NY Times Census Report on 1-perspon households; Living Alone Makes You More Social? (apartment)

[18Montclair]

Please answer the poll.

I was going through the NY Times such as I routinely do and came across this: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/05/op...ewanted=1&_r=1

This article caught my eye because it pertains specifically to people such as myself, but I never thought of my living situation in demographic terms.

Now that I think about it, I am way more social than all of my married siblings who seem to be at home all the time tending to their families.

Whereas I am out all the time, always going somewhere, always meeting people, always up to something.

I wonder if part of that is to make up for the lack of personal interaction with another person that I dont have at home?

[Chicago60614]

I'd agree with that. I live alone and am out and about doing things 4-5 nights a week. Compared to my friends who live with spouses or people they're dating I go out and be social more than they do. Throw kids into the picture and I'm FAR more social. Kids seem to really kill off a person's social life.

[bryson662001]

Originally Posted by 18Montclair

Please answer the poll.

I was going through the NY Times such as I routinely do and came across this: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/05/op...ewanted=1&_r=1

This article caught my eye because it pertains specifically to people such as myself, but I never thought of my living situation in demographic terms.

Now that I think about it, I am way more social than all of my married siblings who seem to be at home all the time tending to their families.

Whereas I am out all the time, always going somewhere, always meeting people, always up to something.

I wonder if part of that is to make up for the lack of personal interaction with another person that I dont have at home?

I disagree. I live in a large "downtown" apartment house and most of my single neighbors are homebodys. Only the very young (under 25) crowd seem to go out every night to the bars or clubs. Anything you read in the NYT's has to be taken with a grain of salt. Those people don't live in the real world.

[Mike1306]

Originally Posted by Chicago60614

I'd agree with that. I live alone and am out and about doing things 4-5 nights a week. Compared to my friends who live with spouses or people they're dating I go out and be social more than they do. Throw kids into the picture and I'm FAR more social. Kids seem to really kill off a person's social life.

It all depends on what you consider social life. Is taking the kids to soccer and baseball practice/games and talking to the parents of other kids being social? If so, when my kids were younger I was out 3-4 nights a week at practice and then games on the weekend so I was out interacting with other parents 5-6 days or nights a week.

And I didn't read the article but wouldn't it just make sense that singles are going to go out to clubs, bars, etc. than those that have already found a mate? Singles are also on average a bit younger which would explain a proclivity for going out.

Now that my kids are older and off to college I am less social but it has more to do with me getting older, not how many people are in the house.