3 Reasons Why I Choose to Live Alone

My roommate pees in the living room. No, my roommate is not a wild party animal. He is just an animal—an orange and white tabby cat, named Winchester, and his litter box is in the living room.

Long before I started apartment hunting, when I was planning a move to a new city for my first post-college job, I knew that I wanted a cat, and that I probably didn’t want a (human) roommate. Even though the rent for my Denver apartment is sky-high, and it would make way more financial sense to have a paying roommate to split the rent (rather than one that costs $25 extra in pet rent for each month), I had three reasons for getting my own place.

1. Privacy Please!

I’ve always had a very strong sense of privacy and personal space. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy to share with others, and I love having friends and guests over from time to time, but I like having some space and time to myself as well. After three years of sharing dorm rooms, common areas, and bathrooms with other people, I was ready to have a place to call completely my own.

2. No Party Animals

I love a good drink or two with friends as much as the next girl, but I’m hardly a party animal. It’s not like I have anything morally against wild parties and such—it’s just not my thing. My scene is the tap house down the street, where I can chill and read and eat a sandwich while enjoying a cold one or two. My scene is not dark bars with loud music and dancing. This could easily cause some issues with a roommate who has a different attitude towards partying and going out on the weekends. Living on my own, I can participate in going out and partying with friends when I choose, but easily have the option to stay away from situations that make me uncomfortable or that I know I would not enjoy.

3. Kitty don’t judge

Winchester never judges me one a little bit. Even when I come back from a run or a hike or a climb all gross and smelly and sweaty, he still wants to cuddle. If I cry while watching a movie, he doesn’t care; he just chills on my lap and purrs. If I get take-out for dinner for the third night in a row, because I’m too lazy to cook (yeah, that happens sometimes…) he doesn’t bug me about it, he just tries to climb on the table and steal some from the plate.

I’m not saying don’t have a human roommate. It can be awesome to room with other people, and I made some of my best friends in college because we shared the same tiny living spaces. Still, that kind of arrangement is not ideal for everyone. Don’t discount the value of having your own space, and having a little critter to share it with!