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[spectacle]

There are a few threads about dealing with in-laws, crappy relatives, the stress of hosting or traveling, but this thread is for those of us who - by choice or by chance - will be alone during the holiday season. 

I'll be spending US Thanksgiving alone because I put my foot down and decided that I hate traveling over Thanksgiving.  I love the holiday, but I teach Wednesday evenings and just couldn't cope with the idea of getting on a plane to spend the few precious free days in transit and stressed out.  But my SO didn't feel comfortable blowing off his parents, so he's going and I'm staying.

I'm planning on renting a bunch of movies and TV shows that I've been wanting to watch, catching up on the crime novel I've been wanting to finish, and getting all of the food from our high-end grocery store's prepared foods section, including some pie just for me.  And I'm going to sleep and not grade or check my school email the entire time.

I'm sure that once Thanksgiving Day rolls around,  I'll be feeling a little lonely and like I might have made the wrong decision, so I'm hoping that others spending the day alone will hop on this thread so we can keep each other company next weekend. 

[sinenomine]

In recent years I've been spending Thanksgiving alone and love it.  My family is scattered and distant, so driving somewhere to be with them is really too time-consuming, and I don't eat turkey, so if I go to someone else's house, I'm usually left eating sides.  With this being a crunch point in the semester, I'm thrilled to chill out on my own.  I always get good food and drinks (I call it my hedonistic splurge) and then curl up with a good book or movie, eating and drinking whatever I want, whenever I want.  I'm looking forward to it already!

[onion]

With the exception of last year, I've spent the last 4 Thanksgivings alone.  And I love Thanksgiving; it's my favorite holiday.  But my family is far away and it's too expensive to travel.  I've just gone through the world's most hideous break-up, so I'm trying to decide what to do for T-giving: stay home, cook for myself, and watch TV, or go to a colleague's house for a T-giving potluck.  I might force myself to go be with people so I don't end up crying and wallowing.  But I'm not sure yet.

[pollinate]

This will be another one where I'm going to be alone because it's too far to travel, both for me and the closest relatives.  Not that I mind a few days of R&R!  Not at this time of the semester.  Sleeping in, working on a project or two, playing in the yard if the weather is nice (it often is), avoiding holiday crowds, not overeating, etc. just has too much to recommend it.  I suspect I may get a pity invite or two and I hope that declining won't cause any hard feelings.  Most of the people I regularly see at work now know better than to invite this introvert to socialize with a bunch of strangers.

[bamabound]

There are a few threads about dealing with in-laws, crappy relatives, the stress of hosting or traveling, but this thread is for those of us who - by choice or by chance - will be alone during the holiday season.  

I'll be spending US Thanksgiving alone because I put my foot down and decided that I hate traveling over Thanksgiving.  I love the holiday, but I teach Wednesday evenings and just couldn't cope with the idea of getting on a plane to spend the few precious free days in transit and stressed out.  But my SO didn't feel comfortable blowing off his parents, so he's going and I'm staying.

I'm planning on renting a bunch of movies and TV shows that I've been wanting to watch, catching up on the crime novel I've been wanting to finish, and getting all of the food from our high-end grocery store's prepared foods section, including some pie just for me.  And I'm going to sleep and not grade or check my school email the entire time.

I'm sure that once Thanksgiving Day rolls around,  I'll be feeling a little lonely and like I might have made the wrong decision, so I'm hoping that others spending the day alone will hop on this thread so we can keep each other company next weekend.  

This sounds like HEAVEN to me...wishing I could ditch the family circus events sometime. Enjoy! I know that's not the purpose of your thread but I just had to say it.

[marfa]

Have you considered volunteering at a community dinner?  I would very much like to do that, but relatives are close enough that we're obligated to go. 

[sugaree]

As an American ex-pat in Canada, I will indeed be spending Thanksgiving alone because, technically, I have to work (though Thursdays are a non-teaching day for me so I try to avoid any responsibilities on this day). I'll stay home and watch parades and football and fell so very decadent for not going to the office. Then, the day after "the real" Thanksgiving, when I should be enjoying leftovers, shopping and good television, I have classes and a thesis defense and meetings and and and....

No time to be sad about being alone, although the weekend of Thanksgiving is a big one-time event in my family this year and I'm a bit sad I can't be at that. Oh well - that Monday off in October I had was nice.

[bread_pirate_naan]

I will drop in on this thread because I refuse to pretend I'm not cruising the fora just because its a holiday.

[kedves]

I've spent Thanksgiving alone for the last few years, not by choice, since I moved to my new state.  It is too far to drive to my family's now and again at Christmas.  I wish I could be there this year especially because someone is sick and someone else has created a tiff about that person and threatens to not bring that part of the family to dinner, upsetting everyone else.  Hopefully, that will smooth over by next week.

I made the traditional dinner for myself one year and was almost weepy because of it.  Now I go in the other direction, a nice day with the dogs and then champagne with something un-Thanksgiving-y and as decadent as I can find or make.

[outlier]

I love being too far away from family to go home for Thanksgiving (or for Christmas). I met my SO in 2005, and 2006 was our first Thanksgiving together, but I've often been on my own for Thanksgivings. My daughter's usually with her dad that day, and even with my SO, it's two introverts away from family, so the day is not a big deal.  We went to the animal shelter last Christmas and New Years Eve to walk dogs and pet cats (and brought home a foster dog New Years Eve).

[periodically]

Pretty much any of these ideas sound like bliss.  Pure bliss.

I guess I'm more of a loner than I thought.

[mystictechgal]

Well, technically this will be my second Thanksgiving alone, but, because I managed to force myself to sleep through most of the day last year so I wouldn't have to face it, this one will be more like my first.  Not sure what I'm going to do.  I probably won't have the antennae fixed yet, so no parades and football unless I listen to a game on radio.  The library and the zoo will both be closed, so no Internet access.  I'll probably read and/or watch some videos.  No turkey this year, either.  I like it, but I was able to pick up a beautiful 5 pound duckling on Manager's Special the other night for $7.  So, duck will be on this year's menu.  I've not cooked a duck before; a goose is about as close as I've come, so I've been researching recipes for roasting it.  Once I figure that part out I'll figure what sides to serve.  Rice is a side that's most often mentioned, but I do love mashed potatoes and gravy, so I'll probably do that.  The stuffing most often mentioned seems to be fruit based, but I'm torn on that one because, once again, I do love a traditional bread stuffing.  Hmmm...  Decisions, decisions.  Do I try, except for the bird choice, to stay as close to the traditional Thanksgivings of my past, or do I toss it all out the window and try something completely different, setting up some new traditions?  I'm just not sure how I'll feel about either one.

[pink_]

I went to grad school 3000 miles away from my family, and I got rather used to spending Thanksgiving alone.  The first time, I cooked for myself (something *not* turkey--I did some kind of shrimp thing that I think was god, but I haven't made it since) and watched a few movies with a bottle of wine.  It was a nice evening, and it was no longer a big deal.  Since then, I have on occasion cooked a version of the traditional Thanksgiving day feast for me and a SO; I've ignored it; I've been invited over to friends' homes . . .  But given how busy the semester is, there was no way that I was traveling this year.  SO is visiting his family, and I am staying home. 

[voxprincipalis]

I will be going to a colleague's house for turkey, but will otherwise be alone. While on the one hand, I would like some company, I also know that I am so burned out that I really wouldn't be any good to anyone and I need to spend a few days in a recumbent position with my brain turned off for maintenance. (That won't fix things, but it might help me get to the end of the semester!)

Onion, I'm so sorry to hear about your breakup.

VP

[elsie]

I've had a rough semester physically, and I just don't feel up to driving a distance this year. So I too am going to a friend's house for Thanksgiving dinner. I intend to spend the rest of the break resting and catching up.