Memorial Day Weekend is this weekend. That starts vacation season. I don’t have anything solid in place, but I plan on going somewhere. And I will probably be going solo. I often get asked why and I have my reasons.

I have gone away with friends and it has turned out alright, and other times not. Some people are okay with everyone doing their own thing, others expect the group to do all activities together. I have also been on the sidelines while friends argued about who makes the decisions, where to go eat, and someone going off and not inviting anyone else. I prefer to avoid the drama. If I go away by myself….

1. I can go at my own pace and do what I want to do. If I feel like sleeping in or getting up early, that is what I do. And if I decide in the middle of the day to nap, I go take a nap. The same goes for bedtime. I can either turn in early or stay up half the night if I want to.
2. I get to go eat where I want to eat and whatever time I choose.
3. I can plan activities or wake up every day and see where it takes me.
4. Not everyone is a shopper. But when I am in a different city, I like to go to the local mall or shopping district. And I like to take my time looking at things and comparing prices. That isn’t the case for everyone.
5. Whatever expenses I incur, those are mine. And I am responsible for paying those. There is nobody to debate with over who paid what.

I have been asked don’t I get lonely being away by myself. Not really. I like my quiet time. A lot. I also usually bring a few books or word puzzle activities to pass the time while I sit by the pool or at the beach. And there are always other people around who are happy to engage in conversation. So for me, going away alone is not necessarily a preference, it is a necessity.