Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with alone

What's evidence of non-action?

meowzilla — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:45:22 -0800

I spend a lot of time alone at home, playing video games, reading books, wasting time on the internet, etc. If I was accused of a crime, what evidence supports the fact I'm at home not really doing anything? Is my cell phone location tracked with enough accuracy to show that I'm at home during a specific time duration? How about electricity and water usage? Does my car have any record of not being driven?

How best can I help a naive teen spend a week in Paris

tavegyl — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 03:57:32 -0800

My baby sister will spend a week in Paris alone and is travelling overseas for the first time. What practical arrangements can I make from a distance to help her have the best time she has ever had? My 17 year old sister and I were supposed to meet in Paris for her birthday in early November. She's flying from Pakistan, I was taking the train from London. Unfortunately it's looking increasing unlikely that my visa will arrive in time. This is the first time she'll be out of South Asia, let alone travel in a non-English-speaking country by herself. Given this, I am looking for suggestions on the following:

- Good, comfortable friendly B&Bs, centrally located in a safe area, where the owners and staff will take good care of a foreign teenager who doesn't speak French. I'm paying for the holiday as a present, but would prefer it to not bankrupt me (say under 80 euros a night, preferably much less). Ideally it would be a nice little place, very comfortable, with staff whom I can speak to and who will help her navigate the city, keep an eye on her, but not be pushy or enfolding.

- Any long distance arrangements I can make? Eg ensure there is a mobile phone SIM and a guidebook waiting for her? Week-long tickets to public transport?

- How can I ensure she has cash once she's there? I was planning to do all the spending, and her Pakistani card may not work overseas. Is there a way I can make sure there's money waiting for her once she arrives?

- Any tips for a kid in this situation? My own feeling is that a week alone in Paris as your first trip abroad should be a superb adventure. At the same time I don't want her to feel intimidated or nervous alone. Any suggestions on how I can make it easier - or indeed if I should help at all? Any off-the-beaten-track places and events?

- Finally, here's the big sister worrying. I've never been to Paris, and whilst I've been travelling alone since 16, I was the dorky gawky teen, not the one who gets modelling offers. My sister is naive, beautiful and completely lacking in street smarts. In Pakistan there are societal structures (eg chaperonage, class, honour etc) protecting her when she's alone. What sort of warnings should she have about being taken advantage of, sleazy men, mugging, etc?

When the options are endless, it's hard to think of them.

alona — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 17:19:10 -0800

Feeling a little bleh, and like I need to get out of the house for a bit. Problem: it's the middle of the night. Suggestions? It's 2:15am. I live in a small town and there's nothing open right now. I don't feel like caling anyone up. I'm itching to get outside but I have no idea what to do once I'm out my front door. FWIW, I'm a 40 min walk from the nearest decent city and a two hour walk from Tel Aviv proper, but I don't feel like an insanely long walk. Just, what will keep me occupied, other than bringing a book or my mp3 player?

Learning to be alone, but not totally.

youcancallmeal — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 12:30:48 -0800

How do I walk the fine line between being alone and working on myself and not throwing away a potentially great relationship? Also: how do you learn to be alone? I broke up with my partner of 2+ years about two and a half months ago and moved across the country with the intention of being alone for at least a year to work on what I want out of life and what sort of person I want to be. I'm almost 28 years old and I've been in one relationship or another for most of the last decade, so I don't really know who I am outside of the context of a couple.

That said, a few weeks ago, I met someone. Someone who shares my ideas for how we want our respective futures to be and likes me as much as I like them and all that schmoopy stuff. I don't just want to discard this potentially amazing relationship for the sake of randomly imposed "alone time". I know I need to have a conversation with this person about what I need and that I want to take things slowly... I just don't know exactly what to say. I've been in serious relationships for so long that I don't know how to be "together, but not". I'm used to being me + partner and I'm still learning how to live as just "me".

So, hive mind: how do I word this so that it's clear that I want some sort of relationship that is more than friends with this person, but that I also want the freedom to live my own life and not rely on them to be my everything? And how do I live my own life to begin with when I am so used to having someone else around all of the time?

Laura Ingalls Wilder was herding cows by this age

Chrysostom — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:55:06 -0800

When is a child old enough to leave alone for short periods? My older son is five and a half. It would be highly convenient for me to leave him alone in the house for brief periods-ten to fifteen minutes-while I take his younger brother to daycare, two blocks away. He's intelligent and is not the type to wander off or start the stove or anything. Is it ridiculous to think that this shouldn't be a big deal?

I want to encourage his self-reliance--and, admittedly, it would make my life easier--but I don't want to do something unsafe. Or, for that matter, illegal (I'm in Pennsylvania).

how to talk to people without actually talking to people

puckish — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:10:04 -0800

Suggestions for carving out alone time visiting a partner in a different city. I've had some rough times lately, and am currently staying with my partner (working in a different city for the summer) and his friends while everything gets straightened out. At home, we usually spend a huge chunk of every day together (we both work from home) and it's really easy to go from morning coffee to work at the coffee shop to joint lunch. We're collaborating on a project right now (that's partly why I'm here) -- but right now, I can't really think about anything, and just feel like I need some alone time. This has all got me feeling kind of stressed out --- yesterday I basically hid in the room and didn't talk to anyone, and that seems like kind of a lame way to be.

Any suggestions? specifically, for ways to break up the day, so that we can work on stuff productively (and hang out, and have fun) while I can still get quiet time to get my head straight?

Sick of stag.

Anonymous — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 08:29:08 -0800

Why (in the hell) can I not bring a date to this wedding? So let's say I have this good friend, Larry. Larry and I have been pretty tight for about 10 years, but work has taken me away to the other side of the world (literally - Larry's living in a major US metropolis, I'm living in a far-flung country that's [roughly] 2 (count 'em: two) 12-hour flights to get to where Larry is).

Larry's getting married to a nice gal. Its pretty much expected that I'll be at the wedding, Larry and I were even roommates at one point. I consider him a pretty close friend, and he knows more about me than most, but I'm an introvert and Larry's a pretty popular guy. I had almost expected to perhaps be an usher in the wedding or something, but I wasn't particularly surprised when that didn't happen - Larry has a lot more friends than I do.

So I get the invite, its addressed to me, specifically (i.e. not "and guest"). However, the RSVP card does have a field for "Number attending."

Larry and I are catching up recently and the wedding comes up. I talk about who I'm going to bring as a date (he and I would discuss my interest in particular dates often, back in the day), and Larry very pointedly states that nobody is bringing dates to this wedding and only the names on the envelopes are invited. He apparently thinks that all weddings are like this, and says as much - according to him only married or engaged people get to bring a date.

This puts me off a great deal. I am literally making plans to travel around the world, at my own expense and on my own vacation time, to be there to celebrate Larry's special day, and now I am essentially forced to do it "stag," probably sitting at a table with people I do not know, likely next to some friend of the bride that she thinks I'll be just perfect for, who I will have no interest in. I've been in these shoes before and choose to avoid it these days.

Questions:
1. Am I on a high horse I need to get off of? I don't have anyone in particular I desperately want to be there with me, I would just not like to be "alone" and ostracized as such at said wedding (large protestant WASP group where its generally assumed if you're diddling around in you're 30's and not married or fast approaching, there's something fundamentally amiss with you).

2. Are Larry and his fiance as pretentious as I'm currently now wondering? (Picture Tim Robbins' character in Shawshank Redemption - I feel like asking Larry "How can you be so OBTUSE?")

3. Where do I go from here? I don't know why this throws me off so much, but I'm at the point of considering not even going. I know I will, in the end, to avoid the headaches of "why didn't he make it to our wedding," but at the same time, I don't want to show up and concede the point that I've failed at being relationally successful.

4. Bonus: Why am I so angry about this? I know I shouldn't be, and I'm mad that I'm letting it get to me. It just strikes me at its core as something I shouldn't let pass with a sad, sunken gaze. It should be alright that I'm not engaged or married, and yet still want someone to be with me, right?

Is a life alone psychologically feasible?

Anonymous — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 14:16:58 -0800

Is a life alone psychologically feasible? I used to be one of those procrastinating lonely guys who lamented his singleton status, but I made it past that stage, and now, a few years down the line, I'm in a long-term relationship with a more-or-less great woman. And I hate it.

In retrospect, I bought into the hype surrounding relationships: everybody had one, so I wanted one too. But it turns out I'm nowhere near as interested in sex and romance as I thought I would be.

I'm facing up to the fact that this relationship has run its course, and that it would be wrong for me to carry on pretending. I'm having more trouble facing up to the implication that a life on my own is what I truly desire.

What am I setting myself up for? Am I destined to float away into my own selfishness? Do people who live alone by choice inevitably come to regret it?

How can I get alone time as a (new) parent?

El Curioso — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 23:48:12 -0800

Fellow introverts, and others who need lots of alone time: How did you deal with becoming a parent? We just had our first baby, which I am incredibly excited about. I'm also apprehensive, for many reasons, but one in particular: as a classic introvert I need a lot of alone time, and I gather that new babies (and children in general) are hell on that.

I don't feel like I get enough alone time as it is, partly through my own reluctance to ask for or demand it. (It feels "antisocial" or "selfish," or both.) It's been especially lacking the past nice months of the pregnancy when my wife couldn't do much and we ended up at home, together, a lot.

I'm thrilled to be a father. I want to share parenting duties as much as possible with my wife. Since we're both freelancers working from home, this will be easier, but it also seems like a recipe for no time to myself whatsoever for maybe years, and that's terrifying.

I don't want to be a remote parent, always looking for a way to escape from my family--either by literally going away (I travel a lot for work) or into the computer, books, etc at home. Yet I need serious amounts of solitude for my own sanity. How can I get it?

They left us alone. Now what?

reenum — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 06:46:07 -0800

I want to read fictional and/or true stories about people being put into positions of responsibility unexpectedly for extended periods of time and how they deal with it. I was listening to "This American Life" and there are a category of stories on the show I am particularly drawn to. It's the stories of people being put into positions of responsibility and authority and how they deal with these situations.

I'm also interested in stories where employees have to cover for an absent boss/bosses.

Finally, stories of children being forced to live alone for extended periods of time while their parents are absent.

Examples of what I'm talking about are:

-From Episode 346: Act 2 about Clevins Brown

-Episode 334: Duty Calls

-Even though it's cheesy, Home Alone.

If these sorts of stories have a name, I'd like to know that as well.

Thanks!

Dining solo in the Big Apple

bill the tinman — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 19:55:49 -0800

Where are the best places for dining solo in Manhattan? I'll be in the city for a few days starting tomorrow and was wondering if anyone could suggest good places for when you're eating alone? I'll mostly be on the east side (from 1st to about 80th) and would love to find some great, cheaper ($10-15) places to grab a quick lunch or dinner. I'm open to any ethnicity and just mostly looking for anything that's a step from pizza or hot dogs, though sitting a lunch counter or bar is perfectly fine.

Also, a big plus if at least one of the places will be open tomorrow (New Year's Day).

Spending a long weekend alone.

inatizzy — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 07:25:50 -0800

I'm off work the next four days over the New Year's holiday & weekend. I am usually a very social person, but I live alone and I don't have much of anything planned this weekend. And I'm worried about spending the whole weekend alone, because I think I will get really lonely and unhappy. How can I enjoy myself? I've reached out to a few friends to hang out, but have no commitments yet and may get none. I usually go out swing dancing on the weekend, which gives me lots of social interaction, but there's nothing this weekend. I live alone in a 2-room studio that can sometimes feel a little claustrophobic/isolating and I get cabin fever if I spend too much time alone there, especially if I don't have something social to look forward to.

So I'm worried about getting bored and depressed and feeling lonely the whole time this weekend, which would be pretty awful and unbearable. I usually keep myself pretty busy outside the house, probably in order to avoid this type of discomfort, so with this weekend not having much in the way of busy-ness, I'm at a loss for what to do with myself and how to cope.

I have the option to spend a few hundred dollars and go away to a dance conference at a hotel for these days, which would surround me with people and activities. (Mostly people I don't know, but there’d be a couple of friends.) But I am afraid I'd just be running away from a problem that I would benefit from solving.

It can get pretty bad with long times alone at home without plans. Feeling very sorry for myself, like no one loves me, like I am all alone and no one cares, like I am wasting my time, like I am trapped there alone and unhappy. To alleviate this on normal weekends, I often go to a cafe with my laptop just so I can be around people. But I can only do that for so long (not for 4 days!) and we're looking at bad weather this weekend (snow and extreme cold) so it won't be easy to go out of the house. Plus, most public places will be closed tomorrow for New Year’s holiday.

So I guess my question is, is there a way that I can overcome this loneliness/sadness/worry this weekend and really enjoy all this unstructured responsibility-free alone time? How would I spend the time? It sounds like it should be a wonderful thing but it is just making me really anxious, as you can tell.

Or would it just be better for me to give in to my need to be around people and go to this dance conference? Sorry for the length; I appreciate your advice!

Alone by choice, but now what?

Anonymous — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 17:49:07 -0800

All alone for New Year's Eve... I've just gone through the "What to do on New Year's Eve?" and the "Alone at Christmas" threads, but what about being alone on New Year's Eve?

While I have been invited to events and have friends around in the local area, I have declined all invites so far. This holiday season has been more hectic and overwhelming than I had expected, and I just don't want to get dressed up to go out.

So, what can I do? I don't want to sleep through the ball dropping at midnight, but watching it on TV and drinking by myself seems too sad. Any suggestions? Ideally, I would love to do something:

- ritual-like, or ceremonial
- fun
- to bid adieu to 2008, which was a crappy year for me
- that I won't feel silly doing alone

Thanks for the suggestions!

free me from my free time

Anonymous — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 09:48:59 -0800

How should I use my copious amounts of free time while being poor in a country where nobody understands me? Background: I am working in a foreign country. I get paid but only enough to get by. I am not legally allowed to get another job. The nature of my work means that I work two or three full days a week but have the other days free. I am here with my partner who has the same type of job.

I want to go out (or stay in) and do fun things but, with my almost non-existent budget, it is difficult to find activities in my price range. I feel that on my free days, I end up sitting and refreshing metafilter and other webpages instead of actually doing anything.

I have investigated the expat community but most of them are into the bar and club scene which I really can't afford. I don't know the language well enough to communicate effectively (ie: not sounding like a five-year-old) with citizens of the country (and, considering the short period of time that I'll be here, am unlikely to learn a sufficient amount). My partner and I go out to explore the city but my partner has different days off (and , of course, I don't want to rely on my partner for all of my entertainment).

So, I feel totally lame because I am in this foreign country where I should be running around and having a good time but, instead, am inside refreshing the internet and moping. I'm sure there's culture shock going on here but I feel like if I had things to do to keep myself busy I'd be happier and more at ease.

Things that I already do: exercise 45 minutes a day, cook, force myself to get out of bed and walk down random streets and look at things.

Anon because I feel like a jackass being in a cool foreign country and being incapable of enjoying myself.

What proportion of couples in relationships shower alone versus together?

nomnomnom — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 05:44:51 -0800

Couples: do you shower alone, or together? And why, or why not?
Just trying to get a cross-section of the population here.

I've showered with lovers before, of course, but I seem to be one of the only people among my circle of friends who doesn't continue to shower with my partner daily. I actually don't see the point unless it's a sexual situation. I couldn't imagine just showering away, in a totally routine manner, with somebody else. I enjoy my alone time! Am I a prude?

I've been with my partner for 5 years now and at this point I'd actually feel strange sharing a shower...

Sell now, or sell later? Barbie's Malibu Dream House has got to go.

Unicorn on the cob — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:49:11 -0800

I've been getting my house ready to sell and am wondering if I'm crazy. Should I go ahead with it now, or wait until spring? Of course, there are mitigating factors involved. I own a house in Texas (Dallas) and have been working on getting it ready to sell... fixing things up, paint, polishing floors and the like. However, it literally feels like the end of the financial world right now. So my question is, am I doing all this in vain? Different people tell me the housing market's going to rebound at some point next year. Others tell me to get out now before the dollar turns into the peso.

The following factors are important in my decision for selling:

1. I make a decent living, but I do live paycheck to paycheck because of the house. I literally am unable to contribute to my 401k or do anything beyond make token payments against my credit card debt, which is pretty high. Basic subsistence living is it. Please don't suggest roommates, turning off services, etc. I did all that the past two years just to get by and have exhausted those options; I genuinely have tried everything and cannot get financial traction.

2. Originally I had planned to pay down that debt and wait until next year, hoping the market would improve and the value of my house would demand a better return on the investment. Traditionally, fall/holiday season isn't that great for selling a home, correct? Or am I wrong about that?

3. I have yet to pay house taxes for 2008. That means in January, the tax bill will be due. How will that affect me if I decide to sell now vs. waiting until after the first of the year?

4. My house was built in 2003, so it's still pretty new, in great shape, and on nearly an acre of land inside the city limits. Therefore, I believe I should be able to get a good asking price... but my city is also apparently flooded with foreclosures. How do I compete with that?

All of this is stressful and difficult for me to deal with, obviously, and I am totally alone in dealing with the home and yard maintenance, financial responsibilities and finding a realtor/new place to live if it sells quickly.

I feel a bit lost and overwhelmed. I'm trying to make the best decision for myself financially. I realize that jobs go away, illnesses and accidents happen, and were the scale to tip even a little, I'd be in a lot of trouble.

Any advice or anecdotes from people who have recently sold homes or know more about the real estate market than I do would be welcome. I already know to make the place immaculate/remove everything I own/allow anyone access at any time; I'm trying to work out getting a storage unit and all that jazz. I just wonder if I'm doing it at the wrong time.

What’s a Single Girl to do with 2 months off?

Jenny is Crafty — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 12:40:51 -0800

In the not so distant future, I will hit 7 years with my employer, which entitles me to the company benefit of 2 months off, with pay. I have been saving (I have about 5k set aside for this) and I want to start making plans within the next 6-12 months. Until recently, I had been spending the time and saving the money planning a trip for two as my ex receives the same benefit at the same time. I am afraid if I don’t plan something and kick myself in the butt, my two months will be spent as a recluse in my apartment or visiting my mother in Idaho, which well, would be worse than not having the time off. I am having a really hard time picturing what to do now that I am very single. I can’t picture going on vacation by myself, but I need to get over that as I will be!

One idea that I have had is to drive to Seattle and park my car on the Alaskan Ferry and then see where life and 5k leads me, but I cant really see that stretching for two months. Besides, I have never been out of the USA and I would like to do some world traveling specifically for museums, history, and native culture. I don’t like densely populated areas or large crowds AT ALL. I know I would not enjoy resorts or a cruise or visiting a large city and want to travel off the beaten path, but I am clueless as to where to go that would still be safe.

Does anybody have experience with this or suggestions on where to go? Can you offer advice on getting over the mental weirdness of traveling alone for such an extended period of time?

after breaking up will he change his mind?

theobromine_ady — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 08:56:10 -0800

Can any of you men out there help me translate this situation and maybe give me some guidance as to how to go forward? I was dumped by my boyfriend of a year-and-a-half without warning and his reason was this: "I don't want a relationship of any kind. I just want to be in my own space and spend my time with my son and my dogs." But then he added that I am his best friend, he thinks I'm fabulous, respects me more than any other human, thinks I'm beautiful and wants me to stay his friend because "we are excellent at being friends."
I am devistated and heartbroken. He can give me no reason other than wanting his space back.

The relationship, from the very get-go, was easy and comfortable and romantic and full of sparks and sex and laughter. We never had an argument or disagreement about anything. Our children (each have one) love each other and each of us.

It was a pretty casual relationship and we didn't see each other every day. When we were together we were close physically, holding hands, hugging, smooching, always smiling and laughing. The sex was great, too. Really great. Neither of us want to get married again and the road we were on together seemed just the right one.

We were very protective of the kids and only had overnights if there weren't any around. We each believed we were a gift to the other from the universe for some great deed performed in a different life. "all that and a bag of chips" if you will.

So after a fabulous weekend together he called me Thursday to say he needed to "air some things out." We had a deal that neither would require the other to guess the thoughts and he said he needed to talk because he was having some thoughts he didn't want me to guess.

Bomb dropped after dinner. Break up. Stop it cold. No discussion. His own space. No relationship of any kind, with anyone. No reason. No incident. No other person. No nothing just KABLAM! Over. But would I be his best friend.

Two things have happened in the last few months. One is that he switched, very slowly and under doctor supervision, from Zoloft to Cymbalta. He says that on the Cymbalta he feels better than he has ever felt, his back doesn't hurt (he had a paralyzing back injury 10 years ago, rehabbed back to full function but has had chronic, horrible back pain since the accident) for the first time in 10 years and now he wants to be alone. I truly believe this isolation is a side-effect from the meds but he doesn't and it's not my place to say. He didnt' tell his doctor that we broke up. Just tells him he "feels great". The other thing was that a few months ago I left for a two week job training out-of-state. I missed him terribly. He told me he missed me. Our reuinion was sweet and passionate. But on D-day he told me that while I was gone he realized I was much more into his "space" than he wanted me to be and now he wants it back.

I am not a smotherer. Yes, I enjoyed his company greatly. I have my own life, am independent (sometimes to a fault), am a single mother, have a great (and demanding) job, two actually. But he was so fabulous that I rearranged some priorities to spend more time with him.

I asked him to change his mind. To try this with a pull-back plan and not spend so much time together. He said "no".

Help me! I have tried to stay his friend but it is too painful to be in his company and pretend that I don't want to be close. When we are together it feels exactly the same: easy, fun, full of laughter and smiles, comfortable, close, smart but without the hand-holding and kissing.

We are in our 40s, both divorced, both had given up on finding someone and this was so right, so good, so fabulous. Why, then, would a smart, passionate, compassionate, loving man throw this away without any reason other than wanting to be alone?

Is he just that damaged and broken from his horrible ex?
Is he protecting me from something so therefore not telling me some horrible thing I did wrong or didn't do?

He said he doesn't have a single mean thing to say to me or about me. He still finds me attractive and sexy but doesn't want to have sex. He's a real gentleman and a casual sexual relationship, in his mind, is disrespectful and so therefore not an option. And I'm not going to demean myself by asking for one anyway.

He emails me a dozen times a day. If I'm late to reply he sends "where are you? are you okay? messages."
Help. Translate this for me. I don't speak boy!

Our paths are going to cross a lot. Our kids go to the same school. We swim at the same pool. We walk our dogs the same places. We live in the same neighborhood. Do I just stay away and let my fire fizzle? Is there hope that he'll realize he threw away something so very fabulous and beg for it back? Do I chalk this up to another broken heart that didn't kill me? Anyone familiar with Cymbalta and will the isolation necessity wane and he'll realize he doesn't want to be alone?

Thanks.

fun things to do alone in Chicago?

mustcatchmooseandsquirrel — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 08:31:56 -0800

What should I do alone in Chicago? I'm going to be in Chicago July 17-22 with my boyfriend. We already have plans to go to the Art Institute, bum around Michigan Avenue, go to the Signature Lounge, see Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind, eat at delicious restaurants, wander through some neighborhoods, and go to some parks.

What I am looking for is something (inexpensive) to do on Saturday while my boyfriend is hipstering around the Pitchfork Music Festival and for other times when he is hanging out with some of his friends that I'd prefer not to spend too much time with (I can't handle hours of indie-rock talk!).

Suggestions for interesting places to sit and read would be nice if nothing else comes to mind. Also, I wouldn't be opposed to renting a bicycle and biking around the city but I am scared of super busy streets so bike route suggestions would also be welcome.

“I love to be alone. I never found the companion that was so companionable as solitude.”

blue_beetle — Sat, 24 May 2008 12:07:29 -0800

Great places in the world to visit (or short-term volunteer opportunities) when traveling alone?

Need a neat gallery or exhibit on Sat. April 5th.

allthewhile — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 18:20:25 -0800

I'm in Chicago alone and bored tomorrow Saturday April 5th looking for interesting galleries, showings, art exhibits, etc. What would you recommend? Near an el is a + :) Looking for something outside the usual touristy museums or stops.

How to entertain a lonely Jew on Xmas?

PostIronyIsNotaMyth — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 01:45:01 -0800

Young, alone and Jewish on Xmas in LA. How do I entertain myself? So I'll be alone on Xmas this year, not a big deal though being Jewish and all. That being said, I was wondering if anyone knew of anything I could do alone on Xmas day in Los Angeles?

What should I do this Friday night in NYC?

dyslexictraveler — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 14:52:39 -0800

NYC filter: I'm visiting a friend in the city this weekend and due to her work schedule, I'm going to end up being by myself on Friday night. I don't make it down to New York that often, so I'd really like to do something fun, but I've already contacted my other friends who live in the area and I've come up empty. So I'm querying the hive mind: What should I do? A few additional details:
- I'm a mid-twenties guy, if that matters.
- My friend lives in Brooklyn (Crown Heights), but I can go anywhere that's reasonably subway accessible.
- I'm open to anything that's fun, interesting, and that I won't feel too weird going to/doing alone. I was thinking along the lines of a show, an interesting speaker, a museum that’s open late, or perhaps a one-off volunteer opportunity, but don’t let that restrict you in your suggestions.
- The time block I'm looking to fill is between 5 pm and midnight, with perhaps a break for dinner at some point.

Thanks in advance!

Safe parts of South America?

mjao — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 06:23:19 -0800

Where are the safest places to travel to in South America, if you're alone? My Australian brother (22 years old) is in Sweden and he's sick of the cold weather. He's been waiting around for his friend to come with him to South America. But now his friend can't make it til December. He wants to leave now, but he has heard it is dangerous to go to South America alone. Is it? Where are the safest places? I'll welcome as much information as you can give me, down to specific sites of accommodation.

He's monolingual, by the way.

A Daft Plan for Montreal alone?

Galt — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 10:07:10 -0800

I have two tickets to Daft Punk in Montreal next Tuesday; I'm going, but I can't find anyone who wants to go with me. What do I do? I bought two tickets to the Daft Punk/The Rapture/Kavinsky/SebastiAn show on August 7th at the Belle Centre in Montreal, thinking that I would be able to find someone who wanted free tickets to a cool concert with me. No such luck, though - everyone I've asked is either busy or really doesn't like Daft Punk.

My dad says that I should consider just not going and trying to catch them another time, because it would be kinda sad to drive up to Montreal to see a concert alone. But I really want to go - I'd be more sad if I didn't go at all.

What should I do with the other ticket? It's for a seat, so if I sold it, that person would be sitting alone next to me (seems awkward).

And is there anything fun for a not-very-outgoing, not-used-to-cities guy to do after the show? (With four groups starting at 7:30, should I even try for anything after?)