Don't feel bad. Our kids live in different states, DIL about to give birth so we're on baby watch afraid to be away from the phone. DO NOT want the exciting news while shopping. I may scream. LOL. Husband and I are alone and don't know anyone here. 5 years now. Every holiday is like this, we adjust. I'm just happy my husband relaxed today. He works way too hard.

He woke up early, put out the big flag, put little flags in everyone's driveway. It makes me smile. Life is good.

I worked but still fun.

Normally I do nothing for the 4th so it was great to get out (even for work)

We did nothing all day and then walked down the road to see some fireworks. No beer, no party, just us and the neighbors we ran into.

Our extended family is far away. We see them for Christmas, but that is the only holiday that we see them.

For holidays like memorial day and fourth of July we create our own traditions. That can be hosting a BBQ, attending a BBQ, or just having a BBQ at home with your spouse and kids. You can also make a tradition of going to the pool and watching fireworks.

Anonymous wrote:

I hear you, OP! We have no family here either (they are on the West Coast), very few friends, and never have any plans on any holiday. Plus, my DH works every major holiday, so I am sitting home alone today, like I do every holiday, with not a single BBQ invite or other plan. We've never been invited to a summer BBQ since we've lived here. My plan is just to clean and do laundry. I feel bad that we have no family here and have a very small social network, but it doesn't make me feel like a loser--it just makes me feel sad that circumstances are the way they are. You can always join meetup.com and there are lots of groups having lots of BBQs today. If I felt better I would do something like that, just not feeling that well today.

Awww. Where do you live? Are you friends with the parents of your kids' friends? (our social network has grown around the kids' friends to an extent.) I'd invite you over for a BBQ if you lived near me!

Thanks for your concern, I wrote the above. We don't have kids yet (pregnant with our first). I am hoping that once we have kids things will change, but it has been hard to make friends here as a new to the area childfree married couple (we've been childfree for many years).

I hear you, OP! We have no family here either (they are on the West Coast), very few friends, and never have any plans on any holiday. Plus, my DH works every major holiday, so I am sitting home alone today, like I do every holiday, with not a single BBQ invite or other plan. We've never been invited to a summer BBQ since we've lived here. My plan is just to clean and do laundry. I feel bad that we have no family here and have a very small social network, but it doesn't make me feel like a loser--it just makes me feel sad that circumstances are the way they are. You can always join meetup.com and there are lots of groups having lots of BBQs today. If I felt better I would do something like that, just not feeling that well today.

Awww. Where do you live? Are you friends with the parents of your kids' friends? (our social network has grown around the kids' friends to an extent.) I'd invite you over for a BBQ if you lived near me!

I have no family in the area, just DH and the kids. We had no plans. We would have cooked out or at least did some sparklers in the court but our oldest has a low grade fever so we're laying low today.

We have no plans either as DH is recovering from a stomach flu. I woke up late, enjoyed coffee and the news, had a leisurely breakfast. Am now going to make some ice cream. What's not to like?

I hear you, OP! We have no family here either (they are on the West Coast), very few friends, and never have any plans on any holiday. Plus, my DH works every major holiday, so I am sitting home alone today, like I do every holiday, with not a single BBQ invite or other plan. We've never been invited to a summer BBQ since we've lived here. My plan is just to clean and do laundry. I feel bad that we have no family here and have a very small social network, but it doesn't make me feel like a loser--it just makes me feel sad that circumstances are the way they are. You can always join meetup.com and there are lots of groups having lots of BBQs today. If I felt better I would do something like that, just not feeling that well today.

Is this the same poster for every holiday? You could reread the Memorial Day thread for ideas.