There’s being single. Then there’s being so single that someone staying over means explaining which pillows are decorative and why their phone charger is in your outlet.
Ryan Seacrest has a name for it.
During a recent episode of On Air with Ryan Seacrest, the host joked that he has “LSB,” meaning “longtime single behavior.” The conversation included the idea of “recently single behavior,” like changing your hair after a breakup. But Ryan put himself in the more experienced category.
Honestly, there should be a rewards program.
You Have a System
When you’ve been single for a while, you get things exactly how you like them.
Your side of the bed? Both sides. Dinner? Whatever sounds good. The thermostat? A democracy of one.
Nobody asks why you’re watching the same show again. Nobody eats the leftovers you’ve been thinking about since lunch. And if you want to spend Sunday doing absolutely nothing, there’s no committee meeting about making the most of the weekend.
It’s a pretty solid arrangement.
Then someone attractive comes along, and suddenly you’re weighing chemistry against the possibility that they sleep with the TV on.
Comfortable Can Get a Little Too Comfortable
Knowing what you enjoy is a good thing. But sometimes your routine gets so efficient that there’s no opening for anyone else.
You say you’d like to meet someone, then reject every opportunity because it involves putting on actual pants after 7 p.m.
They suggest Thursday. That’s your quiet night. Saturday? Errands. Sunday? You need to recover from the errands.
At some point, you have to ask: do you genuinely dislike the options, or have you become extremely protective of a schedule that mostly involves your couch?
You don’t have to rearrange your life for a stranger. But an hour for a drink probably won’t bring the whole operation down.
Company Doesn’t Require a Merger
Meeting someone doesn’t mean handing over a drawer, combining calendars, or agreeing to attend their cousin’s destination wedding.
You can enjoy a conversation. Flirt a little. Make plans when you’re both free. See how you feel afterward.
You’re allowed to like your independence and still want someone to kiss.
The trick is leaving enough room for something fun to happen without deciding in advance that it’s going to become a logistical nightmare.
Besides, the right company might make an ordinary Thursday more interesting than whatever your streaming service has queued up.
Keep the Standards. Make Some Room.
You’ve built a life you enjoy. That’s something to bring to the table.
Just remember that another person will come with their own habits, preferences, and deeply questionable opinions about how to load a dishwasher. A little flexibility gives you a chance to discover what you actually enjoy about each other.
Start small. Answer the message. Suggest a time. Put on the good shirt.
Your couch will be there when you get back.
Have you developed “longtime single behavior”? What’s the one habit you’d have the hardest time making room around?
Being good at being single doesn’t mean you have to spend every night that way. Find some company on OBC.