Tinder… For Roommates!

(A picture from the beautiful Santa Monica where I will soon be residing. Isn’t it lovely?)

Had you told me a year ago that I would be moving to California I would have laughed in your face. Had you told me that I would be moving in with two girls that I met on an app similar to Tinder I probably would have tried to sign you up for electroshock therapy because there was no way I would have thought you were sane. Alas*, here I am sitting in a hotel room in LA texting my new tinder roommate friends. I guess things don’t always go as planned.

For those of you who haven’t been carefully following the going-ons of my life here’s a 30 second rundown: I moved to Chicago less than a year ago to work for a great company called MediaCom (advertising, not cable). After a year(ish) of ups and downs I was offered a promotion in our Santa Monica office, which I’ve accepted. I’ve spent the past few days in Santa Monica meeting my new team, my Tinder roomies and trying to find a place to live.

I really just want to talk about this Tinder for Roommates thing though. It’s real! It’s an app called Roommates and it’s by the Apartment List. I’ve come to think of it as the best/worst thing ever. Here are the stages of using Roommates:

1. Roommates? Hmm. I wonder what that is. I should give it a try.

2. Oh, look! It says I’m going to meet amazing people. How shady can this be?!

3. About me?! What? This is so stressful. What do I like?! WHO AM I?!

4. Okay, I think I seem normal. And, I think this picture of me with a turkey will make people think I can cook. CLEVER.

5. BROWSE ROOMMATES!

6. Why is your main picture a cat?! I hate cats. NO.

7. Wait, what?! There is so much going on here. Why are you 49 and using Tinder to find a roommate? Why is your hair braided like that? I’m so confused. Pass.

8. What is this world?! Why are you trying to seduce me?! I’m trying to find someone to live with, not sleep with. This is like a Christmas nightmare.

9. OMG. Is everyone in LA crazy?! Maybe I should rethink this move.

10. Okay, she seems normal. She went to college! Maybe this won’t be too bad.

11. WHY ARE YOU ON HERE?! You are in high school. WHERE ARE YOUR PARENTS?! And, why is your budget higher than mine?!

12. Dear Michael, I really feel like I’m getting to know you based off of your artistic city picture. JK. Pass.

13. Why are there so many “actors”/”models”?! Pass!!!!!

14. Why is there a cup on your head?! What is going on?! Is this some trend I don’t know about?! (Googles cup on head selfie – not a trend)

15. STOP! What are you doing?! Put your tongue back in your mouth. NOW.

16. Oh, look! Bri K and I have similar interests. Maybe we can be friends!

17. I just… can’t. I’m sorry. Guys who take bathroom mirror selfies… automatic no. Pass.

18. Repeat this process forever.

 

Okay, so Tinder Roommates might be really shady, but I met two awesome girls on it and I just signed a lease with them so fingers crossed. They seem great and I don’t think they are going to try and sell my kidneys on the black market without me knowing. Basically, Roommates was a much better way to go than my Craig’s List posting that apparently warranted responses such as “you can live with me for free if you give me your body once or twice a week.” That wasn’t a joke. If you want to check out my CL post you can see it here: http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/sha/4445878759.html

If you’re looking for a roommate in your city, a roommate in a new city or just want to see how crazy some people are in the world, Roommates is worth a download. Have fun!

 

*I’m not sure if that’s the proper use of “alas” but Dumbledore says it a lot so I figured I’d go for it.