Over that past few years I have been fortunate enough to have lived with some pretty fantastic people. No, honestly; I hit the roommate jackpot. These will be friendships and relationships that I will cherish for the years to come. However, there comes a point where your post-grad mind says, "Hey, I think it's time to get off the beaten path and fly solo because I’m a totally awesome wolfpack of one." So, you hop onto your closest computer, open Apartments.com and find a humble abode that will suit all of your needs.
Ladies and gentlemen I present to you, "10 Things that Will Happen When You Decide to Live Alone":
1. You get to decorate your own space.
Pro: When I was in college, my three roommates had issues when I brought home a giant plug-in mirror that displayed wild tigers in a jungle, made real animal sounds and had a cascading waterfall in the background. Sadly, that beautiful work of art is sitting in a magical wasteland. When you first live alone, your new apartment is a blank canvas ready to be made into art. Go buy that "Bye Felicia" doormat, you know you want to.
Con: You are stuck with a "giant plug-in mirror that displays wild tigers in a jungle, makes real animal sounds and has a cascading waterfall in the background." What kind of refined adult has this? Not a "real" one.
2. You have 100 percent control of the T.V.
Pro: Did your roommate always hate watching your favorite shows? Now, Netflix/HBO GO binges will never be the same. Break out of that bedroom; you may now binge watch in the living room, kitchen, hallway, linen closet, bathroom - you get my point. Grab that computer and take it somewhere new!
Cons: You have 100 percent control of all bills. That Netflix binge will now come at a steeper price. You might not be on the verge of failing your Calculus class anymore but you have to pay the bills. Maybe you should put down the computer and go get a job so you can keep watching Netflix.
3. You will become a gourmet chef.
Pro: Have you ever skipped out on cooking a nutritious meal because you just want to hide like that Mewtwo on PokemonGO? Same. Well, all of the flavors of Tuscany are no match for you now. You can stock your entire refrigerator with every craft beer on planet earth because why not?
Con: It's no fun drinking craft beer alone, so you'll head to the bar with some buddies and spend double the amount of money. Remember those flavors of Tuscany? Not all of them were created equal. Who is going to tell you that your creation smells like something curled up and died? Nosy Norris next door? No, we're trying to hide, like all of those photos your mom took of you while you were going through that Goth phase.
4. You will discover a new hobby.
Pro: With all of your newfound time, it’s time to find something to do that doesn’t involve calling your mom everyday because you’re bored. Personally, I discovered the realm of Bullet Journaling. Yours can be anything - go jump on Pinterest and find something that totes your boat.
Con: It may take a few tries to find a hobby that you like. Maybe that intense adult kickball team wasn’t the proper fit for you. That’s fine; get back out there and try something else, the possibilities are endless.
5. You may exist however you want.
Pro: Have you ever dreamed of cooking dinner in your onesie that you’ve been too self-conscious to wear? Well, go ahead and buy two because the only person that can see you now is the FedEx delivery person. Go turn up your tunes and rock it.
Con: Every habit that you have ever been deprived of will come back to haunt you. Don’t get me wrong; it will be fun at first. Those dishes have no washing deadline now! Go read #7 if you want to see what happens to those dirty dishes.
6. You will grow to appreciate your talents
Pro: You are a strong, independent woman who don't need no man. Or at least that's what you tell yourself when you are trying to assemble that kitchen table that you bought online.
Con: It's O.K. to ask for help sometimes!
7. You will develop new senses
Pro: I don’t know if there’s anything positive about this. If anybody knows, please enlighten me.
Con: You will hear things, and these things will scare you. Even M. Night Shyamalan can’t prepare you for all of the noises you will hear. Sixth sense? Try seven - those bugs aren’t going to kill themselves.
8. Communication will be different
Pro: You can have people over when you want to. This also works in reverse - you can close the door whenever you want.
Con: Your “Best Friends Forever” will never live under the same roof again. It is a bummer, but that is how life works. On the bright side, you had the opportunity to have that experience and that is pretty awesome. If you still don’t want that party to end, just plan to live in the same retirement home when your kids are tired of taking care of you. Think about how much fun it’ll be to make escape plans!
9. You will use your time differently
Pro: I don’t know why, but my roommates never seemed to appreciate my late night, gangsta rap playlists. It’s actually still a mystery. If your walls are thick, you can keep the party of one going on until the late a.m.
Con: Here’s a scenario: you stayed up until the late a.m. bumpin’ to the most tasteful gangsta rap, and you slept through your alarm. Who’s going to burst into your room and wake you up? Good luck explaining this one to your boss.
10. You will appreciate everything that you have
Pro: This might be the only non-sass-filled item on this list. It’s true, if you are fortunate enough to have this empowering experience, enjoy it. You will forever know that you have the power to make it on your own if you need to.
Con: No dark side here because we are blessed, people!
