My lovely lady is off to California with her best friend for a couple of days. She just left and suddenly, I realize that I basically don't have anyone close to what you'd call a dear friend anywhere in this country. Actually, the only number I have on my phone is my wife's.  
 
I can't remember the last time I've experienced loneliness on such a scale, even being a loner at heart. There was always ONE friend - whether it was my girlfriend or a substitute for a girlfriend or my best friend a few streets away.
 
It's an odd and fascinating experience. The fact that you don't really go anywhere without a car in Las Vegas further contributes to that feeling of being somewhat stranded. The closest store is a 30 minute walk from here. Not exactly the middle of the desert, but not exactly near either.
 
It's funny because a few days ago, I remembered a book by Jack Kerouac where he wrote about his life alone on a mountain as a fire lookout. I was thinking how most of us would have a tough time with that, especially in this day and age where you're used to constantly being in touch with people at least on a virtual level. But complete loneliness? I doubt that many people born in the last 15 years will ever experience it. 
 
Yet I am not sure I mind being alone so much as I actually miss the person I'm used to spending all my time with, so much that we're like two fingers of the same hand. 
 
That being said, I do have the latest Logic update to keep me entertained, as well as a houseful of cats. :P

Man if my Lovely Lady went away for a few days I'd take about 25 naps.
 
Not sure what I would do after that first day.

Sounds great to me...... turn up the music, have a few beers and then watch whatever you like on TV. She'll be back soon enough.

paulo
Sounds great to me...... turn up the music, have a few beers and then watch whatever you like on TV. She'll be back soon enough.

Maybe if her being here prevented me from doing any of this, but that's definitely not the case. So it's a case of me sitting outside with a couple of cats, a good book and a cup of tea. :)

First world problem? :). I do know the feeling though, many times over a long time. She'll be back, chin up. Meantime, more time to play with the cats?, and Logic Pro X 10.1 LOL.

May family does not leave me alone often and I always miss them.  But.....I work on music, read, watch movies, make a bachelor style dinner, etc.  I am comfortable being alone for a short time anyway. 
Enjoy yourself. You are still young and healthy and full of love for your lady. That's good stuff in my book.
 

Thanks guys! Actually, that's pretty much what I am doing.
 

 
The first year we were together, she lived in Montreal and I in Quebec, so we'd sometimes go on for weeks w/o seeing each other. After I moved in with her, the longest stretch was that one month she had to spend in Orlando in early 2011 for rehearsals. Made us both miserable and physically ill, and we swore we'd never go through that again.

We actually spent the best of the following two years on tour, living in the same room together and basically almost never argued. We rarely spend more than a few hours apart. So that part is odd.
 
Anyway, I'm enjoying the warm, sunny day and I have Dickens, Earl Grey and a few cats to keep me company. I think I may even have myself a little Vincent Price movie fest tonight. :P

Best you enjoy the opportunity to sit outside while it's not too hot. Enjoy the little break and think about the fun when she returns.

I've been through periods of self-inflicted and unintentional solitude and I quite like it. I like being with people too. Either or! I once went a year hardly seeing anyone. I'd moved to a shady area of town that was a pain to get to, and found that my friends weren't inclined to visit. I just thought screw it, I'll have some time alone. No social life, no girlfriend, in fact I think for most of that time I even didn't have a TV, and it was years before I had internet access. So I read lots and played a lot of guitar, and I kind of enjoyed it. Read a lot of books about mountain climbing, I remember that much. My head was up in those mountains most of the time.
 
Right now I don't have many friends at all (except online, Facebook etc). I've had friends and acquaintances come and go during the time I've lived in New York and have never been part of any "crew." Not drinking and hating pubs and clubs has a lot to do with it, plus New York nightlife can be a little to cliquey for my tastes.  Have had many employees over the years and been on friendly terms with them, but would not socialize with them because I feel that would not end well. Have a girlfriend and we get along like a house on fire, that's more than enough for me. When she's not here I just make the most of the situation and get on with whatever I've been meaning to catch up with when I had a lot of spare time. Being able to adapt to whatever situation you're in is a very useful trait. 

sharke
I've been through periods of self-inflicted and unintentional solitude and I quite like it. I like being with people too. Either or! I once went a year hardly seeing anyone. I'd moved to a shady area of town that was a pain to get to, and found that my friends weren't inclined to visit. I just thought screw it, I'll have some time alone. No social life, no girlfriend, in fact I think for most of that time I even didn't have a TV, and it was years before I had internet access. So I read lots and played a lot of guitar, and I kind of enjoyed it. Read a lot of books about mountain climbing, I remember that much. My head was up in those mountains most of the time.
 
Right now I don't have many friends at all (except online, Facebook etc). I've had friends and acquaintances come and go during the time I've lived in New York and have never been part of any "crew." Not drinking and hating pubs and clubs has a lot to do with it, plus New York nightlife can be a little to cliquey for my tastes.  Have had many employees over the years and been on friendly terms with them, but would not socialize with them because I feel that would not end well. Have a girlfriend and we get along like a house on fire, that's more than enough for me. When she's not here I just make the most of the situation and get on with whatever I've been meaning to catch up with when I had a lot of spare time. Being able to adapt to whatever situation you're in is a very useful trait. 

Yup, I get that. The year before I met her I spent mostly on my own. I'd go on for months w/o seeing friends or talking to anyone except at work.
 
That was before Facebook, and I didn't spend much time here on these forums.  I didn't really have much of an online life either. No iPhone, no texting. 
 
But I guess the difference was that there were people a phone call away, or a 5 minute walk from where I lived, should I decide that I felt like spending time w/ folks... And I was surrounded w/ people 40 hours at work - even though most of them annoyed me, so usually, solitude was most welcome. lol
 
The people I know here are mostly my wife's old friends and co-workers. My best friend is back home in Quebec and I don't wish to replace him. He's still my best pal, I just never see him. 
 
I think I just hadn't realize before this morning how lonely I was in this big old country w/o my wife.