Category: Daily Living
Hi,
I may be moving out of my house in a few years. Sense I won't be married and have few friends in my home town, my only option is to live by myself. Is this a good idea to live alone? why or why not.
Do you like people or not? I want my space so I don't want to live with some idiot who would get in my way.
I like people, I just don't have but 3 friends in my home town. Could a blind woman living alone be an easy target for robbers, and kidnappers? If so, how can I protect myself.
Well, if you want to lieve alone I'd definitely say go for a condo or townhouse, not a single family home or anything. Both external maintenance is taken care fof for you, there is security in having a lot of neighbours very close by and you can supplement it with a home monitoring syste, it'd cost you $20 to $30 a month, equipment included. Like anything in the U.S. it's all a matter of location though, don't choose a questionable neighbourhood if you can afford it, stay close to a major bus route if there is any so you are not completely at the mercy of whatever disabled transportation services they provide.
Living alone is quite a lot of work, I was lucky I made enough money t hire an assistant to help me with floor cleaning and grocery shopping and, most of the time, laundry, because I just didn't want to spend half my spare time dealing with such things in the name of independence, I posted an ad on Craigslist, had my sister and her husband interview applicants and found a great one accepting $20 an hour who helped me for 2 to 3 hours a week, it came to $200 a month but it totally helped me live alone and enjoy it. This being said, I personally wouldn't move out just to move out, it's better if it's in connection with school or a job or some bigger plan, but that's just me. Moving to a college dorm is a nce, getle, introduction to independence too with free food provided, well, a meal plan.
cheers and good luck
-B
this is going to sound mean but i'm sorry! hehehehe if you are worried about robbers and all that. dont' be. you said in one of your posts you don't bathe but once a weak. so no robber is going to be stupid enough to get near your home!heheheheh
shea
There's no reason a totally blind person can't live alone. Yes, living in a condo or townhouse might be easier because of the outside maintenance being taken care of, but other than that concern, if your daily living skills are up to snuff, you shouldn't have anything to worry about. (But um please do bathe and keep the house tidy, as you might just receive company one day...)
As has been said earlier, I don't think its a matter of being blind or sighted, but rather if you like company or not. Good suggestions were already offered. Depending on where you live, some of the grocery store chains might let you shop on line, which will also make things easier. I would say this: If you decide to move in with someone, do it because you want to, not because you feel you don't have a choice.
Good luck,
Lou
Well, would living alone be a target for robbers and stuff Is it a good idea to go places alone If someone breaks into my home, what should I do?
Going places alone is perfectly safe. You can't let your blindness hinder your ability to live independently. If you are safe (i.e., locking your doors and windows when you go out and at night, leaving a light on so it looks like someone's home, keeping the house presentable so it looks like someone's living there), you're less likely to have to deal with a break-in.
Protecting oneself is largely a matter of attitude and how one appears to others. It really comes down to looking like you know where you are going if you're out and about, even if you're lost. If you can find a copy of the book SAFE WITHOUT SIGHT, you might get some good ideas there. It was published by National Braille Press www.nbp.org.
Good luck,
Lou
Do they still have it at Nbp?
Off the top of my head, I'm not sure about NPB, but the Library for the Blind was circulating it, so it might be avilable there.
Lou
If you don't have the confidence to live on your own then you shouldn't because you will just fail.
that's good advice.
What? Poster thirteen's advice. didn't seem all that encouraging, if you ask me. anyway, actually, I think he may be right. Confidence and complete independence from one's parents will help you in your decision-making if you decide to live alone. Your mom may call you twenty times a day to check up on you, but that's only natural, because she's worried, and wants to make sure you're safe.
Poster 15. My sisters have been living on their own for five or more years now, and they still aren't completely independent from my parents, my mother especially. They still go shopping with her, call her up to ask questions about recipes, ask her advice on work-related dissues... so on and so forth. One cannot be an island simply because one lives by one's self. And both of my sisters have, and have always had, full vision.
To poster 16, you raise a really good point. this whole "Independence" thing has less to do with vision as it does how you are wired, and if you're more into solving problems by yourself, or if you ask for help. I think that if one is ready to risk making mistakes and has the personality that can handle making mistakes that those two factors can contribute into growing more comfortable with living alone.
Lou
My mom got a carpenter to convert the garage into an apartment! It happened right after I got Daisy! My brother complained caus I woke him up taking Daisy out! Don't worry I'm sure you'll be fine! I can't imagine living without my family! Maybe you should try living like I do!
And if you decide to live alone, you can't live in fear that a burgler might come. You just have to know what to do if you encounter somebody that might be a threat and live your life normally and do everyday normal things.
I see the mistake I made in my last post. agree with all of you
I understand that, but does anyone have advice on what to do if I encounter someone who is a threat, or if a disaster strikes and I live alone? Also, I don't know anything about home maintenance, so what would I do if something occurs such as a clogged pipe, a leak, or if the house needs worked on.
Download87, who do you currently live with? Can't you ask some of these basic maintenance questions of them? Try to observe what other people do in these situations.
You sound as if you are afraid of your own shadow.
My first concern about living alone wouldn't be about being broken in upon! Can you cook? Can you keep your space clean? Can you travel independently? Some of these issues should be addressed before you consider getting a place of your own... not that you need to know *everything*, but just gain a little confidence that you can look after yourself.
Dude. Cooking and cleanliness skills are so freaking subjective. For some, they're a priority, and for others who'd feel fine living on pizza and washing their clothes every two weeks, they are not. This whole idea of emphasis on one's ability to do either strikes me as incredibly housewife-ish, if you would. We're not living in show-places, people.
To download87: When you move into a house/apartment, make sure that you have either a combination lock or an alarm system installed. As for a clogged pipe, leak, etc. call tell-me, use business search to find a local plumber, and proceed from there.
1-800-555-8355. Follow the voice prompts.
It seems the biggest step is to overcome your paranoya. It seems your friends are out to steal your passwords and the biggest fears have to do with killers and burglers. Of course I don't know where you live and may be in the wildest ghettos of LA or someting those would be valid concerns but I've never been housebroken nor do I know anyone who has even if I know quite a few people who live by themselves. No need for fancy locks or any of that, a security system if you want to be save but just relaxing about this and concentrate on the more important things, how to cook, clean, do laundry etc would be helpful.
Sure we don't have to live in model homes but we still need to be able to do the cooking, cleaning etc or at least arrange for it to be done somehow. We don't want to live in pigsti conditions.
As for services I'd go with a condo, it eliminates dealing with leaks, roof problems and landscaping etc + the HOA might know a plumber who they can recommend for any other issues. I never had any in 4 years of living alone, but I guess I was lucky with that.
cheers
-B
my gosh shea, I'm sorry, but you are heck nasty! reading all your posts I'm disgusted!
sure, download87 has hygene issues, but can't you see that she's obviously got deeper problems as well? that should have been obvious.
seriously, your attitude does not impress many of us, so grow up?
Rdfreak, I agree with you. I don't like Shea's attitude. That's why I put her on the ignore list.
The truth hurts, mental problems or not, someone needs to tell her like it is. If she's ever going to reach her full potential she can't be coddled for her entire life.
Well-said, Jared.
Rachel, that's your problem if you think I'm nasty. I have said nothing nasty that doesn't need to be said. Of course she has problems, but you think telling her it's alright, is going to help her out any? I see you haven't given any advice, now have you? so instead of telling me, i need to grow up for my comments, maybe you need to grow up and give some advice that is going to help her! this is the boards and if you don't like what I say, then don't read it! I'm not going to sugar coated what I say, just because it offends poor little Rachel. Thanks, and continue to bathe!
And to download person type thingy. if your going through life, ignoring anyone that tells you how it is, your never going to get anywhere! I know i'm waisting my time typing this, because your ignoring me, but that's alright it's worth saying. ehhehe Anyone that jknow me, knows I'm not nasty, I just tell it how it is. Love me or hate me, i could care less. As the song goes. if you love me, thank you. if you hate me than fuck you! heheheheh. thaught i'd end it being nasty. so you at least have a reason to call me that ! smiles, Shea
I will have to agree with shea here. I wish that I were able to tell it like it is like she does all the time. I hold my tongue when I really shouldn't sometimes. Katie, I would seriously suggest you consider going to a rehab center for the blind for a while and get out from under your parent's roof. This won't be technically living on your own, but it will at least get you away from your mom who you say rules your life now. From reading other things you have posted and from talking to you on conference before, I don't think you should live alone. That's my opinion and that's what this board is all about right? Asking our opinions on whether or not you should live alone? I don't honestly think you are mentally capable of living on your own. You can not accomplish some of the easy things in life, so how are you going to accomplish cleaning on a much larger scale like your entire apartment. You mention living in a house. I would say definitely not ready for that. I personally am not ready to live in a house alone because I don't want the extra responsibilities.
I have to ask how much do you help your mom with cleaning your house now? laundry? grocery shopping? cooking? paying bills? all of these things are just part of what you need to be able to do to truly live on your own.
i don't think you are there yet and not sure you ever will be unless you make some major life changes.
Hi, I would agree about going to a rehab place, learning the things you need and getting away from controling parents. I almost fell into that trap but I wanted more. as far as being robbed, heck it can unfortunately happen to any of us, blind or sighted. You need to be able to pay your bills, cook and clean and most of all have some confedence in yourself. Just my opinion.
to post 23
to you cleaning and cooking may be subjective but to others are things that are necesary to live. Most of us don't have the fortune of mami and dady to watch out for us all the time. From reading and reading conversations on the zone, even though is not many people but yeah us blind people do in fact work, and live on our own.
Shay you as well as harp I love reading what you guys write because you guys don't hold anything back and are great in putting things in words so yeah awsom for that.
Download87, it seems like you need to work on a lot of things that are very basic to even begin to think of being on your own or not.
Going to a rehab center seems like a good place to start on your way to be independent.
To poster 32. First, how ironic that the numbers stack up so perfectly?
Second. You entirely missed my point. I said that their importance is subjective, not that someone must be hugely knowledgeable about them to earn their live away from home lisence. A working knowledge is helpful, but not necessary. I could survive on chereos and chocolate milk, vacuum my house once a week, etc. and still be fine. Also, there are those who live with their parents for financial reasons... doing so does not come with a guarantee that parents will do their live-in child's chores. And it's pretty stupid/presumptuous, not to mension childishly shortsighted of you to assume so.
To Shea and Rachel. I'll have to side with Rachel, somewhat. Shea, I think the problem some of us are having with your posts is not what you say, but how you're articulating your thoughts. People here aren't giving practical advice, they're surrounding their views with sarcastic comments. If some of us could learn to be more encouraging, instead of taking the tough love wins all route, others who are not so advanced in the life skills department might begin to take heart and learn new, valuable lessons. It's important to build morale in rookies before tearing them down with snippy little remarks.
Shea, I'm offering advice to you girly. Others have already articulated what I would have said to DL87. She's obviously got deeper issues, as I say. She's depressed. Like Cousincap, i've been in the same situation before so I know what it's like. But no, you're head is stuck up your own -- too much to understand that. All you want to do is make snide remarks. You've certainly had a go at me on a few occasions, but that's fine. I'm able to ignore it. you're not worth my time. however, to be bullying someone who's much younger than you, and who obviously has a few more issues than you, is just downright mean.
Why don't you try treating others how you like to be treated yourself? Furthermore, act your age? come on you're 30 aren't you? You (and a few others on this site) just like to ruin it for everybody; it's a shame you're all a lot older and should know better. I for one am sick of hearing this bullying, just because you're all so insecure.
that's it for me on the topic; it just has to be said.
oh my gosh. because i have said some things the all mighty Rachel has not agreed with. I'm immature and not acting my age. lol! come on now. i have never personally set out to attack you. so I have no idea where that is coming from! Miss Rachel if you knew the entire story, you would know why I have said some things to her that i have. but, no you havne't been there for the conversations. but no, you come on here thinking your holier than thou., telling us that don't agree with her to grow up.
If i'm so bad and nasty to this person. than why has she messaged me several times since this board, saying i'm not nasty. i'm just telling her how i feel?
So as I said before if you don't like the way I word things than just don't read it. And if you really don't like it. you have been a cl before. you know what the ignore feature is for, use it! I don't reply to boards to fit you Rachel. nore am I going to start!
smiles, shea
I go to RNC at the minute, which is a residential college for visually impaired people, but I hope to live in my own place eventually. I wouldn't want to live too near my family because I won't really want them keep coming round every 5 minutes, which would probably be quite annoying.
If I live alone, How would I be able to go on outings by myself, such as to go fishing, to the lake, the fair, or amusement parks, when I'm going by myself. I've been to my state fair and places like that, but I don't know the way around. How do blind people go to these places alone?
I moved out on my own about 8 months ago. Now thuogh I see that I miht be looking for a roomate when my elase expires. It is nice living on your own but I hate the quiet and would rather share my space with someone else.
I'd live with friends, but I knowwith the few friends I have, they're already living on their own, and have kids and a family, so, it wouldn't work out.
i don't think most sighted people go to amusement parks on their own anyway. they usually go with friends or relatives or whoever they like. i personally find it a bit sad to go on my own to a place like that
A braille compass comes in handy to help you with orientation. I believe Maxiaids and other places that sell things for the blind and visually impaired, has them. On Days when it's sunny and you get lost, try to figure out which dirrection, (and here, i mean cardinal dirrection), you're going by the sun's rays on your face, or a different part of your body. This particular method depends on if you're traveling in the morning, or in the evening. The compass would help you most on days when the sun's not so bright. If you're so discombobulated and confused as to where you are, and you know there's a building nearby, pop in and ask for help to the nearest wherever you're going. knowing street names on the route you're traveling, and where to turn when, is also a must.
Hey, Download, living alone and living with a few kids is different. How do you propose you want to live alone if you don't even know how blind people travel? Do you know how to cross a street? And, Shay, you made some great points. RdF
reak, you can't tell the positive things all time. You can't be sympathetic. You have to say it how it is, and Download will _never live on her own, judging by these posts. If she does, she will starve, and probably get ran over by a car on the stree which she thought was a sidewalk.
Kenny
DL87, I don't like judging people, but you've gone too far. You asked for an opinion, and I gave mine. I believe you need to get with NFB, or some organization like NFB, who will get you to see that is possible for a blind person to plan out a route and visit a lake and go fishing. Why not try planning out the logistics next time your family wants to go on a trip? Tell _them how to get there. Get them to use public transportation. You pack everything, you take them there, and _YOU tell them that you want to be an independent and successful adult living alone. As for your first post, you said that you don't want to live with friends because you only have theee? Well, expand your bubble, and get some friends. Find some. You _Can become social. Get a myspace, continue socializing on the zone, and stuff like that.
I gave her the NFB suggestion. not sure if she took me up on it, though.
Well, I know it’s sad to go places alone, but when my parents are gone, that’s my only choice. My state has orientation and mobility instructors that can help me learn my way around these places. For places that are temporary like the fair that only lasts a week, it’s not feasible for an o and m instructor to teach me the rout to every ride and building under the sun. Well, I could also ask for directions, which I’m confident at doing.
I do have friends, about twenty or so. They already have families, and kids, and better things to do. That’s an excellent idea to get a Braille compass. Are they mostly accurate?
Katie, as you develop more confidence in your mobility skills, You'll find you'll need to rely lesss on formal instruction, and more on the mobility tool that lies between your ears, namely your brain. I'm not saying you will never need instruction, but I am saying that it may be very situational. You really can learn the different smells, sounds, etc that are common in the environment and what they mean. I know you have a Pacmate. I don't know if you have the GPS software/hardware, but I know that some packages provide walking directions as well as directions by car. I used to teach O and M, but don't anymore. I think you were at an NFB Center at one time, but it really sounds like you could benefit from some rolemodels who are blind that maybe aren't teachers to "show you" how a blind person has the potential to be his/her best mobility instructor.
Lou
If you use the compass correctly, yes, it is accurate most of the time.
Good advice. My question is, what do I do ifI get real sick, and can't take care of myself for a few days. I assume, that's a few days without food, and If an emergency occurs, I'm just out of luck when I live alone. Also, what do I do when I get so old that I can't take care of myself. Any opinions?
If you plan on getting married, that's where your spouse comes in. If not, get a friend to help you.
If you get sick, work anyway. Eat. Keep spare food around such as can food. When you get old? You need to be concerned about now, and not when you get old. Although, just to answer your question, you can find a nursing home.
Katie, your concerns are valid, but I wouldn't worry too much about them right now. You've plenty of time to plan for getting older, and you can always have "emergency" food around like cereal, and other things that don't require much food preparation. Based on your last post, it almosts sounds as thoug you believe the only thing that would be different is that you would be living alone. Consider the fact that you would become more self-sufficient and be more aware of ways to solve problems by the mere act of surviving.
Lou
I agree.
Thanks for the advice. If I get very ill, I don't think the few friends I have would really want to help. They have kids, family, and a job, well, that's one of them. The other is about 91 years old, and he'd be willing to help, but He can't take care of himself that well, and it would be too hard on him.
I thought you had twenty friends? If they are _really friends, they would walk to the end of the earth for you. I don't think you know the meaning of the word friend.
I do, but about 18 out of twenty are long distance, and It would cost them a lot of time and money that they could've spent on better things.
I've done it both ways, livd with others and by myself. I've been on my own for the past two plus years. there are advantages, absolutely, but on balance I'd have to say that, at least for me, having other people around is preferrable. Loneliness can be a very strong thing sometimes.
Download, never try to live on your own unless you have a support system. You won't handle it.
A support system? What do you mean?
Katie, a couple of things. You are operating under the assumption that you will always live in the same area, and that your friends who live far away will always be in the same area. In short, you are operating under the assumption that life, in general, is very stic and stable. It doesn't work that way! Life is fluid, and ever changing. I'm 50 now, and if you had told me when I was 21 that I'd be teaching computers, I'd have laughed at you. If you had told me I'd marry the person I did, I'd really laugh at you. Point is, none of us knows what the future holds. A support system is a vague term, but by necessity it is a vague term. To me, a support system is having the means beit it financial or manpower or community resources to help an individual maintain as independent a lifestyle as possible. I don't know if that's where poster 57 was going, but that's my take on it.
Lou
maybe not using those precise words, but I think that may be what they meant
Yes, that isexactly what I was eluding to. You will need a way of attaining employment so you can eat your fastfood, you will need friends or family that can help you, and you will need to have a way of maintaining a house or apartment..
Well, I'm going to colege now, and I'll find employment. I have family at the moment.
Family ain't going to provide for you once you move out. College and employment to support yourself don't mix either.
At least college is a start.
Yeah, it's a start.
I live alone have been since 2005. Yes I was knervous the first few days but I got through it and love it! I live in a secure apartment complex so I feel pretty safe.
Troy
I don't live alone but have blind friends that do and based on what I know how to do as far as cooking and cleaning and stuff like that, I probably could survive on my own. I've never actually done it so I guess technically I can't say for sure since I truely don't know what it's like.
Kerby
I'm not moving out now, but once I find employment, I'll move out. Also, I know that my family aren't going to do things for me when I move. My family won't be around for a very long time, so when they are gone, I'm out of luck if I need any help with anything. The friends I have will probably be dead once my family is. No matter what, someday, I know I'll be totally alone. I know that life isn't stick and stable, but I know once I move out, I'll live alone for the rest of my life.
Katie, you sound so fatalistic as if nobody would want to be friends with you, or perhapsy you don't want to risk making friends with people, and that you are absolutely certain you will not make friends for the rest of your life. You strike me with being a bright inteligent person who has some behavioral issues that need to be addressed. I said in a private mail to you that I wouldn't bash you on these boards, and I'm not intending this to be such, so please don't take it that way.
Lou
Well, I know I'll make friends, and I've made a whole lot of them. What I'm saying is that since they are mom and dads age, then when my parents are dead, they will be gone too. I'm not 100 percent, but I'm sure of that. Once my friends are gone along with my parents, then I'll be totally alone.
You're operating under the assumption that you won't make friends your own age.
Lou
Well, I don't want age discrimination here, but I've gotten along with older people mor than those my own age. I believe that's because I've been around mostly people my parent's age or older. For you young people, please don't take offense to this. I like people of all ages, races, and all walks of life, but I just seem to bond with older people.
Goodk. So, when your parents die, and your so-called friends die, fiknd more old people. And, you also seem to be living under the illusion that your parents won't help you out or do a thing for you once you move out. Let me tell you something. I wouldn't let my kid stay in my house past the age of eighteen if I wanted to cut him./her out of my life. If I wanted my kid to be out, the muinute he turned eighteen, I would help him/her pack his/her bags, and call a cab for them. Your parents have lovingly supported you, allowed you to stink their house with your unclean ways, and are doubtlessly supporting you through college right now. So, I don't see them cutting oyut.
So called friends? I think they are good friends of mine. Most of them are distant, and I have a couple in my state. I've done things with most of those distant friends. We really met.
Like I said in my earlier posts, there will come a day when I'll be totally alone. I'll be the last one in my family to die, and the last out of my friends.
You got plenty of time to meet new people, and hopefully, potential friends. Don't think you have to have the same friends all your life. I certaintly didn't. When I moved I lost contact with all my friends and made new ones.
Well, you might as well die now then. You have the same friends, and they're going to die, you have the same parents and they're giong to die, why don't you die too?
Good idea for another topic.
I think both has its advantages and disadvantages. I wouldn't like the thought of being alone when Icome home and maybe want to share thoughts or just want to talk. On the othr hand when you have a stressful day, to come home and have some rest isn't too bad either, and you can do what you want. But it is better to have someone with you you can share thoughts with and you can share the household tasks with ... I wouldn't want to do a household all alone.
Well, I know I can make new friends, and I've made some wonderful friends. The only problem is, when my parents are gone, my friends I have now and the friends I'll make in the future will be gone too. Once the closest friends in my life pass away, how likely would it be to find new ones.
Well, I can't predict the future to tell you, however to assume that you won't make friends is pretty fatalistic.
How do you know all your friends are not going to be there. Unless they are 80 years old I think they'll be around for a while.
Agree with Jeannie 819.!
About all of my friends are 30 and older.
Then i suggest making friends your own age. Believe me. We're not all bad.
Katie, ten years is nothing age-wise. I've had severl friends die my own age and younger as I was growing up. Again, it sounds like your assuming your friends who are as young as thirty will die before you because they are older.
Lou
Well, isn't that usually true? The older ones die before the younger ones? I don't want to live to be very old, but I'm fine now, so I'll always be healthy. Correct me if I'm wrong. If it does come to the point that all my friends die, I'll do like voldimort said, and just die. I get along with older people because most of them seem so nice, and always want to talk to me.
You'll always be healthy? scientific studies now show that unhealthy teeth and gums can lead to other problems. No, it's not always true that elder friends die before the younger ones.
Agrree with the last post. Katie, I know I'm probably one of those "older people" that seem so nice, but I didn't take my grouch pills this morning. Having said that, why don't you start living as though you're going to have a longer life than you anticipate, and take better care of yourself. YOu might just find that younger people will be more inclined to be friendly with you. You also may find you'll get less grief from your parents about habbits and activities.
Lou
I didn't know that unhealthy teeth and gums would lead to other problems. I also didn't know that it can happen where the younger ones die before the older ones.
Well, now you know. News flash! Welcome to the real world.
and I agree with post 89.
Quite a bit of the time, the younger ones can die before their parents, or you can loose people your onwn age.
I can cook, do grocery shopping, manage transportation, help around the house, and do laundry./ Isn’t that a start. I think that when holidays like Christmas and thanksgiving come, and my family’s gone, I’d have to spend the holidays alone. I couldn’t spend these times with friends, because I’d be an unwanted intruder to them, or I’d be a waiste of time during the holidays
Katie, You need to get out in the world and make friends your own age, as others said. Just be yourself, and other people will want to be friendly with you and help you. Try not to be so negative and think about being alone. Think instead about how many years you have to live, make new friends, learn new things and have fun! Just a suggestion.
Caitlin
Katie, you really operate under some huge assumptions and they are probably largely responsible for your feeling unwanted and lonely, and why you seem so sad from your posts. I've spent several Thanksgivings alone, and frankly, I enjoyed them, but that's just me. I agree with the last poster, in that, you ought to really consider trying to make friends with people your own age through some of the vehicles that I and others have suggested in numerous posts on several boards.
Lou
Do you have any friends that you made through high school or college--friends who are just your friends, not the friends of your parents who by relationship to them are friends with you?
I made a couple friends in high school, but we weren't good friends after all. I only made 1 friend in college. The majority of the friends I have I met at blindness training center, and online. and I'm friends with mom's friends.
I have 1 friend my age. I had other friends my age in middle school, but they had nothing to do with me. I would have to spend holidays alone because the 1 friend my age lives so far away.
Hi Katie,
I think you should definitely live on your own. I've lived on my own for six or seven years now and really like it.
Before you try it, though, please get some blindness training at one fo the NFB centers. I'd personally recommend Blind Inc in Minneapolis, because that's where I went, but any of them would do you a world of good. The biggest thing your lacking, IMO, is confidence in yourself and your ability to deal with your blindness.
Katie, depending on how god that friend is, it might be worth you going to see her or him, or her or him coming to see you.
Lou
Yeh, my friend is very good, and I'm coming to see her this summer.
Well, that's a positive step in the right dirrection.
I don't really have many friends my age at home. Most of my friends are at college and they all live in different parts of the country.
Katie,
If a friend is a true friend, they would welcome you into their home for the holidays. All of my true friends are more than welcome to spend any and all holidays with me and my family. And I know that since they are my friends, they would be warmly welcomed by my family. This is something good friends do for each other.
One bad thing about having friends across country is I don't have the money to go see them. I'd have to fly, and that's too expensive.
I know this topic is old, but I am just putting this out as a rule.
This applies for anyone. If you can and are capable of it, do it. All people should live as independently as possible. You are the only one able to live your life, and should take charge of your own house and place. You should not depend on others, they can't and do not live your life.
hey all, i am 22 and live on my own with my 2 year old son and it goes good.