[thirteenfingers]

There's no shame in moving back in with your parents, as long as they and you get along, and as long as you keep making something of yourself. I lived with my parents for seven and a half years after getting my bachelor's degree. The first two and half of those years I did music freelance, after which I landed my current full-time job in IT (but I've kept up the music too). I saved up a bunch and then a few months ago, shortly before turning 31, I bought a house.

I'd like to boast that it was very careful and farsighted financial planning on my part, but it really wasn't. I'm just good enough at appreciating the living moment that I didn't feel the same urge to move out that my peers felt.

[throw51319]

I'm being very strict with doing worthwhile things and not lounging around.

I feel like it is almost more of a growth-phase than if I stayed in the city.

In the city there are so many stimuli to distract you perpetually... food, raves, dates, "networking" etc.

Now at home I can channel past experiences in solitude and learn, create, etc.

Of course the downside is there's no dating at all. So essentially will go celibate this fall/winter.

[qorrect]

My only rain drops on your parade is that raves, dates and networking are particularly important in your 20's. I fear you would miss out on a lot of those activities that you will not get to ( or have far less opportunity to ) do when you're older. At 40 now, I'm glad I had those experiences, but little to no to desire to do them again.

[throw51319]

I'm thinking of using this 1 year to kind of reduce the stimuli and recenter. Have def had my share of these experiences in the city. Not drinking alcohol for 2020 as one of my ways of resetting.

[alltakendamned]

Close to 40 here. Have these experiences, you'll regret it later if you don't. There will be plenty of solitude later.

[throw51319]

I've actually had a ton of these the past few years in the city. Of course more dates are always welcome.

Figure maybe 1 year of living clean and reducing the stimuli in the late 20s could be good.

[alltakendamned]

Yes for sure, it's not up to me to tell you how to live. You do you. And sure, don't date if you don't feel like it.

But don't isolate. Your 20s are the "last" period where its easy to make friends. After that people have a more settled life, have children, have more responsibilities, move away. So just don't postpone meeting interesting people.