Insight: Sharing a house is tough, but nothing comes easy

From freshman year at the university to leaving home to be an independent woman, one thing that must always be put into profound contemplation is who we end up sharing an apartment with that is if the prospect of sharing living space is intriguing . However, if living alone is what you want and are comfortable with it, that is one less thing to worry about. For the ‘I hate being on my own’ type, isn’t it just swell thinking about that new best friend, having the coolest place and staying up late to talk about ‘girly’ things like boys and what’s happening on Gossip Girl? The first things usually dealt with are technical things such as who takes care of bringing a refrigerator, who worries about packing an iron, and who brings a TV and a DVD player. It sounds like fun doesn’t it? Well sometimes it is and other times it is downright petrifying. I guess that is why those that are lucky to have a sister or relative would rather opt for that than going for a person they hardly know. Even the friend that we so stupidly thought we knew and was simply a peach from as far back as we can remember can still shock you the second ‘housemate business’ comes into the equation. For instance, tight friendship doesn’t guarantee that sharing a house will work just as well. Living apart gives both parties a chance to miss each other, go on shopping sprees and look forward to sleepovers (and all the gossip that goes with it). But the fact of the matter is that eventually, as housemates, words run out, hidden character surfaces and all that makes sense is getting as much privacy as possible even when it seems exceedingly inappropriate. If both parties are okay with some silence (talking all the time can be a bit irritating) then there is nothing wrong with that. The thing is ‘some silence’ should not be ‘silence all the time’ so when all communication dies out, then there’s a serious problem. There is nothing even faintly funny about going back home to a grumpy housemate who could care less about how the day went with no desire to do anything other than lock herself up in her room with a ‘do not disturb’ sign hanging on the door knob. More still there is nothing worse than the one who wakes up moody every morning like she’d been assaulted in her sleep or something. As if that isn’t bad enough, what to watch on television now becomes the fight of the day because neither can stand what the other watches. In all confidence, a horror freak ‘roomie’ would be the only thing mandatory for the other to sleep with one eye open every night just incase a nerve snapped! And with girls, nothing tears them apart like clothes (with the exception of boys)! They will literally fight over who wore what and when and how and why. Some may not understand this but sharing clothes is a typical girl thing, the only problem is when one looks hotter in the outfit than the other. It becomes a felony to look better in a top the other bought that didn’t quite do her justice. But even then, they just can’t stop the vice. All that can be done to prevent such a mess from happening, we should have the ability to respect another person’s property and try communicating once in a while. What’s the point in having a roomie you never speak to? Friend or acquaintance, a little talk never hurt anybody. We have the power to make things work or fail, either way; it is up to an individual to live their life in the best way they can, with a little consideration for others. rachelgaruka@yahoo.co.uk