I really like this post by Laura Drucker over on The Daily Muse.
Her four simple secrets are a bit different from the four principles for successful home sharing described in “Sharing Housing, A Guidebook for Finding and Keeping Good Housemates” - but they aren’t far off.
Her’s are: Share Your Baked Goods, Don’t Take Without Asking, Get Some Space and No Passive-Aggressiveness.
Mine are: The Golden Rule, Do It While it Is Easy, Your Room is Your Own, and the Incest Taboo.
Notice the similarities? We’re both saying that you have to be kind and cognizant of the other’s person’s space, possessions and existence. We’re both saying that you can’t hold grudges, start wars, and feel badly about your housemate.
So choose your housemates carefully! Make sure that they understand the value of these two sets of rules about how to live well with other people. Interview, ask for references, and trust your instincts.
May you always have a good housemate.
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