The First Few Weeks

The first few weeks of living here was a tolerable adjustment period. Mikey and I have been friends for years, so we were definitely used to each other and got along great. I guess we had sort of a love/hate relationship. Though we don't open up much about our feelings (how many guys do that with their boys?), we know that we can come to each other with anything, and we'd be as sympathetic as the situation called for. But for the most part, our friendship has revolved around Chipotle, watching movies/TV shows together, Chipotle, Dave Matthews Band, Chipotle, playing music, more Chipotle, and cutting each other down. Not in a mean, hurtful way, but in a light-hearted, joking manner.

No, we had to get used to each other in the context of living together. Sure, we previously hung out all the time, but nothing prepares you for the fact that when you come home, they're there. When you go to bed, they're there. When you wake up in the morning, they're there. When you're eating dinner, breakfast, or lunch in the house, they're there. You get the picture.

Now, I work a consistent schedule. 8am-2:30pm every Tuesday-Friday. When we first moved in, he was going to be in the process of changing shifts. He worked the day shift, 6am-4pm. And he would be changing to the afternoon/night shift of 3:30pm-1:30am. But his days off remaine the same. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday.

Now for the first few weeks, he was still on the day shift and had to wake up at 4am, and would require a full night's sleep before waking up. This means he was going to bed anywhere from 7pm-9pm. And he's the type of sleeper who, if he is awoken by anything, he can't get back to sleep. So I had to be absolutely quiet. I could watch movies, TV, or video games, but it had to be at a level to which I could barely hear it so as to ensure he wouldn't wake up. Even on weekends. And I remember thinking about how badly I wanted this period to be over because I had to be quieter and more careful than I was at my mom's house. In fact, at my mom's, I could comfortably play Rock Band, on the drums, and now have to worry about volume too much. My first impression: though it's awesome having my own place, it is currently worse than living at home.