8 1/2 weeks

 Not long ago, I posted about my month as a full-time Mom. Since then, I have started a job 2,500 miles away. And I started it 2 1/2 months before the rest of my family will join me. Now, I'll admit I didn't really think about it beforehand but I have honestly never, ever lived totally alone in my life. I've always had roommates. In more recent years, I upped the ante to include an XY, two kids, two dogs, a tankful of fish and a corn snake. (We did have a guinea pig but she has since found a new home. Really, another home, not at a "ranch" or anything.) So for me, chaos is the norm. But lately, it's been just me and uh...me.

Hello, Friend

Crickets. 

I have a great little place. A cottage behind a house attached to a garage. Kind of a glorified efficiency. Just the right size and very nice. But perhaps the most important feature of this cozy place is the remote control gas wood stove. Yep. Remote control. I walk in the door and turn it on when I get home from work. The flame that flickered on demand quickly became my beloved companion. A warm friend who's always ready to welcome me home at the end of the day. I also developed a much closer relationship with the tv. I've never been a huge tv watcher, but I will admit: The Voice can get kind of addictive.

My kitchen looks different, too. French bread. Red wine. Imported salami. Truffled sea salt. Arugula-at-the-ready.

But the biggest thing I've noticed about living alone is how little one XX (at least this XX) effects the environment. When I get home at night, MY HOUSE IS EXACTLY LIKE I LEFT IT. Not a dish in the sink. Not a thing out of place. Not a noise to be heard (until I turn on the tv.)  No spills or stains to be discovered. No piles of dirty clothes to trip over. No "mysteriously" un-flushed toilets. No toothpaste drips in the sink. Who knew? I'm a neat freak.

Dinner of Champions and one XX

Sometimes I'll go for a long walk at twilight (love that flashlight APP, btw) or early in the morning. I can go to bed whenever I want. Or I'll just lay in bed and watch the wood stove flicker in the next room for an hour or two. Once, I had imported dark chocolate and red wine for dinner. Delicious.

Yes, I have done it. I have lived alone. I have survived for 8 1/2 weeks on one roll of paper towels, one bar of soap and a dozen eggs. I survived the realization that I was talking out loud to myself as I watched tv. (Was it The Voice or Law & Order? I can't remember. Oh come on, I can't believe you can't remember...) I survived when there was nothing to clean, no dog to let outside, and no one complaining or bickering or fighting.

My time alone is quickly coming to an end.  In a few short weeks, I'll fly back East to road trip across the country once again with my XY and two kids. This time, we'll add two dogs and a snake to the car.

I hope he doesn't get car sick

Let the chaos begin.