AJC: "Atlanta tops for people living alone" (Washington: restaurants, price)

[PedestriAnne]

By Katie Leslie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

"Atlantans are likelier to live alone than residents of virtually any other major U.S. city, with nearly half of Atlanta's households having just one person, according to a census analysis released this week. A decade ago, Atlanta wasn't even in the Top 10; now it shares the No. 1 spot with Washington."

Article

I remember reading about this last year, after the new census data was out. I was kind of surprised, but I thought it was pretty cool too.

Except for two brief stints - one year and then six months - I've been living by myself since I was 19, so it never seemed like much of a "thing" to me. But living by yourself has become a topic of interest lately because people are doing it more now than they ever have before. There have been several articles about in the NYT and the Atlantic in the last few months and a couple of people have even written books about it.

[MathmanMathman]

Amanda Brown looks like a "honey", so she probably won't be alone for long.

[PedestriAnne]

Originally Posted by MathmanMathman

Amanda Brown looks like a "honey", so she probably won't be alone for long.

Well, that's kind of the point - that living alone is something that many people choose now, not something they're forced to do because they don't have enough pretty points.

[arjay57]

I think the phenomenon is also due in part to the older demographic. Many people in the 50+ cohort have been married, raised kids, gotten divorced and simply don't want to fool with it again. A good many folks in their 60s may have outlived a partner.

[atltechdude]

Originally Posted by arjay57

I think the phenomenon is also due in part to the older demographic. Many people in the 50+ cohort have been married, raised kids, gotten divorced and simply don't want to fool with it again. A good many folks in their 60s may have outlived a partner.

Plenty of young singles here too though.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by atltechdude

Plenty of young singles here too though.

Oh, yeah.

[cittic10]

I'm not surprised.
Nobody ever wants to do anything.

The city motto should be "Move here to live and die all alone".

[PedestriAnne]

Originally Posted by cittic10

I'm not surprised.
Nobody ever wants to do anything.

What do you mean?

[atltechdude]

Originally Posted by PedestriAnne

What do you mean?

I know what he is saying, as I've noticed it too.

Seems like very few of my friends ever want to go out and do anything that involves spending any money, like going to a restaurant or bar or movie or concert etc.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by atltechdude

I know what he is saying, as I've noticed it too.

Seems like very few of my friends ever want to go out and do anything that involves spending any money, like going to a restaurant or bar or movie or concert etc.

It could be just the particular individuals in your circle. Many of the bars and restaurants draw pretty good crowds.

Personally I am sort of the solitary type, and I used to envy folks who always seemed to have something going on. There's a price to that, too, however -- many is the time when I've been in some gathering and felt even more stressed and isolated than I do when I'm on my own.