Our blogger Elyse is contemplating her next move after graduation.

The Price of Solitude by Elyse

Roommates. I’ve had good ones, great ones and terrible ones. With my lease coming to an end in a few months, I’ve been considering the two options of either finding a new roommate, or going it alone. Don’t get me wrong; I’ve loved my roommates. But there have also been the fights and resentment and various other things that come with living with another person. The decision to live alone is quite a personal one, and after a bit of soul searching, I’ve come up with a few personal traits that seem to prove why I should probably try flying solo for a little while.

• I make impulsive decisions, so I hate having to get the ok from other people for every decision I make. Can someone come stay with us? Can I hang this poster up? Can I move this table? (I like to rearrange furniture) Making cleaning schedules also becomes a pain because everyone has to be there. It has to be fairly divided. I’d almost rather do it all myself.
• Everyone also has different philosophies on cleaning and organization. I don’t agree with some people’s ideas of how to clean a bathroom, and no matter how many times you discuss how to scrub the shower tile, the other person will still do it their way. I would, once again, almost rather just do it myself.
• I have a terrible memory. So I need food to be carefully organized otherwise I can’t remember what I bought. When everyone else’s food is mixed in, I lose track and, oh hey, I forgot I bought this cheddar cheese…three months ago. I dream at night of a kitchen with only my food in it.
• I don’t mind messes that I was responsible for because it’s my fault and I know what that mess consists of. But if someone else makes a mess, it will bug the crap out of me.
• I’m very financially responsible, which means I always wind up paying the bills. And it either takes forever for people to pay me back—as in until the next bill is due. Or I need to spend the week before the bills are due “reminding” (aka nagging) people to pay me. As much as I may complain, I’m also very uncomfortable with leaving this task up to anyone else.
• Most importantly, I’m a very solitary person by nature, largely introverted. I need my time to decompress away from people and sometimes going in my room and shutting the door just doesn’t cut it. If you’re into astrology, you can call it the Cancer in me.

Now, if you need to see people every day and get your energy from social interaction, or if you don’t find these other issues as irksome as I do, then go get a roommate. Have a great time! But if you’re like me, then maybe living alone is a good option for you as well. If you’re still not sure if living alone is right for you, just ask yourself this question. Have you ever had those days where you come home and you’re just praying as you open the front door for all the lights to be off? Does this happen to you most days when you come home? If it does (that’s me every day, I will admit it) then it’s probably a good idea.

But don’t forget to make sure you can afford it too. I’ve accepted the fact that I will live in a terrible, tiny studio. It’s the price I am willing to pay for my solitude.

Tags: Elyse, living alone, planning next move, Roommates