Suitable accommodation for women?

Question

If you're an unmarried woman, is it preferable to live with only other women, or a close friend? And what do you do, if this sort of accommodation is hard to find?

Answer 1

It all depends on you and the prospective roommate.  I strongly advise against living with a close friend.  Everyone I know who did so is no longer friends with that person.  I have lived in a variety of settings.  I think my favorite situation was one in which the roommate was initially an acquaintance.  We became friends through living together, but I only knew her very casually before that.  It's fine (awesome, actually) if you develop a friendship whilst cohabitating, but moving in with someone you are already close with is a big mistake (in my opinion).  I have also lived in a house full of people I didn't know (male and female), which can be risky.  If you opt to do something similar, you want to know what questions to ask - do they have house rules?  how long have the folks living there been there?  do they have community food or individual food rules?  Talk to all the potential roommates in such a situation.  And, talk to the neighbors.  I have had good luck and bad in these scenarios.  If you are hesitant but feel it might work, as if you can try it for a month or two before committing to a longer time-frame.  Good luck!  I've had a lot of fun living with other people...However, I now live alone (very happily)!