Diary of a Network Geek

Or, Uncle Jim becomes a slum-lord.
No, seriously, it looks like I’ll be picking up a roommate later this month. I’ve got a friend who’s hit a rough spot, gotten a little behind on rent and, basically, needs to get out of his apartment in a hurry. I offered to let him stay at place for a couple of months, then, start paying some rent. It’ll be less than full rent on an apartment and he’ll have about as much room. A bigger kitchen, though, he’ll have to share with me. And, of course, it should help me with some of my own money issues, at least in the short-term. We’re going to do it for about six months and see how it goes. He may stay longer, if we both find it agreeable. Or, not.
I’m probably going to draft a “roommate contract”, just so we have our boundries set and clear before anything gets ugly. I don’t think it will, but, just to make sure and give me that extra level of comfort, I think it’s best to draw up a little agreement and both sign it. Again, it might seem a little extra anal-retentive, but better that than hard feelings later. I mean, we need to work out things like smoking. See, I can’t abide smoking in the house. Even when I do it, which is fairly rare, I sit outside to smoke. In this weather, it’s actually sort of nice to sit in the cool evening air and enjoy a smoke in the dark while the dog chases imaginary nocturnal interlopers. Hilda loves the cooler weather! Dealing with the utilities and the groceries and kitchen sharing will be a process of adjustment, I’m sure. But, it’ll be nice to maybe cook for someone once in a while, not to mention that I know he’s a good cook.
Still, I’m not sure how comfortable I’ll be letting someone that close into my life. After college, I said that the only time I’d have a roommate again is if she were sleeping with me, but, that was a long time ago and, well, financially, it’s not a wise rule to hold tight to right now. And, Hilda will like the extra company, I’m sure, once she gets used to him. And, then, there’s dating… I think maybe a “rule” that neither of us will have overnight visitors that the other person hasn’t met at least once is appropriate. Maybe an “at least one shared date” clause, or something. And, just like in college, some kind of early warning system will need to be setup. But, not a sock on the doorknob this time.

One last thing. To protect the more-or-less innocent, should I use a codename for my new roomie? If so, what should it be?