Lessons Learned as an Empty Nester
When Kris Fisher found himself living alone for the first time in years, he had no idea the lessons he would learn during his first 12 months of solitude.
The loneliness of single man shopping is just one of the discoveries Augusta Today columnist Kris Fisher has discovered during his year as an empty nester.
Special | GettyAn anniversary quietly passed recently. Last week marked the first anniversary of my becoming an empty nester. I was fortunate enough to spend it with my youngest son, who was in town for spring break. We capped off the week by lounging around and watching the final round of The Masters.
After Rory slipped into the Green Jacket, my son slipped out the door and, as he had a year ago, drove away toward his new life in the suburbs of Atlanta. After a year, watching him go hasn’t gotten much easier.
However, I’ve learned a lot about living alone in the past year - some good and some bad. Here’s a list of those things, in no particular order.
Dinner: I don’t cook as much. I loved cooking meals for my family. I didn’t do it every night, my wife would also cook, and she would do a much better job. But I really enjoyed it when it was my turn. I don’t enjoy cooking for myself as much. I don’t know why. Somehow, it seems like a waste of energy to only cook for myself. So, I gravitate to the single guy cliches. Peanut butter and jelly for dinner? Don’t mind if I do.
Which brings me to my next point - frozen single meals are depressing. It’s bad enough trekking through the grocery store, buying smaller portions of everything. It gets worse when you get to the frozen meals aisle. Committing to the single-portion meals are depressing enough. Then you have to eat it. Pulling that little scalding hot plastic tray that in no way resembles the dish on the box has a way of making a person contemplate their life.
The Fridge: I don’t think I need a full-size refrigerator anymore. I don’t need half of the things we used to keep in there and I’m not really home that often. Also, the things I do get end up going bad. I just need a fridge big enough for sandwich ingredients, coffee creamer and beer. You know, the basic food groups.
The Bathroom: The level of filth that I’m comfortable with in my bathroom is embarrassing. Fortunately, I’m the only one who sees it. I guess my wife’s complaints about me not cleaning the bathroom were valid after all.
It’s not all bad, though. My laundry detergent now lasts longer. I no longer have to fight for the good spot in the driveway. I always (mostly) know where the remote is. Wearing pants around the house is now optional. Still, I’d trade it all, even the pants thing, for one more day with them back in the house, because that has been the hardest thing to learn. Sometimes it is lonely being alone.
