What Your Housing Says About You
There are many places you could be living. You may be living in a loft downtown, or a 4 bedroom house in the suburbs; but, whatever the circumstances, your choice of housing says something about who you are as a person. This handy guide to housing perception will let you know how others see you, based on where you live.
If you’re living in your parents’ house, it says one of two things to others: either you’re young, or you’re pitiful. In the first case, you don’t have much to worry about, as it’s expected of you to live in your parents’ house until you reach 18 years old, and it’s not frowned upon until you hit about 20. But, if you’re part of latter group, you might want to consider relocating to your own place. When people find out for the first time that you’re still living in your mom’s basement, they’ll automatically assume you’re poor, or mentally unstable. Neither is a good thing to be.
Although not the ideal location for the long term, the college dorm is actually a fairly respectable place to live. Why? Because, if you’re living in a dorm, that means you’re most likely going to college. If you’re going to college, that means you’ve got a greater chance of succeeding in life, which makes you a more appealing person overall. Another thing to remember: if you’re living in a college dorm, it will be assumed you know how to chug a beer; so, be prepared if the need arises.
The apartment is a perfect middle-of-the-road housing situation. You’re not committed to anything horribly long-term (like a house); but, you’re settled enough that people assume you’re holding down a steady job, and are capable of paying bills. The apartment is a great 5-7 year housing plan, but don’t make the mistake of staying indefinitely. If you’ve been in an apartment too long, people will begin to think you’ve got problems committing, or growing up.
Definitely an option to consider if you’ve got money to burn, the downtown loft gives the same general impression as the apartment, but with one important difference: you’ve got money. That’s right, there’s no better way to give the aura of a rich bachelor - or willing slut - than a penthouse loft in a high-rise downtown. Mention your loft to women, and you’ll be sure to get lots of dates, as women are attracted to the “security” of a rich man.
My personal favorite, the town home gives the image of a family-man, without a family. You get the space, and amenities of house, with the same low-maintenance appeal as an apartment. People will consider you to be the type of guy who wants to settle down, but isn’t quite ready yet.
The option of choice for families everywhere, the house is perfectly suited to the rigors of raising children. Large rooms and yards to play in, multiple bedrooms for multiple kids, big kitchens for making family meals, and located in the safety of suburbia - the house has everything the growing family needs. People will assume you are married, with at least one child, more likely two or three, and that your family consumes every waking minute of your time.
The cheap alternative to the house, the trailer has some significant disadvantages. The first of which is that the value of a mobile home decreases over time, while the value of a traditional, stationary home increases over time. Trailers are also usually considerably smaller than houses. In addition, trailer parks, or “mobile home communities” as their tenants prefer they be called, are often much more dangerous then the suburban neighborhoods in which houses are usually built.
If you’re one of the lucky few who has the monetary savings required to purchase a property as luxurious as the mansion, then congratulations! You will be looked upon as a god among mere mortals, and the world will bow before you. As one of the elite, you’ll be entitled to products of the highest quality, women of the most beautiful sort, and celebrity status matched only by others like you.
Often seen as the epitome of pathetic living, the cardboard box is grossly misunderstood. While most passerbies will look down upon “box-livers” and smirk, I believe our reactions should be more positive. There is a certain air of simplicity that hangs around a cardboard box, and I believe its inhabitants not to be leeches of society, but lovers of the minimalist lifestyle.
Hopefully you know understand your living situation a little better, and what it says about you. You should now be prepared for the reactions of others when they first happen upon your dwelling, and know the proper reaction to use when you first come across theirs.
Want to discuss this, or anything else? Join the forum!