Roommates

There has been a revival of the extended family for living situations and along with it a growing number who find that roommate opportunities can provide an economically less stressful way to have a roof over one's head.

A quick look at craigs list provided the following ads:

$550 Room in great house, great neighborhood
 

Private room in large house with large yard in great neighborhood. Full house privileges. Includes all utilities, pool and jacuzzi, satellite TV with movie channels, pool table, horseshoes, garage parking. Smokers and pets welcome. Positive people preferred. 

$250 Furnished Room for Student/Intern *Utilities Included*

Room is spacious and furnished
Closet and drawers for easy organization

Large windows open to a wide green and gorgeous view of Central Park

Utilities included

Central Park is right across the street, good to relax, go for a run

Safe, residential neighborhood at all hours

$500 / 4400ft² - Spacious Downstairs Room For Rent w/Private Bath ALL FURNISHED

We are a quiet American Asian family with 2 college girls looking to find a quiet, responsible room mate to fill in our 1 downstairs bedroom in our house. As you can tell from the pictures below, we live in a spacious 4000+ square feet home at Mountains Edge. Your rent will include brand new furniture, a private bathroom, internet, laundry and kitchen privileges. We also conveniently live right next to the explorer's peak park. Due to the household being mostly girls, we do prefer a female room mate. Smoking is ok outside, dogs are ok if they are potty trained (we have a small doggy door) Please SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY.

Yes, the last one is nice!!

What makes a GOOD roommate?  Some of the things that pop to mind are:

• Clean and one who picks up after themselves
• Financially responsible once the rent is agreed upon it should be paid as top priority
• Verbally positive, considerate, and keeping noise levels at a level that does not disrupt others.
• Considerate of the personal boundaries of others and their possessions

In contrast, What makes someone a BAD roommate?

• Messy, does not keep their space or community spaces picked up.  Leaves dishes in the sink and laundry on the floor
• Financially irresponsible and pays their share of the expenses inconsistently
• Verbally rude, grouchy, cusses, yells, loud when people are sleeping, foul language
• Inconsiderate of the space and possessions of others
• Sexually parading partners throughout the home or lewd personal habits such as pornography
• Drug or alcohol use and any associated behaviors and risks.  Who really wants to get busted for someone else's pot habit?

Character
As I thought about it I concluded that much of it all boils down to good habits, good character, and common courtesy.  How simple is that?

Family
As I reflected even further I wondered how many families can say that all members treat each other with the same respect that we would hope and expect from strangers?  How many divorces or relationship breakups are caused by any of the above?  How many children are mercilessly yelled at?  How may spouses have to put up with drunkenness, pornography, or have to go around picking up after another?  How many teenagers blast the music or have rooms that look like a tornado has hit?  Or, the newest social phenomenon highlighted by the media of hoarding? Those are some of the biggies but what about the little things like leaving the toilet seat lid up?

We are born into families but how many enter friendships or relationships with others where not even these basic minimal courtesies are extended?  It's often easy to spot them even on the street - the one who leaves garbage at the bus stop or doesn't take back their own shopping cart.  At work we see the growing tendency to not hold doors or take the last of the coffee without making more. 

Words for the day:
Character
Courtesy

We need to not only expect it from others, train our children, but above all tolerate nothing less from ourselves in whatever living arrangements we are in.