A Bachelors Survival Guide

I’m a bachelor. I was married once, for 21 years before we decided to call it quits. Let’s just say my health and well being was involved in that decision.

That being said, I didn’t foresee the many problems to be encountered in transitioning from married life to joining the ranks of single men. After my lengthy marriage I preferred to be a confirmed bachelor. However, there were several obstacles I would have to overcome before declaring myself self sufficient.

First, there was the matter of cooking. When I was single way back when, I could cook a little. But, after my divorce I found I had forgotten how. My ex had been an excellent cook who prepared well balanced, healthy and nutritious meals. She had always looked out for my health. Now I was all alone in deciding what to eat.

Like other bachelors, whatever was the quickest and easiest to prepare is what ended up on my table. Not all bachelors perhaps, because it’s a well known fact the best chefs are men. That’s a little tongue in cheek humor there ladies. Therefore the microwave became an indispensable survival tool in my home. If it could be “nuked” in it went. But anything microwavable just doesn’t have any taste. Besides prepackaged meals like TV dinners are not the healthiest things to eat. They usually have too much salt or sugar added. Don't get me started on the endless list of undecipherable ingredients on product labels .

So, what’s a guy to do, take a home economics course? Or, watch the cooking shows on TV? Choose a channel...any channel. The odds are one will be on. Perhaps, but you gals know that isn’t going to happen. Most men are too lazy to put that much effort into something.

Here was my answer, I moved in with my brother and another good friend, also now single. They do the cooking. Of course their culinary skills don't compare to my former wife's, but they still do better than me.

The next hurdle most new singles have is their laundry. I used to do my own laundry before I married…not well, but it got done. Of course, before I discovered what bleach was; my dingy white things could have been used in a Tide commercial. As far as folding or hanging clothes up, it might take a while. I usually wear them before that happens.

Another thing was the house cleaning. No problem there…my cohabitants do it very well. Of course, not as well as my former wife who was obsessive compulsive in the matter. Before entering the house the shoes had to come off. The sofa and chairs had beautiful seat covers and everything was in perfect order. What about my house now? Any old bath towel makes a good seat cover and everything is just where I left it…no problem.

Would I remarry? What, and give up all this? Just find some friends who know how to do these things and move in with them.