I moved to NYC at 22 and lived with a 70-year-old roommate. She had rules, meals, and a busier social life than me.
In NYC, finding a place to live isn't easy. So when William Swanson found the right listing, he jumped on it — even though his new roommate was 70.
William Swanson, a 22-year-old medical sales professional, moved to New York City in June to take a new job. With no friends to move in with yet, he needed a short-term rental to tide him over until his friends arrived in July. Finding short-term leases in New York can be challenging, so Swanson turned to online platforms like SpareRoom, Airbnb, and Furnished Finder.
One listing caught his eye - a three-bedroom apartment in a safe neighborhood, being rented out by a 70-year-old woman named Aleyda. Despite the age gap, Swanson found her to be a safe and sensible choice for a roommate. After a FaceTime meeting with Aleyda (who was actually living in the building), Swanson decided to move in and found his apartment.
Swanson and Aleyda shared a small living room, a kitchen, and a bathroom, with Aleyda sleeping in her own bedroom while Swanson had his own room near the bathroom. Aleyda had a few rules - no parties, drugs, drinking, or large gatherings. Despite their different social lives, Aleyda was laid-back and accommodating, sometimes even cooking meals for Swanson.
While living with Aleyda, Swanson toured other apartments for his future roommates, grappling with the complexities and high costs of New York's rental market. Eventually, he found a decent place in the East Village that fit his budget of around $1,975 per month, similar to what he was paying during his short-term stay with Aleyda.
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