Living alone, not living alone

2024-12-10 20:47

I've lived alone give or take for the past 15 years. My current place is 3-bedroom, I use one as a spare, and one as a study, but when needed a blow-up bed goes in. I haven't lived completely alone, hermit style. I've had temporary stays:

• 3-4 month terms for surveyor graduates when working at NSW Spatial Services, staying for the Summer in their break before their final year, then again when they returned for a sponsorship while they find their legs and new accomodation. I charged them peanuts and it was super convenient for them given the temporary requirements mid-uni break.

• My German paraglider instructor reached out in our paragliding group chat and I had a spare room at the time. He stayed before heading OS for Winter, then came back until deciding to move country.

• One week layover for an Argentinian acquaintance of a friend while he found a place for him and his girlfriend to stay.

The above paid me, but I had lots of fun putting them up and became quite good friends with them all. I really enjoyed learning about the German and Argentinian cultures and their homes.

In between the temporary stays I have family and friends stay. I absolutely love it when they bring their kids because I just let them run amok, and I think that's appreciated from the parents. I don't mind the cleaning or having random socks, nappies, toys, you name it, lying around. I would actually encourage painting on the wall, but unfortunately it hasn't come to that yet. I will leave more paints and textas around next time.

I have a running mate visiting for a week in January for a race nearby. A mate from Aus coming in February. I love that my place can be convenient and most of the time a room has been free when someone's reached out.

To address the elephant in the room, I've had relationships, but never been married or moved in with anyone. It just never got to that. So yeah, I'm paying this mortgage off solo.

With my recent career change and downgrade in salary, I may have to look at renting the spare room out. Sorry family and friends. I haven't landed on what it will look like yet, but I am leaning towards something like AirBnb, or a DIY AirBnb, so I can pause stays and still have my visitors.

Anyway, I like living alone, but it's because I like visitors.

On a side: If you're reading this, we'll most likely get along, and if you need a place to stay travelling through Queenstown NZ, email me. The rooms there. Even if you're an adult, you can draw on my walls.

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