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Eric scrolled through Zillow absentmindedly as he admired apartments way outside of his price range. His lease didn’t end for another three months, but already his roommate was asking if they were planning on re-signing for another year. To be honest, Eric wasn’t sure.
“I mean, Jason is a solid roommate,” Eric thought as he clicked through pictures of a $3300/month one-bedroom in the city that he would never even be allowed to set foot in. “He does his dishes, he opens the windows when he hits the bong, and we’re both fine with deep-cleaning the place once a month. Sure, his girlfriend stays over half the week, but she’s chill enough and occasionally brings beer over, so that’s probably as good as it gets.”
Still, although he had no qualms about his living situation, Eric could feel that he wasn’t completely fulfilled. He yearned for change. For a place with a view, not a back porch that overlooked an alley. A place with carpeting, not old, stained hardwood.
“Should I ask Jason if he wants to look at upgrading?” He thought, his Zillow search momentarily halted as his imagination filled with gleaming apartments on its own. Even as he asked himself the question, he realized he didn’t want to talk to his roommate about upgrading. He wanted something more. Not just a new living space. A new living situation. Could it be? Did he want…to live alone?
He ran his fingers through his hair and exhaled slowly as he mulled the idea over. He had never lived alone. Whether it was his parents, his college friends, or his post-grad roommates, he had always shared his living quarters with others, and frankly, he was unsure about how he felt about changing that. He liked the idea of living alone, but would the execution match up with his imagination?
Sure, there would be no one else to make a mess or clutter up the place, but there would also be no one else to clean it. When he comes home exhausted and wanted to do nothing but take his pants off and lie on the couch, he’d be able to, but when he came home from a work happy hour and wanted someone to kick it with, he’d be all alone. Unsure, Eric consulted the best and worst tool he had at his disposal – the group chat.
Eric [2:55pm]: So I’m thinking about what to do when my lease is up in a few months. Kyle, Andrew, I know y’all live alone. Is it better than having a roommate or what?
Jack [2:56pm]: Let’s be honest u and Rachel are gon move in together be married by like a year so why even wait?
Eric [2:58pm]: Jack are you drunk? Not your best work, buddy.
Kyle [3:03pm]: Living at home is ok. I probably would have been down to live with roommates for another year, but I didn’t feel like going through the hassle of finding a Craigslist one that may or may not be a serial killer.
Andrew [3:07pm]: Idk, I love having my own place. My last roommate was a fucking nightmare, remember? Not coming home to random Tuesday night ragers and random people passed out on the couches is totally worth the extra money I’m spending on it. Plus I feel like girls kind of expect it nowadays, which is bullshit because they all still have roommates, but that’s the game.
Jack [3:11pm]: Man fuck what girls want just always stay when they’re places.
Eric [3:12pm]: Hahaha you drunk fuck go take a nap. Thanks to everyone who isn’t named Jack.
With a chuckle, Eric put his phone back in his pocket and resumed his search for his dream apartment. The points his friends had made were good, but he still wasn’t convinced. The truth was, he enjoyed his current living situation. The apartment was affordable and his roommate was great. And yet, he wanted something more. Something he couldn’t put a finger on.
The idea of his own place excited him until he thought about life after the first month. He would still be doing the same things he did now, just in a new place. He’d have the same friends over for pregames. He’d go to the same bars. He’d try to meet new girls with the same old lines. It wasn’t that he didn’t like his life. In fact, he loved it. His friends were great, and he enjoyed every time they went out. But lately, he had just felt in a rut. The thing that had excited him the most about living alone wasn’t any of the positives, but just the fact that it would be something new, a step in a new direction.
Maybe that’s what he really needed. Not a small change, but a big one. One that would excite him and scare him at the same time. One that could fail miserably, or succeed beyond his wildest hopes.
Hands shaking slightly with nerves, he gently positioned his clicker over Zillow’s “location” search bar. He paused, his hands over his keyboard, and thought hard.
“Where would I want to live?” .
Respond
Nick Arcadia
The opposite of a life coach. Email or DM me if you want some bad advice: nickarcadiapgp@gmail.com
@noampao
noamio
This was way too relatable minus the part where he wants carpet. Fuck carpet.
Hardwood for the win!
One of my only “must-haves” in an apartment is no carpet. I have a Bernese Mountain Dog and the shedding is unreal. Got a place with stained concrete and it’s sooooo easy to keep clean and still looks great.
Sup, can I pet your dog?
His name is Baloo and he loves pets. You’re welcome to pet him if you’re ever in DC.
Noted. Great name btw
Berners are awesome. The hair is ridiculous, and they need tons of space, but they’re pretty cool.
They really don’t need that much space. They’re pretty ideal apartment dogs… quite lazy. We go on long walks and go to the dog park all the time but he’d prefer to chill on the couch with me and refused to go in the backyard alone when I had one.
Word, but carpet is nice in the bedroom.
Hardwood with a rug as a soft place for your feet to land out of bed is actually the move in the bedroom
Seconded.
Thirded
#manoutfitters and west elm collab!?
Hard floors with radiant heat/cool is the move, carpet can go to hell
Radiant heated AND cooled floors? Are you guys hiring or what?
Yeah right. Eric isn’t going anywhere as long as Rachel keeps sending him bush-less pictures.
No man, in his right mind, chooses to leave clean beave
GBITG: Single apartment
GBITG: loneliness
GBITG: get a dog
GBITG: leverage dog to find a new girl
GBITG: happiness
It’s all part of the process Eric.
Start up.
Cash in.
Sell out.
Bro Down.
Get off Zillow and go to Indeed if you want to move cities, Eric.
just graduated and accepted an offer which would involve me basing my work from home in a territory where I grew up/parents still live. Now I get the constant nagging decision of living with mom and dad or getting an apartment on my own that I probably really don’t need. For now though, in the words of lil dicky, “we gon save that money”
Live with your parents, for the simple fact of saving money. Just set a very firm move out date and if you miss it, enjoy your life of living in your parents basement alone
Get an apartment, don’t live with your parents.
I plan to by December, but for now that money needs to go to loans and ski trip funds
As long as you’ve got an emergency fund of 4-6 months (it can vary depending on if you have a car and the size of your student loans), then you should try and find a place with roommates. If you don’t, then it really can’t hurt to build that up quickly while living at home.
We need to hear the roasts the group chat have him after leaving the party early for Rachel
Seconded.
I related way too hard to this article in terms of finding a new living situation/life rut.
Literally went through this, ended up in San Diego. 10/10 would recommend.
Same thing. No regrets about moving to SD out of the blue.
The whole shebang about Zillow hit waaaay too close to home. Straight zillow searches for hours
Going through this something similar right now. Had my roommate move out, and now I’m wondering whether I live there alone, find a new place, or try to find a whole new city.