Lifestyle

A Retiree Living Alone in South Carolina Went Out for Thanksgiving Dinner With a Friend, No Reservation. Then There Was Only One Place They Could Find: “Apparently, Other People Also Like to Eat Out on Thanksgiving”

By Mike Harper · November 3, 2026

On a Thanksgiving a few years back, most of Maureen’s friends were out of town visiting family. So she and the one friend still at home decided to go out to eat. She now counts what happened among her favorite holiday stories.

“A few Thanksgivings ago, my friend and I ended up eating dinner at a Waffle House,” Maureen said in a video posted Nov. 1 on her YouTube channel, Adventures in Solo Retirement (@Adventuresinsoloretirement). Maureen, who uses only her first name on the channel, writes in its description that she retired early and moved to South Carolina on her own.

The holidays were not always easy for her. “For a long time, I dreaded this whole holiday season,” she said. She explained that she became a single parent in her mid-20s, and that her son spent Christmas with his father’s family. After he left, she was often alone and tried to treat the day like any other.

She tells the whole story in her video on YouTube.

Things began to change “after I retired and moved to South Carolina,” she said. Starting over in a new place, she joined Meetup and went to get-togethers for single people, even though she describes herself as an introvert. Over time she built a group of friends who hold a Friendsgiving each year. Her dish is sausage stuffing.

Then came the year most of the group was away. “We didn’t make a reservation. Apparently, other people also like to eat out on Thanksgiving. Who knew?” she said. They looked around, and “the only place that we could find was yes, Waffle House.”

“And we just laughed about it,” she said. “I mean, how many people spend Thanksgiving at Waffle House?” Her advice to anyone eating out this year is simple: learn from them and make a reservation.

Viewers shared their own versions. One commenter, @susieinthesouth1931, wrote, “I did my first Waffle House Thanksgiving in 2001,” adding that “it became a holiday season tradition in our family until we moved north in 2011.” Another, @Magazinelady, wrote, “In October, I made reservations for one, at a nice restaurant.”

Maureen is far from alone in living alone. About 28% of older adults living in the community, or 16.2 million people, lived alone in 2023, according to the federal Administration for Community Living’s 2023 Profile of Older Americans. That included 33% of older women. The Census Bureau counted 39.7 million one-person households in 2025, 29% of all U.S. households.

Living alone is not the same as being lonely. The National Institute on Aging notes that you can live alone and not feel lonely or socially isolated, though it lists living alone among the risk factors. The institute says loneliness and social isolation are associated with higher risks of high blood pressure, heart disease, depression and cognitive decline. The CDC says people with stronger social bonds are more likely to live longer, healthier lives.

What readers can check or do this season:

Book early. If you plan to eat out on the holiday, reserve a table ahead of time, as Maureen now advises.

Look for a group. The NIA suggests finding an activity you enjoy or taking a class, and checking programs at senior centers, community centers and public libraries.

Pick a date that works. Maureen’s friends sometimes hold their Christmas party before or after the holiday, whenever it suits everyone.

Speak up if loneliness lingers. The NIA suggests telling your doctor if you feel isolated or lonely a lot of the time. The Eldercare Locator, at 800-677-1116, connects older adults with local support.

This article is for general information and is not financial or legal advice. Talk with your doctor if feelings of loneliness affect your health. This article was produced with the assistance of AI and fact-checked against the sources cited by LightWave Reports.