollywood a marriage is success if it outlasts milk.
- When I meet a man I ask myself, “Is this the man I want my children
to spend their weekends with?”
4. Embraceable You
Touch deprivation is a common complaint I hear from singles. To avoid this deficiency, I like to cultivate friendships with people
(especially guy people) who are happy to hug. Recently I had a funny conversation in which we coined a new term for hug addiction.
Me – I need my quota of hugs every day.
Him – You’re such a flirt when you want a hug.
Me – Yeah, I’m just a hug slut.
Let your inner hug slut come out and play. But be sure to find out which of your friends are willing huggees, first. Some people aren’t comfortable with it, and we have to respect that.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
