I just don’t understand the implied awkwardness of eating out alone. No one who travels for business feels weird about it as far as I know. I don’t think twice about doing it, and I don’t notice it when I go out, whether I’m dining with others or not. I’ve done it with every level of cuisine, too.
Pretty much the only time it feels any different for me is at a very high end Michelin class place where the meals cost $1000 a plate and it’s very obviously a special place for people celebrating or business dinners, but even then I don’t have a problem with it. These are restaurants people intentionally travel to, and if your work takes you to a city that has one, you should take the opportunity to try it.
However, I DO NOT WANT a stuffed animal as a dining companion. If I wanted to sit awkwardly across from a companion who refuses to engage in conversation, I have plenty of people to pick from. I’d also have no idea what to order for them. What kind of cocktails to stuffed animals even like?
For me, it’s a special event kind of thing. Birthday, anniversary, special date night, that kind of thing.
I’ve been in (briefly) uniformed and non uniformed government service for much of my career, either working directly for the government or on a contract. I’ve also spent a lot of time in research and academia, writing papers and teaching people. I wasn’t making a ton of money, but I was doing well by most standards. After having some experiences in countries I would not recommend on TripAdvisor, I decided to go do something else with what remains of my career. I found some people who needed some math done in a field where I’m pretty qualified, and they agreed to pay me pretty well for it. I don’t ascribe it to anything but luck and a bit of stubbornness. I really could have ended up anywhere between face down in the sand or a clerk at the quick stop given a different outcome of some rolls of the dice.
I’m not “I got in on an IPO” rich, but I can fly my 85 year old mom out and take her out to dinner and drop $2000 on it so that she knows her not exactly neurotypical or heteronormative kid is doing more than okay still. I’m not eating white rhinoceros flank steak covered in gold leaf with Elon Musk, but I can hit up the occasional Michelin restaurant. I’m bitter enough to indulge in that.
I also donate money to places like the ACLU, EFF, Planned Parenthood, the Trevor Foundation, and my local LGBT community center. I make political donations to left wing candidates, and I’m old enough to remember Paul Wellstone and have met Bernie Sanders (who helped a project I was working on get funding).
I still don’t consider this a meritocracy. Its more of a “if you happen to know someone who wants you to do things for them and it’s a rare skill, you might be able to do okay for yourself and your family.”
From the first to fourth paragraph got increasingly weird. I have so many questions. I get your not eating white rhino but what are you eating for 2k? How many people are we talking about feeding for that price? I get how the donating to the charities is good. But is “I use my capital to further my political interests” the same thing? And you seem so defensive about the fact you’re rich like it’s a bad thing yet you’re still doing stuff like going to Michelin Star restaurants.
I’ve always found it difficult to understand that people would feel awkward eating alone at restaurants. Eating in a group is exhausting to me (especially in business, which I don’t do anymore), eating with a close friend is enjoyable, but I’d never not eat somewhere just because I was alone - or even feel the slightest bit awkward or any other negative emotions towards it.
100% this. I dine alone all the time & enjoy doing so. I feel a teddy bear would feel insulting. I have a good social life… i dont need companionship all the time.
Half the time, going to trendy restaurants is too much of a hassle with other people anyway. The wait times in particular make them unappealing. When going alone though, ive yet to find a place that couldnt immediately find a table for you (though more often than not, its at the bar)
I did want to build on the fancy restaurant thing. I recently enjoyed a solo meal at a high end supper club (the kind of place where people celebrate special events)… they sat me in their exclusive honeymoon table that was super romantically decorated right in the middle of the restaurant… it was the only time i actually wondered what the other tables might think, but i thought it was the coolest thing ever lol.
I just don’t understand the implied awkwardness of eating out alone. No one who travels for business feels weird about it as far as I know. I don’t think twice about doing it, and I don’t notice it when I go out, whether I’m dining with others or not. I’ve done it with every level of cuisine, too.
Pretty much the only time it feels any different for me is at a very high end Michelin class place where the meals cost $1000 a plate and it’s very obviously a special place for people celebrating or business dinners, but even then I don’t have a problem with it. These are restaurants people intentionally travel to, and if your work takes you to a city that has one, you should take the opportunity to try it.
However, I DO NOT WANT a stuffed animal as a dining companion. If I wanted to sit awkwardly across from a companion who refuses to engage in conversation, I have plenty of people to pick from. I’d also have no idea what to order for them. What kind of cocktails to stuffed animals even like?
I would end up in a verbal altercation with the bear… ‘you dont even love me anymore! You just stayed for the kids…’
…how many times have you gone out for $1000 meals?
For me, it’s a special event kind of thing. Birthday, anniversary, special date night, that kind of thing.
I’ve been in (briefly) uniformed and non uniformed government service for much of my career, either working directly for the government or on a contract. I’ve also spent a lot of time in research and academia, writing papers and teaching people. I wasn’t making a ton of money, but I was doing well by most standards. After having some experiences in countries I would not recommend on TripAdvisor, I decided to go do something else with what remains of my career. I found some people who needed some math done in a field where I’m pretty qualified, and they agreed to pay me pretty well for it. I don’t ascribe it to anything but luck and a bit of stubbornness. I really could have ended up anywhere between face down in the sand or a clerk at the quick stop given a different outcome of some rolls of the dice.
I’m not “I got in on an IPO” rich, but I can fly my 85 year old mom out and take her out to dinner and drop $2000 on it so that she knows her not exactly neurotypical or heteronormative kid is doing more than okay still. I’m not eating white rhinoceros flank steak covered in gold leaf with Elon Musk, but I can hit up the occasional Michelin restaurant. I’m bitter enough to indulge in that.
I also donate money to places like the ACLU, EFF, Planned Parenthood, the Trevor Foundation, and my local LGBT community center. I make political donations to left wing candidates, and I’m old enough to remember Paul Wellstone and have met Bernie Sanders (who helped a project I was working on get funding).
I still don’t consider this a meritocracy. Its more of a “if you happen to know someone who wants you to do things for them and it’s a rare skill, you might be able to do okay for yourself and your family.”
From the first to fourth paragraph got increasingly weird. I have so many questions. I get your not eating white rhino but what are you eating for 2k? How many people are we talking about feeding for that price? I get how the donating to the charities is good. But is “I use my capital to further my political interests” the same thing? And you seem so defensive about the fact you’re rich like it’s a bad thing yet you’re still doing stuff like going to Michelin Star restaurants.
Uh ok
I’ve always found it difficult to understand that people would feel awkward eating alone at restaurants. Eating in a group is exhausting to me (especially in business, which I don’t do anymore), eating with a close friend is enjoyable, but I’d never not eat somewhere just because I was alone - or even feel the slightest bit awkward or any other negative emotions towards it.
100% this. I dine alone all the time & enjoy doing so. I feel a teddy bear would feel insulting. I have a good social life… i dont need companionship all the time.
Half the time, going to trendy restaurants is too much of a hassle with other people anyway. The wait times in particular make them unappealing. When going alone though, ive yet to find a place that couldnt immediately find a table for you (though more often than not, its at the bar)
I did want to build on the fancy restaurant thing. I recently enjoyed a solo meal at a high end supper club (the kind of place where people celebrate special events)… they sat me in their exclusive honeymoon table that was super romantically decorated right in the middle of the restaurant… it was the only time i actually wondered what the other tables might think, but i thought it was the coolest thing ever lol.