Best and worst roommate stories?

[Ultralight]

Hey, I know many of us -- being the frugal type -- have had roommates/housemates/flatmates at some time. I am curious to know about your best roommate situation and your worst roommate situation.

Please share, thanks!

[freshstart]

after college, I moved in with a high school BFF. Lovely person, heart of gold. She was at Tuft's sophomore year (incredibly smart) and had a psychotic break, hospitalized, diagnosed Bipolar. Could not handle being without family and the stress of that school. Came home, went to a great local school, she was 100% better on meds. It had broken my heart to think of her on a psych ward. We did fine for a while. Then huge decline, she became convinced Michael Stipe was singing to her and she needed to find him, hallucinations- chatting with no one, so manic. Very bad because my future husband had played with Peter Buck many times over the years. As soon as she got wind of that, she wanted Bob to bring her to Stipe, whom he did not know and he's gay, unlikely destined to be Mara's one true soulmate. Ugh.

The housekeeping got so absolutely disgusting, I couldn't stand it and I've lived in a sorority. She broke all the dishes (mine) one day, I found her slamming them on the floor. Doing risky things sexually and brought home not-good guys. Spent incredible amounts of money. Her mom had a hard time dealing with this and didn't do anything when I said, pretty sure not on meds, up 5 days in a row, talks to herself or "Michael Stipe", manic to the point neighbors complained because she could not stop giddily talking loudly 24/7 or singing " to Michael Stipe". She should not have to suffer like this so I called her psychiatrist, told her what I was seeing and left it in her hands. She moved home, but our relationship ended because I violated her privacy.

Many years later, we re-connected, she found a low stress job, met a wonderful man, married. She had been ok for years. She finally had the world by the tail. She was close to my kids. She and DH went out to look at houses. Killed by drugging and drinking driver, many previous convictions. Her mom was so broken, when some of us offered to write or read her victim impact statements, she said she didn't care what happened to him. He got two years, served 8 mos.

I can never forgive myself for the years we were out of touch, obviously her illness was not her fault, i could've easily begged her forgiveness for getting her help and she would've some around. Things like this remind you not to be a complete asshole to people you care about. I think this is probably number one for me in Being an Asshole. That being said, I would rather live in a 30 yr old mobile home in a high crime mobile home site than risk a friendship with a roommate, lol.

best roommates- my decrepit sorority. Went to small school in a dry town, one red light. Not a ton to do besides the Greeks. Never in a million yrs did I think I would do something so shallow as join one. But we were different, rag tag bunch, night and day personalities, did good charity work, awesome parties, awesome living experience. The house was just short of being condemned, we could not sleep in bed rooms because the 2nd floor was falling into the first. Made friends from all walks of life that I would not have been exposed to in the same close up way in a dorm. Fun, filthy, friends forever. A few years later, a fraternity did a bad pledge thing yet again, I think there was even a death. All Greeks had to disband. Sad because there really was not much else to do, but hazing had to stop.

[TxZen]

Lived with a roommate in the Navy. Sweet girl but housekeeping skills were lacking. She loved to bake, which I didn't mind, but the kitchen was always a disaster from her baking escapades. Dishes sat in the sink for days, ingredients tossed everywhere, could not even use the microwave without having to clean it out first. It got so bad, I moved my coffee maker to my bedroom. Even though we agreed to share her tv (her idea), I could never watch a movie when she was around because she wanted to watch something else. She also took FOREVER in the bathroom, beyond normal. I got so exhausted trying to get in there before her in the morning, I was getting up at 4 in the morning to leave at 6. Ridiculous!!! I have learned to have at least 2 bathrooms for roommate peace.

Best- had a roommate on opposite shifts as me. She always cleaned up after herself and was quiet. On the days we were off together, she was never a bother. We would have breakfast together, chat and then go do our own thing. Sometimes we hung out together. We had rules of not bringing boys home or loud music/TV's and no parties with each others consent. We split everything 50/50 and even wrote out a contract and gave it to our property managers, so there would be no question if something happened. It was just nice. Lived like that for 2 years and saved a lot of money. Never had an issue.

[Gardenarian]

Well - I had a really great roommate, we became good friends, and 25 years ago we got married :)

[larknm]

My worst roommate carried a gun in her purse and rattled pills endlessly in the bathroom when she was upset. Best roommates had to do with lots of humor.

I was once the worst roommate--1st time I'd ever done it, young, didn't know how to cook at all. So my family called and I was on the phone for a while and then said I better go check the grease I'm heating up to fry chicken, to be sure it hasn't boiled over. Well, of course the grease was on fire and the walls were black and carpet had to be replaced. I didn't know what to do, ran out the door, threw the skillet in the swimming pool--that probably had to be drained after that.

[freshstart]

My worst roommate carried a gun in her purse and rattled pills endlessly in the bathroom when she was upset.



pills and guns, hope your bedroom door locked!