Home sweet home: this month I moved into a house for the first time. My own rented house where I have my own room, a kitchen shared with roommates, lots of stuff on my own! And also, my own rules? I've been living there for less than a week now, and for anyone moving to a home of their own soon, here are 10 things I didn't realize about 'adulting' (otherwise known as 'living on your own in the big scary world) that came as quite the newsflash!
1. BUGS ARE A THING.
Remember when you were a kid and if you left a door or a window open someone would shut it for you later on and you'd get reminded to close it behind you next time? Yeah...no one does that for you anymore! So say hello to a bunch of new roommates you didn't know you had, like giant moths and flying spiders that will invade your house to remind you to be freaking responsible!
2. Cable and Wifi
I knew when moving into the house that cable and wifi were being installed at the end of the week, but what I didn't realize is how dependent we collage students are on the luxury! Every night my roommate and I would come home, sit on the couch in front of our TV, and decide which of our 10 DVDs we wanted to watch. (or after day 3, which of the 10 DVDs we wanted to watch...again).
3. Trash trash trash
Ah, remember the good old days where you would throw things into your family's kitchen trashcan and bring it to the curb and it would magically go away? Or in a dorm where you just bring it to the hall trash and that was all? Apparently there's a whole new system to it now! There's no community dumpster, there's a million different trash days for trash, and cardboard, and recycling, and discarded teddy bears and regrettable outfits and your hopes and dreams so good luck!
4. More space=more clutter
When you live in a dorm, sure you have some stuff on your desk and floor, but all it takes is a quick tidying up to fix! When you have a whole place of your own, congratulations! You have earned a trash heap for all random gathering stuff in every single room!
5. Real Food?!?!
What?! You mean you can own more than microwave easy mac and popcorn?! You've been promoted from mini fridge to a REAL FRIDGE! CONGRATULATIONS! But now it's a matter of remembering to check to make sure the milk hasn't gone bad, that the fruit is fresh, and that your alcohol *which you don't have to hide anymore* is properly chilled!
6. You've inherited a yard!
Yep! For the first time this yard is YOURS for the taking! No mom can tell you that you can't set up a beer pong table in your back yard! Want to take up gardening? Sure! Throw some carrot seeds in the ground! Make your backyard a summer party haven? Sure! Neglect it entirely? Well...that's also your choice!
7. CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
Maybe this is specific for my school, but Christmas lights of any kind were not allowed in the dorms. But they're allowed in your house!!! Might as well just start decorating now right? Who says you can't have Christmas in June!
8. Uh...the oven is broken...
Ah how dorm life has spoiled us so. The number of times my roommate and I filed a work order for physical plant to fix something in our room is really insane. Probably more than anyone in the building. Our work orders ranged from 'WHEN WE TURN ON THE HEAT IS SMELLS LIKE EVERYTHING IS BURNING!' to 'I DROPPED A PEARL EARRING IN THE SINK PLEASE HELP!' Unfortunately, maintenance on your own home is something you can't just send a request in for, you need to figure that out on your own!
9. Painting?!
That's right! No more dorm cinder block walls! No more walls at your house at home that mom insists be painted a hearty classic beige. So long as your landlord allows you to, your home can finally be as colorful as you want! So go ahead, paint your room hot pink! Neon yellow! Polka dotted! Or just stare at it for a while and choose a hearty beige. Then take a minute to weep: you're becoming your mother.
10. Home sweet home
Most importantly, this place is now yours. You get to choose whatever you want to do to make your house a home, a haven to come back to after a long day or exhausting night, and you get to live there with friends you choose, who will soon feel like your family. So enjoy your time in your new adult house, just make sure you have a fly swatter and you'll be good to go.
