Lifestyle of the singles can be fun and fulfilling

Contrary to popular perception, the single men and women in our midst are not a deprived lot. For many of them, their lifestyle is free and full of fun, even during the festive season when others expect them to feel lonely.

December is the month when television channels usually broadcast heart-warming stories and touching holiday season greetings to get everyone in the mood to spend time with their loved one

Being single during the festive season has somewhat always been a boo-boo issue. But for some single men and women, the single status comes with its share of perks.

Take Rostina Gaus, 47, who commutes from Melbourne, Australia, to Kuala Lumpur every fortnight for her business.

Some quality time alone: R.Vasanthan (seated) ordering teh tarik from Satar at his favourite mamak shop.
According to Rostina, being single gives her the freedom and room to bond with friends.

“It's wonderful feeling to take charge of your own life and live it on your on terms. I look forward to the holidays with great enthusiasm because I can spend quality idle time with my closest friends as well as make some time for mysel,” she said.

“Even if you are alone, you can still have fun and peace with just a book,” Rostina said.

“With family members during the holidays, you got to find a common ground so that everyone is agreeable to go somewhere or even eat,” she said.

Rostina said that sometimes it was quite blissful and not as lonely as how others might perceive it to be.

R. Vasanthan, 50, finds being single gives him more leisure time.

“My parents have passed away while my siblings have their own family. I do visit them on special occasion but most of time I spend it alone,” he said.

“Work takes my mind off everything, sometimes it does get lonely but that's what friends are for. Usually I just chill at my favourites mamak shop with a few friends and we talk about politics and work,” he said.

Enjoying the high life is what 28-year-old Eugene Tan does during the festive seasons as he hits the clubs and all the Christmas parties that he gets invited to.

“My family doesn't celebrate Christmas and it is a bit weird to come home to a quiet atmosphere while the rest of the city is buzzing with celebrations,” Tan said.

“I'll usually round up my single friends and we'll party through the couple of days and we'll also show up all house parties. Our friends usually have Christmas dos and year-end parties so this is a great time to meet new people as well,” he said.

Fortunately for Tan, he has never encountered a year where he had to abandon his plans and stay home.

“I guess friends are very important if you are single because they will be there to support you,” he said.

“No matter what happens, we know that we can still just go out for drinks. Even if we do stay home, we can just watch a movie and have our own little celebration,” Tan said.

However, the chirpy young man does not believe in travelling during the holidays.

“There was one year where I decided that I should go on a holiday to join in the cheers in another country but it made things worse. I didn't have my friends around and because I was in a foreign place, I didn't know where to go and what to do. It turned out quite horribly as I spent my Christmas in the hotel lounge,” Tan recalled.

Elaine Chee and Tang Yong Kiew try to be at social gatherings where they get to meet new people or to just catch up with friends.

“Sometimes we hear of social gatherings or single parties and we'll go for it because sometimes they offer interesting activities and a chance to learn new stuffs. A lot of bars do offer single parties nowadays so that's what we usually opt for.” Chee said.

“But sometimes, it does get lonely because when the party finishes, we know we are left to our own accord again. I have to say being with family is the best option because no matter what, they won't abandon you,” Tang said.