Living with Roommates As A Fortysomething?

[Gottasay]

As one who has lived in a group house situation in NoVa: if you have to save $, I would only have one roommate. Because you can assume that your roommate will have a "friend" or two who stays from time to time, so essentially, you will be living w/ three or more people...unless you set up a "no guest" policy that they themselves are willing to abide by. I would not room w/ people significantly younger than myself, unless its illegal to do so b/c guaranteed they won't think its any big deal to have their "posse" (aka, gang of friends) over all the time to hang out, eat your food and play video games on your TV and have the occasional party in which the cops are called for noise infractions. Also, make sure you room in a condo that doesn't have heavy doors that make a slamming noise every time you let the door close on its own, as well as a condo that has soundproof floors.

[Caladium]

Originally Posted by Gottasay

I would not room w/ people significantly younger than myself, unless its illegal to do so b/c guaranteed they won't think its any big deal to have their "posse" (aka, gang of friends) over all the time to hang out, eat your food and play video games on your TV and have the occasional party in which the cops are called for noise infractions.

I had a friend who was in her mid 30s when she tried rooming with a girl who was 24. It was a disaster. The younger girl didn't have a posse of friends coming over on a regular basis, but she did have a few friends who every once in awhile would drop by late at night, sometimes at 1 or 2 in the morning (or even later). They also had a habit of calling late at night. And, of course, the late night phone calls were the loud drama-filled ones.

When you're 24, 11 p.m. seems "early" and a reasonable time for friends to come over. Not so much at 35.