A roommate saga...again

Katie D.

April 4, 2010 - 11:10 AM

Have I mentioned before that dealing with roommates is one of the more complicated factors in college life?

The balance of personalities, the opposing need for quiet space for homework and a fun place to be, the details of adult life (rent payments, utilities, dish washing...) all collide with a couple of other college-aged individuals all trying to form a household together. It's madness.

I spent almost all of spring break with two of my roommates, Lesley and Devin. Not only were we sharing a tent (along with three of my other friends), but we also did the entire drive to Tucson and back together. There and back. Coast all the way down, complete with stops to visit their friends and family, and then I-5 all the way back, the whole grinding flatness of California.

This is the perfect equation for roommate conflict. Not only are you living in close proximity, but you're dealing with road grumpiness, music taste, and the possibility of being pulled over (we won't tell that story here, thank you very much). But let me tell you, the three of us didn't even live a moment of snarkiness in all that driving. We talked, we sang, we had LOTS of car dance parties, and we drove. Actually, they drove. I drove for all of four hours of our fifty hour road trip. They love driving, I love watching the world go by, chatting, and reading in the car. We must have listened to Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" (Lesley's favorite song) upward of ten times during the trip. And it was so fun. They were great in the desert, great camp mates, and great company in the car. I love them.

Now, back in Eugene, normal life crashes in again. Less time together, but the grim reality of dishes and homework and jobs are all back. And it's still fine. Better than fine. My roommates are fast becoming some of my best friends.

I don't recall if I went into detail about our forth roommate, Curtis. Two weeks before spring break, he informed us that he would be seeking other housing arrangements. He moved out over spring break, and the desperate search for a new roommate (accomplished in the midst of finals week) has resulted in a new member of our household: Marcus.

The four of us spent most of this weekend together. Marcus fits in perfectly. He's funny, laid-back, outgoing, and ready for just about anything, from hanging out in front of our fire for a whole evening to a party with all my friends. He's one of Devin's good friends from high school, so that eased the getting-to-know-you process, but he is also already making himself a good friend to me and Lesley as well, integrating himself into our goofy family of a house with more ease and poise than most people could manage. He's a student at Lane Community College, studying music. He sits around and plays his guitar while we talk, and he is GOOD. Having grown up around a guitar player, it is great to have that back in my life.

It's such a relief to have a roommate that's also a good friend already. We traded a roommate who wasn't a great fit (and probably just wanted to live in a single apartment anyway) for a roommate who is already adding to our group friendship and comfort. What a relief, and what an opportunity. College life is hard enough without chaos at home. Welcome home, Marcus!