The 2 years rule

There seems to be an invisible line you cross after living with a roomate for 2 years. At which time, everything they do will piss you off. I remember crossing that line several times with several different roomates. Others I speak with remember crossing that line too at the 2 to 2.5 year mark.

I believe that this is when people should consider moving out, if not staying put for monetary reasons. Funny thing is, you can finally be friends after you go on your separate ways.

I don’t think anyone can ever accurately define these stages, but 5 roomates after, I think I have more experience than most on this subject.

Phase 1: The honeymoon stage. This is where everything about living together with this new person rocks. Should last for about 6 months. You establish rules to abide by and both side agrees unconditionally because they don’t want to be an ass.

Phase 2: The getting to know each other’s dirty secret stage. The rush of fun and clash of habits subsides and you are settling back into your own routines. This is where you probe each other’s comfort zone carefully and start to discover that something your rommate does is appaling. This should last about 1 year after the honeymoon.

Phase 3: The deterioration stage. By now, you know most of your roomate’s life and it isn’t as cool as you thought it is. No matter how fast the person is growing or changing, it cannot outpast your mind’s ability to get bored of the same shit. This will probably take about 6 months and then you reach phase 4. Rules established in phase 1 stops being observed.

Phase 4: Everything that your roomate does irritates you.

Of course, the phases speed up or slow down depending on other factors. Funny thing is though. You can finally be friends again after you moved away on your own.