I’ve always loved having my own space. Now, I’m a 41-year-old lawyer with a roommate
As a 41-year-old lawyer living in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, I never imagined myself cleaning out my roommate’s rotten food from our shared fridge. It’s not how I pictured my life at this stage, but sometimes life takes unexpected turns.
My roommate is a hardworking individual, juggling multiple jobs to make ends meet. He orders meal kits but often doesn’t have the time to cook them, leading to food wastage and a foul smell in the fridge. I understand his situation, but it still irks me to see perfectly good food go to waste.
Living with a roommate is a stark contrast to my previous years of blissful solo living. I had always craved my own space, even as a child sharing a room with my siblings. When I purchased my first home in 2021, I relished the freedom and independence it brought.
However, life threw me a curveball when my parents were diagnosed with cancer. Balancing caregiving responsibilities with my legal practice became overwhelming, and I had to scale back my work to focus on my family. After their passing, I faced the daunting task of rebuilding my legal practice while coping with the financial strain of homeownership.
The soaring cost of living, especially in the housing market, weighs heavily on my mind. Renting a one-bedroom apartment in Halifax now costs as much as my mortgage payments, leaving me with limited options. To ease the financial burden, I decided to take on a roommate to help cover expenses.
Despite the challenges, I am grateful for what I have. Owning a home provides a sense of security that renting cannot match. Still, as a millennial, I struggle to envision a future where economic conditions improve. The uncertainty of the future looms large, casting a shadow over my aspirations and dreams.
The recent break-in of my car further shook my sense of security. Dealing with stolen belongings and fraudulent charges was a stark reminder of the vulnerability we all face in today’s world. It made me realize that we are all just trying to get by, navigating life’s obstacles and uncertainties as best we can.
While I miss the solitude and quiet richness of living alone, I am learning to adapt to the changes life throws my way. Whether it’s cleaning out spoiled groceries or dealing with unexpected challenges, I am grateful for the lessons learned and the resilience gained along the way. Life may not always go as planned, but it is in facing adversity that we grow and evolve as individuals.
