Unplugging

I am not the sort who needs a lot of alone time. When I do have alone time I tend to get… lonely. And I end up on the phone or IM. But since the arrival of my son I have started to finally feel the need to unplug. Gone are the days where I can check out and read a book in peace for hours on end. I no longer even go to the bathroom in privacy. I have started to feel this acute pressure of people being ON me 24/7. It has been suggested that I need to get out and have some time to myself. But this suggestion is always in the context of happy hours and girls nights. These scenarios haven’t felt right to me. Yes, it would be a fun time but it hasn’t struck me as the alone time I really want… And then I had an epiphany… MY version of unplugging… And it is GENIUS.

I am going to see Sex and the City by myself. One of my friends thought this sounded sad. But I couldn’t be more excited!!!!! There is a brand new AMC theatre less than 5 minutes from my house. This theatre is near a sandwich shop that I have been dying to try. I am going to leave at 6:30, go and get a sandwich, buy some small bottles of flavored vodka, and head to the 7:05 showing of SATC. I will buy a Sprite at the theatre and sneak my contraband in. I will spike my drink, snag a great seat, and settle in for 2 hours of mindless entertainment. UNPLUGGING AT ITS BEST.

When I devised this plan something clicked. THIS is the alone time I need. Yes, happy hours are fun. But right now I need to not have people on me. I need to 100% check out from life. That’s why all the girls night out suggestions haven’t sounded fulfilling to me. I need a no pressure night. I don’t have to be social. I don’t have to bend to anyone’s schedule. It’s just me and three of my favorite things– food, booze, and a movie. I am giddy!!!! And I get to be home by 9:30 for a good night’s sleep and no hangover. Yay me!

I think I might actually make this a regular thing. Everyone can get off my back about having no life outside my family! My husband can have a little alone time himself with the TV or his music. I love win-wins. I love finally discovering an outlet that doesn’t involve a bar, a huge bill, and a possible DUI. All this time, I have needed to get out– just not by other people’s definition. Problem solved. Samantha, Carrie, Charlotte, and Miranda– here I come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!