Roommates aren't forever

For most students, this time of the year means finding a place to live for next year and figuring out who to live with. But as many students are beginning to discover, deciding where to live is just the first step. Choosing your roommates may be the most important decision you will have to make. \nThere are almost an unlimited amount of options when it comes to housing options in Bloomington, whether it is choosing a house, apartment, dorm, who to live with or who not to live with. But chances are, your roommates will have the most impact on how enjoyable your year is. \nFor junior Patrick Hosmer, choosing to live with seven other people, including three girls, was a choice he is glad he made. \n"There are five guys and three girls in our house, and it was a good, well-rounded experience." he said. \nHosmer also said having three girls in the house meant they put a little more attention into keeping the house neat. \n"Having girls makes you neater, definitely," he said. "That isn't to say that the girls are neater than the guys in the house." \nHosmer also noted that contrary to what people may think about a co-ed house, there was no hooking up between roommates. In fact, the relationship isn't that of birds and the bees, rather a working relationship.\n"There's absolutely no sexual attraction between the roommates," Hosmer said. "Once you live with a girl, the sexual tension is neutralized and there's no gender-based trivialities."\nWhile Hosmer said everything worked out for the best this semester, the house has agreed to split up for next year. Hosmer will live with two other housemates in a house across the street while the rest of the house is splitting up as well. \n"We made this decision based on the fact that we all work better in smaller groups," Hosmer said. "Also, living in a big house meant having a lot more maintenance and having to clean all the time." \nFor freshman Jennifer Hollenbeck, choosing to join a sorority meant telling the friends she met on her floor in Briscoe Quad she wouldn't be able to live with them next year. \nHaving to break it to your friends that you can't live with them can be tricky, but is done best by being totally honest, Hollenbeck said.\n"You just have to be straight forward, tell them why you have decided not to live with them," she said. \nAt first, Hollenbeck said it was hard for her friends to accept, knowing that they wouldn't be seeing each other as much as they currently do living on the same floor, but she is optimistic that they will still be friends next year. \n"They were disappointed. They think you don't want to be your friend, but things will work out for the best," Hollenbeck said. "Living separately from each other will give us opportunities to meet new people and have new experiences."\nSenior Sara Monaco has bypassed roommate troubles the last two years entirely and chose to live in a single apartment, a decision she has no regrets about. It was a choice based largely on study time and freedom. \n"I have no regrets about living on my own the last two years," Monaco said. "I have had a very busy schedule and have been able to be very productive. I like it much better that I can come home to a quiet place." \nWhile living by yourself can cost slightly more, Monaco thinks it spares you the headaches of dividing up tasks such as groceries and cleaning, collecting monthly rent and utilities makes it all worth it in the end. \nMonaco and Hollenbeck both said that for girls, roommates have different obligations to each other as opposed to guys. \n"Guys are more laid back," Hollenbeck said. "There's less jealousy. Girls expect that because you are roommates, you will be best friends and always be with them. For guys, they think 'hey, I live with him, we're cool, but I'm still doing my own thing.' They stay out of each others way better." \nMonaco takes it a step further by adding, "If I were to ever live with another roommate, it'd definitely be with a guy." \nRelationships with roommates can be tricky, but not taking things too seriously is what Hosmer believes is the most important thing in making the relationship work.\n"You'll have arguments and misunderstandings, but if you can step back and laugh at the situation, in the long run, everything will work out"