I just had a conversation with one of my friends who asked me (yet again), whether I am happy living with a roommate, and that made me think. Why is sharing an apartment something so controversial that you almost feel embarrassed telling it to other people. Maybe something is wrong and I have to change my life, get myself a separate apartment and “grow up already”? But then I analyzed my feelings and came to a conclusion that I am perfectly happy with my present situation, and feel really comfortable and not at all depressed having to share an apartment with Marina. In fact I am happy to have her living with me and really hope that we’ll stay in touch, after each of us get’s her own nest. And that realization lead to the following thoughts formed in my head:

It is good to live with roommates when:

You are in college or a college grad settling in a big city.

You need to save money for a greater purposes

You are going through financially turbulent times

You feel like you want to have (a) roommate(s)

It is not good to live with roommates when:

You can not afford your own place and are not doing anything to change this situation

You hate your roommate(s)

You don’t feel comfortable in your apartment and prefer to go out rather than stay in the apartment

You are in a bad relationships with your roommate(s)

Things that your roommate is for you:

Your buddy, your style advisor, your confidante (to a certain degree), your drinking companion (on occasion), but most important, your roommate is rightful and respected member of your household.

Things that your roommate isn’t for you:

Your roommate is NOT your: babysitter, housekeeper, bank, psychiatrist, parent, teacher, boss, cry-shoulder or legal guardian.

Acceptable behaviour :

Joking, light pranking, time-to-time arguments, issue resolution

Unacceptable behaviour:

Fighting, passive aggressive behaviour, pressure, silent treatment, abuse (like exessive drinking or partying in the apartment).

And now, after checking all the above points I realized that not only I am happy living with my roommates, but also, I feel that I am doing a good thing for myself, because I am doing it fot greater person (I really hope to buy a2-family house for rent in the nearest future), I am really comfortable with my roommates and I am pleased to know that we are both mature adults and are solving our problems in a rational adult way. And I actually do feel myself a grown up now.