4 ms·

I think about this a lot, actually, because I am the type of person that doesn't enjoy living alone. I just get bored and depressed without people around me. (B

I think about this a lot, actually, because I am the type of person that doesn't enjoy living alone. I just get bored and depressed without people around me. (But I'm still a strong Work from Home advocate.) Having roommates is good for me (I'm a single dude and, by choice, I live with a good friend). But having bad roommates is horrible. I'm lucky to have been given an opportunity to live with somebody I've known for many years, but the person in the article has "random" roommates that are chaotically moving in and out. That sounds horrible. (A constantly filthy kitchen because nobody "owns" it is terrible.) Is there a reasonable middleground for a way to find pre-vetted "high quality" roommates? I know that many of my friends would benefit from that. Posting up a Craigslist ad and having lunch with somebody doesn't give you enough confidence. Is there a better way? (A lot of people, especially in America, are depressed because of loneliness. If we could de-stigmatize living with people, I personally think that would do a lot for the world to create more happiness and "community" for people. But I'm also an optimist at my core. :) )

cafard 4y ago
Is there a stigma attached to living with people? I lived in a group house for about eight years, ending thirty-five years ago, and in those days I knew a lot of people, mostly my age (late 20s, early 30s) living in the same situation. And I knew a couple of guys doing that who were somewhat older--one divorced, one a landlord. A number of the young I have worked with over the last fifteen years have lived in group houses. A house two doors down is a group house, with a fair bit of turnover--groups as often as individuals; they are quiet, which is old fogies like yours truly prefer. A cynic I worked with long ago--and never shared a house with, I'm grateful to say--said that there is one simple rule: hold the lease in your name only. That way, if there's any drama, it's easier to push the dramatist out.
trinovantes 4y ago
You don't necessarily need roommates to solve loneliness Maybe a dormitory arrangement would work better? One of my distant uncles live in a small apartment with private bedrooms/bathrooms and a small kitchen but it also has a large shared mess hall downstairs for everyone to eat.

cafard 4y ago

Is there a stigma attached to living with people? I lived in a group house for about eight years, ending thirty-five years ago, and in those days I knew a lot of people, mostly my age (late 20s, early 30s) living in the same situation. And I knew a couple of guys doing that who were somewhat older--one divorced, one a landlord. A number of the young I have worked with over the last fifteen years have lived in group houses. A house two doors down is a group house, with a fair bit of turnover--groups as often as individuals; they are quiet, which is old fogies like yours truly prefer. A cynic I worked with long ago--and never shared a house with, I'm grateful to say--said that there is one simple rule: hold the lease in your name only. That way, if there's any drama, it's easier to push the dramatist out.

trinovantes 4y ago

You don't necessarily need roommates to solve loneliness Maybe a dormitory arrangement would work better? One of my distant uncles live in a small apartment with private bedrooms/bathrooms and a small kitchen but it also has a large shared mess hall downstairs for everyone to eat.