Pros and cons of my new place

Linsey Maughan
Daily Egyptian

I recently moved into a new apartment (well, not "new", but new to me). Things have been going well.

A few nights ago, I woke up abruptly in the middle of the night. I looked at the clock, which said something like 4 a.m., and I realized that what brought me out my precious, pleasant sleep was a peculiar sound I couldn't quite identify.

BANG!

What was that?

Silence ... I contemplated disregarding the aforementioned BANG and drifting back to sleep.

BANG! BANG!

Dammit.

After a bit of midnight pondering, I came to the realization that the source of these mysterious sounds was none other than my new neighbors (identities unknown) shooting off fireworks.

Delightful.

Then again, at least they know how to have a good time.

Note to self: Locate fire-friendly neighbors and acquaint self with them.

But among other perks of the new place (which, I am currently occupying alone, as my future roommate and beloved friend Sarah is not moving in until August) are these strange noises.

I swear there are thumps that come from inside the walls (OK, maybe there is a logical explanation for this, as it IS an apartment building), and one night when I was alone, something breathed on my head (this is probably my imagination, I know, but still creepy nonetheless).

But other than my probably fictitious haunting, it's actually a pretty great apartment, and I love it.

Really.

I guess it's just the whole "first-time-living-all-alone" thing. But it's not that bad.

Just sometimes late at night I get to thinking of all these "What if this happened to me or what if that happened to me? What would I do?" scenarios.

But I'm doing OK.

I've heard that everyone should live alone at least once in his or her life, so props to me for actually doing it, right?

Besides, it's ... liberating.

I never have to wait to use the bathroom.

I am free of distraction, finding great focus and concentration for things like studying as well as other productive tasks such as naps.

I can strum away on my guitar without ever feeling like a nuisance.

I get to listen to Fifty for FREE through my bedroom wall, compliments of my generous next-door neighbor.

I have sole control of the air conditioner.

I can watch all the E! I can handle. (Which, much to my surprise and frankly, deep concern, is A LOT.)

Oh yeah, I wear the pants in this household, baby. I have got it good.

And in the end, after all two of these months that I'm spending alone, as I'm playing my guitar behind a closed door or waiting for the bathroom, I will reflect upon my days of living alone, the days when I watched E! shamelessly and freely at completely random hours, and sigh.

Because hopefully, when the time comes that these two months can only be lived vicariously through photos and late-night reminiscing with friends, I will be filled with feelings of satisfaction and appreciation, as well an assurance that I have in some way grown through the experience.

Hopefully, I will have learned some things about life and myself that I might not have known otherwise.

And hopefully, I wouldn't change a thing if I could ...

But until then, Sarah, come quickly.

I need distractions.

Her views do not necessarily reflect those of the Daily Egyptian.

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