The saltmate, a word as defined in this Tumblr post, should be a better-known term. We know there are romantic soul mates and platonic soul mates, but what about those people with whom you click with on a saltier level. The person with whom you’re able to be annoyed with, complain with, and vent to. They’re not always easy to find, but when you find them, hold onto them. Here are some signs you’ve found your one and only saltmate.
1. You first clicked over a common dislike.
There’s nothing that bonds two people faster than having a shared, well, anything. A show. A class. A person. Maybe your mutual dislike of a TA who can’t teach, sparked a friendship. Or you’ve grown a fondness over both hating pumpkin spice lattes.
2. They’re always there for you when you need to vent.
When you need to get something off your chest, they’ll be right there when you need them. Even if it means escaping your dorm room to talk about your roommate problems or sitting in a McDonald’s parking lot at one in the morning just to talk. They won’t be making any judgmental comments and more often than not, they’ll agree with you. They might even have a few things to vent about as well. And of course, you’re just as eager to listen.
3. They won’t complain about your complaining.
As someone who complains a lot, I know it can get annoying- just ask my mom. So it can be a rarity to find someone who not only can tolerate it, but also be able to listen and help you through your problems. Your saltmate won’t roll their eyes or pretend to listen.
4. They’ll allow you to be salty, whether it’s about something big or small.
A true saltmate is there through it all. They allow you to be salty when you get a bad grade for something you actually studied for. As well as when you’re favorite show gets canceled. Nothing is too big or too little to be salty about and a true friend knows this.
5. You might at one time have been salty about your saltmate.
Not all friendships are love at first sight. The person who knows your problems the best might have been a problem for you. It could have been before you really got to be their friend or during your friendship. Every relationship has its problems and everyone gets annoyed with their friends, no matter what, every once in awhile. Luckily for you two, you’ve both managed to get over it. And likely it’s easier for you to be openly salty about them and be able to get over the problem quickly.
6. Your friendship has grown past just being vent buddies.
Although your friendship might have started because of shared saltiness over another friend or a class, you two have managed to bond past that. If fact your ability to hear and understand each other's problems and annoyances might have made you two even closer. And your saltmate might have turned into your platonic soul mate. I personally think nothing bonds two people more than hating something together.
