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Eating Alone

The first timed I dined alone at a restaurant would be over twenty years ago now and it felt a bit awkward. The waitress had graciously seated me in a booth - it was a not a busy time but also a thoughtful gesture on her part. Since that first time, eating out alone specially while traveling for work has become easier to the point of effortless now. I used to think it was a matter of practice over time that made the experience less fraught. It turns out that eating solo is becoming more common and I am just a happy beneficiary of the trend. Many factors have contributed to this: 

“The social norms have changed. People don’t look at solo diners anymore and think, ‘You must be a loner,'” Mattila said.

The growth comes as more people are living alone. In 2019, the Pew Research Center found that 38% of U.S. adults ages 25 to 54 were living without a partner, up from 29% in 1990. In Japan, single households now make up one-third of the total; that’s expected to climb to 40% by 2040, according to government data.

Increasing interest in solo travel—particularly among travelers ages 55 and over—is also leading to more meals alone.

I think I get a lot more attention and better service if I am eating alone - maybe the wait staff want to make sure I enjoy the experience and don't feel alone and left out. I have conversations that would likely not happen if I was with others. 

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