Craig's Bachelor Hints- First in a Series

I separated in 2001 and found myself single and setting up housekeeping for the first time in years. My pal Craig Clevenger sent me suggestions for establishing a household and a healthy domestic life.

DO NOT SUCCUMB to the temptation of this evil "convenience," no matter what the short-term payoff. The same goes for plastic flatware. The environmental arguments being a given, eating off ceramic keeps you sane and civilized, and the ensuing dishes to be cleaned-- however tedious-- are a reminder of a routine that keeps you cooperative and mindful of others.

Long-term dining off paper plates is VERY depressing on a slow, insidious level. You might not notice it at first, but the vague edgy feeling you'll feel living on your own is only exacerbated by disposable dishes.

And the slippery-slope takes hold after a while; you'll be eating straight out of boxes and bags, noshing on pasta salad right out of the take-out container and drinking out of milk cartons.

Social protocol is not the issue, here, mental health is. Acting like you have a link to others in your daily habits keeps that link alive.

Yes, cooking for one is a bitch, at best. And the only thing more depressing than Hint #1, above, is calling for take-out and having them recognize you. At the pizza place, the Chinese place, the Indian place.

Sandwiches are your savior. They're easy to make for one person, and if you've got any culinary sense at all, you're in business. My personal fave: Chicken breast and pesto with mozeralla and tomato on toasted sourdough.

Weird-ass bread (chibattas, pita, herbed sourdough, etc.) are as much fun to shop for as they are to eat; spreads are simply a matter of turning off cruise-control for the standard and finding something unusual (black olive pesto or spicy mango), and the rest is standard deli fare. With some veggies, it's all stuff that has a reasonably long fridge-life.

Except for your calendar or stuff on a bulletin board, don't resort to festooning your walls with thumb tacks and tape. If it's worth hanging, it's worth hanging right. And a blank wall in a well-furnished apt. is infinitely more pleasing to the eye than and stapled-up Pammy poster. You wanna hang Pammy or Jimmy H. or whomever, invest in frames.

Have something else living in your pad for when you don't have company. If you don't have a pet, get a plant.

You're likely already on this one. Reading? Listening to music? Light a candle. The room doesn't have to be dark, just the doing is good for the soul.

Just looking out for ya', bro... I've been at this probably a lot longer than you...more to come.

My guess is that you're already up on this one too, but just in case... don't resort to it. "Background music/noise" is the working drone's method of not saying "Holy Shit! I'm alone!!!!" If you want to play music, play it. But don't be afraid of cleaning house or showering or reading with no TV or music in the background.

As a father of three with regular movie night, you're officially exempt from this one but, it's a good working rule for those of us single guys who don't have regular vistors and children. Simply put:

When they recognize you at the video store, it's time to spend your time otherwise.

-Craig