Uncoupled at 10 months

After being with someone for over two and a half years and living with them for nearly a year and a half of that, it's odd being solo again. As with other situations, it's the little things you're reminded of, like having someone to do spontaneous things with - "Hey, it's a nice evening. Let's go play some tennis" That doesn't work so well alone. Cooking's also a bit of a drag. It's infinitely more inspiring to make dinner for someone with whom you can share the meal, good conversation, a glass (or bottle) of wine, and... well, that, too, of course.

Moving out on your own for the first time is an exhilarating rite of passage filled with many related first experiences: first couch, first party, first spill on new couch, first time you wished you owned a mop. Now, having acquired more than enough creature comforts to survive, the challenge of living alone is gone. It's simply become a transient state. And a test.

The test is comprised of figuring out when you're ready to get back in the dating game and trying to remember the rules. As much as people want to pretend that it's not a game, it is. There are rules and guidelines to follow and rewards and penalties for following them or not. It's not unlike Snakes & Ladders in it's progress: sometimes you can be unexpectedly promoted to a new level, at other times you slide backwards. Most of the time, you plod along steadily, rolling the dice and moving forward with a healthy fear of snakes.

This being said, I don't mind my current status. It's given me time to learn some new things, work on small home improvement projects (and learn what not to do the hard way), play more guitar, read a little more, even take up yoga at the advice of a massage therapist. I'm simply looking forward to having a travel partner again to share the journey. It's simply more fun that way.