Once upon a time, people who lived alone tended to be
those on either side of marriage—twenty something professionals
or widowed senior citizens. While pensioners, particularly
elderly women, making up a large proportion of those 1
are living alone, the newest crop of singles are high earners 2
on their 30s and 40s who increasingly view living alone as a lifestyle 3
choice. Living alone was conceived to be negative—dark and cold,
since being together suggested warmth and light. But then came 4
along the idea of singles. They were young, beautiful, strong!
Now, young people want to live alone.
The booming economy means people are working harder than
ever. And that doesn"t leave much rooms for relationships. Pimpi 5
Arroyo, a 35-year-old composer who lives alone in a house in Paris,
says he hasn"t got time to get alone because he has too much work. 6
"I have deadlines which would make life with someone else fair 7
difficult." Only an Ideal Woman would make him change his
lifestyle, he says. Kaufmann, an author of a recent book called The 8
Single Woman and Prince Charming , thought this very new 9
individualism means that people expect more and more of mates, so
relationships don"t last long—if they start at all. Eppendorf, a blond
Berliner with a deep tan, teaches grade school in the mornings. In
the afternoon she sunbathes or sleeps, resting up for going dancing.
She says she"d never have wanted to do that her mother did—give up 10
a career to raise a family. Instead, "I"ve always done what I wanted
to do: live a self-determined life."