Last December, I did the most adult thing to date in my relatively short life: I moved out on my own. I signed a lease agreement, picked up some apartment keys, and found myself standing on the wooden floor of my first, real place all to myself. No roommates, no parents, and no idea where to start. It was scary to begin with, but after four months in the place, I think I have a feel for it. I definitely have a good idea of the benefits and the downfalls of going it alone.
PRO: Privacy.
Yes, the joys of living by yourself means you have all of the privacy in the world. Feel like reading your creative writing assignments aloud to yourself? No problem. Have a desire to strut around in your birthday suit? This is America, and you're cleared to go! How about Facebook stalking that attractive guy you saw in philosophy class without judgement? Go for it (but cautiously, just a word of advice).
CON: Keeping It Clean
While it's definitely much better to deal with your own mess (I'm sure those of you with roommates know the joys of entering the shower and finding any number of miscellaneous hairs), it can sometimes be a bit of a pain to have to clean up everything on your own. Also, there's no one else to blame but yourself for the three day stack of dishes in the sink because you're still in denial and can't afford a dishwasher on your budget.
PRO: Quiet
This might be my favorite thing. Every night, I come home to the ultimate study space. There's never an unexpected guest or event. I can light my candles, turn on some instrumental acoustic music, and crack open my Jane Austen novel for class. It is so much more comforting than Bobst.
CON: Also, Quiet
Sometimes the quiet can drive you a little batty. I also happen to live in a particularly quiet neighborhood—a real New York City oddity. Seriously, even on weekends I can go to sleep without ever hearing a siren or car alarm. It's great, but silence isn't always golden.
PRO: You Make The Rules
There is something to be said for the skill of delegation and conflict resolution. However, there are plenty of places to achieve it outside of your living situation. Living on your own allows you to decide about everything. Want to have guests over for the weekend? Totally cool (which is also a perk of living off campus). Like to decorate with lots of maps? That's great. You decide everything, and that's really awesome.
CONS: Lots of added responsibility
Living by yourself means everything becomes your job: rent, utilities, extras for the place, whatever. It also means you don't have a roommate to bring your Irish History notes to class because you stupidly left them on your desk, or to grab your lunch because you ran out with it still in the refrigerator. Everything becomes yours to deal with.
So, are you ready for the challenge? It's a lot, but I'd say it's also well worth it. When you're thinking about where you'll be residing next year, don't overlook the possibility of a one-person paradise. It might be more accessible — and more successful — than you think.
