Dec 05, 2009

Things I don’t like in roommates

I’ve had my fair years of sharing living spaces with people. I’ve had the unfortunate experience of sharing a bathroom the first time I moved out of my mom’s place. I’ve had the unfortunate experience of having someone that had a dog. I’ve had the unfortunate experience renting a room from a family with kids. I will make a concise list about the things I’ve learned about myself and roommate situations. I’m sure there will be more to add as years go by.

• I don’t like being told to clean the house when I’m consistently told “We’re not roommates, this is my house, not yours.” I’m not a maid. I’m not a servant. I pay my rent via U.S. currency and not cleaning, what is apparently, YOUR home.
• I don’t like sharing bathrooms because I’m somewhat particular about things when it comes to the toilet. The biggest pet peeve in my experience, is my roommate not flushing the toilet. I don’t understand why you wouldn’t. I also hate when people’s pee drip onto the toilet seat and they don’t clean it up.
• I don’t like being encouraged to keep my room clean when on a Saturday afternoon, I whip out the vacuum and start vacuuming to be told to stop because I’m being too loud.
• I ABSOLUTELY HATE when people tell me that I can’t have friends over. Unless they have proved untrustworthy to be in the living area, I don’t appreciate them being judged.
• Just because my friends are here late doesn’t mean it’s a party. If we’re not disturbing your sleep, then leave us alone as well.
• I don’t like when you’re going to rent out a room in your home and have a smelly dog.
• Or a dog that goes up into my room and tears it apart.
• Or a dog you don’t take care of, at all.
• Or your daughter that will let my cat outside even after stating that my cat is an indoor cat.
• I don’t like being blamed for your inability to control your children to stay out of my room. This goes on to say, don’t tell me I can’t have guest in my room because you’re afraid for your children. If you’re that worried, put a lock on my door. I’ll happily use it for my sanity of keeping your nose out of my business.
• Even if I can’t have guests while you’re at home (or the concept that you’ll be home the same evening), when you’re out of town and have clearly given me the responsibility of getting the mail, bringing in packages and stuff, I will have guests over. After all, you trust me right? Your concern were your children, right? If it’s my guests, then say it’s my guests.
• I don’t like when my landlords email me in CAPITAL letters.
• Or the need to have rent paid in cash. It’s so damn inconvenient to go to the bank where if they weren’t so damn.. STUPID, I could just write them a personal check. Then again, they’d probably take forever to cash it.
• I love kids most of the time. However, when it’s 2am in the morning and your daughter is crying and yelling her head off, be considerate and calm her down. IT’S FUCKING 2AM IN THE MORNING. This lack of consideration doesn’t make me want to consider you need it.
• I don’t like when people tell me I can’t spend time with my boyfriend. Like really, how inhumane are you?
• I don’t like it when I have to go somewhere else just because someone is uncomfortable. Unless we’re totally on top of each other, I don’t see the need to leave. If we’re sitting on the couch/bed/floor (not cuddling), watching tv, and someone else is uncomfortable, then maybe they should leave?
• I do believe, that if you are renting a room out to someone, you should give them the trust you’re extending by just renting the room. If you can’t trust people initially, you’re better off not renting. Your financial situation is NOT a reason to disrupt natural human tendency (relationships, friends, family, privacy, etc). If you’re going to rent a room, you need to give that person the right to all aspects of life in your home. Maybe not smoking, drugs, or alcohol. But human interaction, I don’t think, is too much to ask. Once in a while, friend from out of town, needs a place to crash for a night before she takes the train home in the morning, not too much to ask. There’s a difference between “moving in without rent” sleepovers and the “my friend is leaving tomorrow but she needs to stay for the night” sleepovers.