I really like this thread - and I'm just catching up on all of the posts I've missed (while travelling solo) over the past few months.
I've really enjoyed all of your stories, tips and concerns. I travel by myself a lot - and I really love it too. Like some of you have mentioned - it's a time I really cherish because I get some peace of mind, get to focus on myself, but also learn lots of new things. I've been travelling solo (by varying degrees) since I was 14 or so and my mom would stick me on airplanes to go visit my grandparents in Europe, expecting I would somehow get there no problem
I backpacked solo a lot when I was younger, sometimes for months at a time, did exchanges in college, and travelled solo during those exchanges all the time (I saw Russia, Finland, Estonia, Ukraine, London, Rome and Glasgow when I was in college!). When I was in grad school, I lived in Istanbul for about 4 months by myself while taking language classes, and I got to do some travelling from Istanbul while I was there, all over Turkey and Lebanon. Nowadays, I mostly travel with SO, DD and DS when we do vacations. However, there are two kinds of travel I still do by myself. I travel for work quite a bit - and if I'm going to a place i like, I will always always add a couple of days to do some sightseeing. I also will travel by myself for skiing - even if it's just me heading into the mountains for an overnight in the winter, or somewhere further away. I love time just to myself, when I can do things at my own pace. There have been trips when I've met lots of other people, and some where I haven't - and that's ok. There are times when I prefer to explore a place on my own, and not really engage with other people (this happens often when I'm tired, and need to unwind). When it comes to safety, some common sense and general rules (don't stay out too late, take official cabs, order your own drinks and watch the bartender make them, don't carry around anything valuable) go a long way. But I would be hard-pressed to give up my solo travelling. I think its an incredibly rewarding experience.