Alone on Thanksgiving....

[MidwestCoastal]

Just curious.... How many people spend Thanksgiving alone?

 

I had the option of going to 'Atlantis' this year with my sister's brood.... Not my ideal vacation.... so for the first time in my life, I will be alone for Thanksgiving. I have lied to my family and use my fictional 'other city' friends....

 

Not sure how I feel about the being alone part.... Holidays, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas, hold little value for me.

 

Planning on being 'productive' on the actual day.... maybe go for a long walk.....

[+ AntonGraza]

Sometimes it is good to take a break and be by yourself. Don’t feel guilty about not “following” the plan and participating in what the family is doing. At least your sister called and extended an invitation. What do you really like to do when you have time to your self (other than that!). Go road mall, have something to eat, people watch, call and talk to Simone you have not spoken to in a while, head to a pet store and play with the cats and dogs. If you find you want family and company, there is Xmas coming up or you can get “adopted” locally by a friend(s). Just be good to yourself, you are worth it and if you can do something for someone else, that can also be good. Which coast are you on? Western MI or Eastern IL/WI?

[+ poolboy48220]

I've lived alone (well, I've had roommates on & off all my life) for going on 40 years now, so it's not a big deal to me. My sister hosts a big Thanksgiving and it's been getting bigger. The year her sister-in-law stole (her words) the dinner from her, I skipped and spent Thanksgiving alone. If my sister ups the headcount again I may start skipping, we'll see how the 17-person event goes this year.

 

Besides, I have my dog, and this year I am dog-sitting her best dog friend, so I'm not really alone :-D

[+ oldNbusted]

No one should be alone at Thanksgiving if they would not want to be. But if you want to be, party on! Back in my hookup days, the long Thanksgiving weekend was a bonanza for me, as many gov workers in DC are from other locations, but they don't get the Friday off, so they would not travel home, but they really didn't want to be totally alone. I would change my profile to say "who wants stuffing?" and did a lot of driving around.

Edited November 27, 2019 by oldNbusted

[+ Gar1eth]

I've had a few alone Thanksgivings. One happened in my late 20's due to work. I couldn't get out of town. A coworker invited me to her house for that Thanksgiving. I was going to go, but I was so exhausted from work that I fell asleep.

 

Another time in my 40's I was going to to travel to family and became ill, so I didn't make it out of town.

 

When I lost my job in my mid-50's, I don't think I wanted to travel home because I was depressed. I ended up eating at an Old Country Buffet in Puyallup, Wa that is now closed. I wasn't particularly happy about being there, but at least I had turkey.

 

 

I can't make it this year either. I have mixed feelings about it. On one hand I'm not happy. On the other hand, all the adults there are partnered except for my widowed mother -and she's the family matriarch-and my sister who has a bf (although he'll probably be with his family) but has two adult daughters to bond with. I love my siblings. But we aren't pals. So I'm basically the only adult there who has never been married and never even had a relationship. It didn't bother me when I was younger. But the older I get the more alone it makes me feel.

 

Gman

[marylander1940]

Just curious.... How many people spend Thanksgiving alone?

 

I had the option of going to 'Atlantis' this year with my sister's brood.... Not my ideal vacation.... so for the first time in my life, I will be alone for Thanksgiving. I have lied to my family and use my fictional 'other city' friends....

 

Not sure how I feel about the being alone part.... Holidays, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas, hold little value for me.

 

Planning on being 'productive' on the actual day.... maybe go for a long walk.....

 

Have you thought about hiring someone? Maybe you can take him for dinner after. A different kind of Thanksgiving but a fun one.

 

 

When I lost my job in my mid-50's, I don't think I wanted to travel home because I was depressed. I ended up eating at an Old Country Buffet in Puyallup, Wa that is now closed. I wasn't particularly happy about being there, but at least I had turkey.

 

 

 

I have relatives who own a restaurant and they keep it open for thanksgiving. They are always there and as owners make good money but I can’t help feeling sorry for people who have to work on Thanksgiving serving others and I hope they get good tips. Obviously that wouldn’t be a case in a buffet like the one you visited that thanksgiving.

 

We must always think that even when we are in a bad moment there are people out there having more problems in life and appreciate who we are and our past, present and future accomplishments.

Edited November 27, 2019 by marylander1940

[+ PapaTony]

Just curious.... How many people spend Thanksgiving alone?

 

I had the option of going to 'Atlantis' this year with my sister's brood.... Not my ideal vacation.... so for the first time in my life, I will be alone for Thanksgiving. I have lied to my family and use my fictional 'other city' friends....

 

Not sure how I feel about the being alone part.... Holidays, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas, hold little value for me.

 

Planning on being 'productive' on the actual day.... maybe go for a long walk.....

One way to be productive and not be alone is to visit a homeless shelter and help feed the hungry. I’ve done it for 25 years

[Monarchy79]

Just curious.... How many people spend Thanksgiving alone?

 

I had the option of going to 'Atlantis' this year with my sister's brood.... Not my ideal vacation.... so for the first time in my life, I will be alone for Thanksgiving. I have lied to my family and use my fictional 'other city' friends....

 

Not sure how I feel about the being alone part.... Holidays, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas, hold little value for me.

 

Planning on being 'productive' on the actual day.... maybe go for a long walk.....

 

1.) Stop thinking about it

2.) do something productive, that you have procrastinated doing.

3.) some gyms are open the earlier part of the day, have a nice thorough workout.

4.) if you live near a casino and like a little gambling , then give your luck a shot.

5.) volunteer at a mission, shelter or church

6.) binge watch movies

 

 

The point is to enjoy yourself, and not think about being “alone”.

[rvwnsd]

Just curious.... How many people spend Thanksgiving alone?

 

I had the option of going to 'Atlantis' this year with my sister's brood.... Not my ideal vacation.... so for the first time in my life, I will be alone for Thanksgiving. I have lied to my family and use my fictional 'other city' friends....

 

Not sure how I feel about the being alone part.... Holidays, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas, hold little value for me.

 

Planning on being 'productive' on the actual day.... maybe go for a long walk.....

 

I'm spending Thanksgiving alone (well, the two cats are here) and will be making a turkey breast, dressing that closely approximates my mom's recipe, and corn on the cob for dinner. I had an invitation to see friends in California (with whom I've spent Thanksgiving for years) but I just could not bring myself to drive 375 miles each way. Last year I did and I was exhausted the entire weekend. Plus, i will be traveling to Florida for Christmas.

 

Honestly, I am glad to have some "alone" time. Work tends to be a non-stop exercise in overstimulation and I need time off. Today I walked 5.5 miles and tomorrow I will do the same and take a bike ride, assuming we don't get rain.

 

No one should one alone at Thanksgiving if they would not want to be. But if you want to be, party on! Back in my hookup days, the long Thanksgiving weekend was a bonanza for me, as many gov workers in DC are from other locations, but they don't get the Friday off, so they would not travel home, but they really didn't want to be totally alone. I would change my profile to say "who wants stuffing?" and did a lot of driving around.

 

This reply should be pinned to the top of the Forum at every holiday.

Edited November 27, 2019 by rvwnsd

[+ g56whiz]

I’m an only child and lived and worked in NYC. My parents migrated to FL. My dad died there at the end of October. My mother and I agreed that 3 trips in successive months was unreasonable so we took it upon ourselves to make our on ways on Thanksgiving. She always went with friends. Me? Sometimes with friends, sometimes at the Greek Coffeeshop around the corner, sometimes a Swanson’s frozen turkey dinner. What I learned is that unless you get greedy about it, Thanksgiving is a really short holiday. You go in for a short day on Friday then enjoy a pleasant restful weekend.

[dcguy20]

I'll be alone this year (not the first), and for some reason I don't seem to mind. Usually my best friend and I spend it together if she's not traveling for the holiday.

[+ purplekow]

My wife an I always stayed by ourselves on Thanksgiving as I worked and to travel later in the day was traffic laden. After she passed, I continued to stay by myself, even though I no longer work on that day. So on Thanksgiving this year, a day which is the 20th anniversary of my wedding. I will be relaxing by myself and preparing food for a dinner I am hosting on Saturday.

[marylander1940]

My wife an I always stayed by ourselves on Thanksgiving as I worked and to travel later in the day was traffic laden. After she passed, I continued to stay by myself, even though I no longer work on that day. So on Thanksgiving this year, a day which is the 20th anniversary of my wedding. I will be relaxing by myself and preparing food for a dinner I am hosting on Saturday.

 

That's always a nice thing to do, having a dinner after the holidays when folks are jut too tired and lazy to cook. I love going to a friend's January 1st early dinner with catering every year.

[+ oldNbusted]

I admit, part of me would be just as happy to stay home and crack open old faithful...

 

 

 

 

[+ Charlie]

I have never spent a Thanksgiving totally alone, although it is often only myself and spouse. This year we were going to drive to Texas to spend it with his family, because it would be a chance to see everyone at once, but then we found out that the family members we were most eager to see were going to be somewhere else, so we decided not to expend the effort to make the long trip. When we are at home on Thanksgiving or Christmas, I do like having the excuse to go out for a big dinner at a good restaurant. The putative reasons for most major holidays don't really interest me, especially since they have become so commercialized, so I am just as happy to sit quietly at home and read or listen to music.

[sexymonk]

Just curious.... How many people spend Thanksgiving alone?

 

I had the option of going to 'Atlantis' this year with my sister's brood.... Not my ideal vacation.... so for the first time in my life, I will be alone for Thanksgiving. I have lied to my family and use my fictional 'other city' friends....

 

Not sure how I feel about the being alone part.... Holidays, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas, hold little value for me.

 

Planning on being 'productive' on the actual day.... maybe go for a long walk.....

You won’t feel for long once you get used to it! Sometimes being alone is good! In life no one is there with you forever! Even your shadow leaves you when it is dark!

[+ Gar1eth]

You won’t feel for long once you get used to it! Sometimes being alone is good! In life no one is there with you forever! Even your shadow leaves you when it is dark!

 

I probably spend the majority of my time alone-and if not now-then definitely during the years from 2013 to 2017. Often the only people I'd talk to during the course of a week were servers or a cashier at a store. If by getting used to it you mean not screaming out loud in frustration, then I became used to it. For most other meanings of "used to it," I didn't.

 

Gman

[+ sam.fitzpatrick]

I find Thanksgiving a good day to catch a movie at the theater. My local theater's first showings are at 9:00 tomorrow and I'm still debating whether to see Ford vs. Ferrari or Knives Out. And in the years I'm doing a traditional Thanksgiving meal with family members I'm able to join them for the meal, but can arrive later and not feel I am in the way drinking a glass of wine while other adults prepare the meal. This year, we're not doing family gathering until Saturday, so I might visit the casino after the movie.

[MidwestCoastal]

Thank you all for the posts.... I'll do my best....

 

Movies sounds like a great idea! Knives Out! I saw Ford vs. Ferrari..... AWESOME!

[fedssocr1]

I always spend Thanksgiving alone. And most other days too. :-) Long ago I had a tradition of going to a museum (the Smithsonians are open) and a movie. But I stopped doing that. Maybe I'll revive it some day.

[Guest]

It's interesting. My parents have now both passed away. We're still having a family Thanksgiving with my step-mother and siblings this year, but I wonder what's going to happen when my step-mother dies. My nieces do their own thing at Thanksgiving. This may be my last family Thanksgiving. Maybe friends will invite me?

[DR FREUD]

As for me, I will be alone the first time in my life. After 66 years I'm not terribly bothered by it. I had an invitation to join a family function of my Broker and have gone to them before. However they have about 20 plus people and I just didn't feel like facing that many people. I have always been the person for the past 40 years that hosts and cooks holiday meals. I have NEVER seen Macy's parade as I'm always cooking. So I bought a small fresh turkey and some pre-made sides from Publix and will relax and enjoy my meal while binge watching Inspector Morse. I'm thankful for my life, family and friends and will contact most of them this morning. Happy Thanksgiving everyone and alone doesn't have to equate with lonely. Enjoy the day!

[+ quoththeraven]

I'll be by myself (well, with the cat). I have relatives whose meal I could join, but that requires me to call up and invite myself. I did that in 2016 but not since.

 

A whole turkey or even a turkey breast is too much bother, but I have an acorn squash I'm going to stuff with apples and pears (it's a recipe I've made before) and some chicken thighs I'm going to fry. Otherwise I'm going to take it easy.

[+ Pensant]

When I was 23 and in grad school in California, I chose to go to the beach and read for Thanksgiving. Every other year I spend it with part of my large family, whom I enjoy enormously. Since 2000, I’ve run a Turkey Trot and am having coffee now ahead of joining my nephew and his wife for an 8k, followed by breakfast at my place.

[ericwinters]

I agree with the over stimulated thought... every day at work I have hundreds of folks relying on me to 'shepherd' them around. I love the idea of alone time and actually create it by traveling to cites away from places I have friends. I have two places to go today and I'd rather sit and watch Macy's Parade and chill and enjoy cigars and wine by myself.