STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

i have 3 roommates- found them on craigslist.  They're some of my closest friends now.  Everyone in nyc has a roommate i feel like- i lived with a married couple even when i first came to the city.  So while i would like to one day have my own place, i don't think its *that* big of a deal and I prefer it for certain reasons (companionship, sharing utilities costs, borrowing clothes, etc.)
My recommendation is to move with a roommate for 6 months-1 year or longer.  Unless you hate the person and have to find a different roommate.  I think that's an AWFUL lot of trouble to move for just 4-5 months, and then find another place.  The amt. saved during that time could easily be made selling on ebay, waitressing in the evenings, etc.  I think lowering your cost of living is more of an ongoing thing and if you plan on going right back to the same situation, it seems like too much work.  If you live in a high demand area, you could sublet your place, keeping a lot of your big things there (furniture, etc.), and then move to another sublet situation to cut down costs and you wouldn't have to move as much stuff.  That could save you the heartache of trying to locate another good place once your time is up- its really hard to find apts in nyc and almost everyone holds onto theres if they can.

When I had roommtes, I was already friends with one girl who had a house and needed roommates to live with her. She met one other girl through a class and that girl got her other friend to live with us, too.

So I guess my suggestion is to ask around to see if any of your friends/aquaintances need a roommate. But if you're already friends, think hard about it. If I had to get a roommate now, it would have to be one of my very best and oldest friends. If I'm just good friends with someone, I think it would hard to approach someone if you're angry about the dishes in the sink or you might feel like you guys have to hang out 24/7. Someone you only kind of know is easier to ignore when you need to.

I don't like living alone and I move a lot, so I've had a number of different roommates. I've had three different roommates for a year a piece who I had never met before moving in with them -- and it has always been totally fine. I lived for another year with two friends -- one of whom I became extremely close to and the other of whom I ended up hating. I've also lived with a close friend for a year -- and it was great. So, on the whole, I've had really positive roommate experiences. I think that the most foolproof situation is to live someone who you can get along with but who isn't necessarily a friend. I would look on craigslist, listserves you might be on and through mutual acquaintances. It does seem worth it to do at least 6-12 months, though.