Spring 2021 Housing Edition — Feb. 4, 2021

SPRING HOUSING EDITION Year 142 Volume 2

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2 | The Lantern | Thursday, February 4, 2021

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Guide to off-campus parking MORGAN HARRISON For The Lantern harrison.934@osu.edu Originally published Oct. 28, 2020 Off-campus living comes with many luxuries: freedom from parents and resident advisers, space to stretch out without hitting your roommate’s bed, and some distance between you and the rest of the student body.

One luxury not always included with offcampus living, however, is parking.

Finding a safe and inexpensive place to park can be difficult, and with the temporary exemption allowing secondyears to live off campus, finding a spot may be more difficult than before.

To make parking easier, The Lantern compiled some options to navigate Columbus street parking without getting ticketed or towed.

Free parking

The cheapest option is free public street parking, but finding legal parking can be challenging.

For those who live in the north offcampus area, unmanaged street parking is offered on parts of East Lane, East Woodruff, Indiana, Adams and East avenues.

For those who live in the central offcampus area, unmanaged street parking is available on Waldeck, Iuka, East 16th and parts of East 15th avenues.

For those who live in the south offcampus area, unmanaged street parking is available on Highland Street, Worthington Street, Chittenden, Hunter, East 11th, West Ninth, and East and West Eighth avenues.

Other unmanaged street parking can be found on Indianola Avenue and Summit Street, which run parallel to North High Street.

For more information on free public street parking in the University District, go to the City of Columbus website.

Parking Map 1. Free Parking 2. Indianola Presbytarian Church 3. AirGarage 4. CampusParc Columbus city street permit

For those who want more peace of mind while parking on the street, students can purchase a street permit pass through the city of Columbus. Permits are zonespecific, and students must provide proof of residence in the particular zone to qualify.

Yearly permits are available through the city of Columbus for $25, according to the city’s website.

For more information, go to the city of Columbus’s Parking Services website.

Indianola Presbyterian Church

Students living north of campus can park

in Indianola Presbyterian Church’s parking lot near Waldeck and Iuka avenues for about $250 per semester. Permits can be purchased at the church and cars must not be in the lot on football game days.

AirGarage

Another option near Indianola Presbyterian Church is the AirGarage at Summit on 16th United Methodist Church.

There is a $10 daily maximum charge or $100 per month. Students can pay online at the AirGarage website or on the AirGarage app. All that is needed to park is an email, license plate number, start and end date

and a secure form of payment.

More information can be found on the AirGarage website.

CampusParc

For students who want better protection against rain and snow, CampusParc has more than 16 parking garages on and near campus, six of which allow permit parking.

The permit prices vary by type, and the type of permit for which someone qualifies depends on class rank and commuter status.

Students can check permit qualifications and purchase permits on the CampusParc website.

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4 | The Lantern | Thursday, February 4, 2021

STUDENT HOUSING SURVEY

1. HOW

Social Media & Engagement Editor | Gabriela Okhuysen

To get an idea of the living and housing experiences of Ohio State students, The Lantern asked for students to answer questions on Instagram and Twitter about topics ranging from how they commute to how much they pay for rent. More than 600 people responded. Here are their responses: 1 BEDROOM 2425 N. High St. 1 BEDROOM 186 E. Norwich Ave. 2425 N. High St. 214186 E. E. Norwich Norwich Ave. Ave. 33 Ave. 214E. E.13th Norwich Ave. 33 E. 13thAve. Ave. 1540 Neil 1540 Neil Ave. 118118 King Ave. King Ave. 1 BEDROOM 410 King 410 KingAve. Ave.

5 BEDROOM 87 E. Lane Ave. 5 221 BEDROOM E. Lane Ave. 87 E. Lane Ave. 65E.W. Maynard Ave. 221 Lane Ave. Patterson 6521 W.1 W. Maynard Ave. Ave. 5 BEDROOM BEDROOM 21 2403-2405 W. Patterson 2425 N. HighAve. St. Ave. 87 E. Lane Ave. East 2403-2405 East Ave. 186 E. E. Norwich Ave. Ave. 221 E. Lane Ave. 120 Norwich 120 65 W. Maynard Ave. 214E.E.Norwich NorwichAve. Ave. 5 BEDROOM 2173 Indianola 2173 Ave. Ave. 21 W. Patterson Ave. 33Indianola E. 13th Ave. 87 E. Lane Ave. 2184 Indianola 2184 Indianola Ave. Ave. 2403-2405 East Ave. 1540 Neil Ave. 221 E. Lane Ave. 51 ½ E.½ 17th Ave. 120 E. Norwich Ave. E.Ave. 17th 118 King 65 W.51 Maynard Ave. Ave.

2425 N. High St. 186 E. Norwich Ave. 214 2E.BEDROOM Norwich Ave. King Ave. 2 BEDROOM 21 W. 410 Patterson Ave. 13th Ave.Ave. 2833W.E.Maynard 6–7 BEDROOM 28 190 W.1540 Maynard Ave. 2403-2405 East Ave. Neil Ave.Ave. E. Norwich 6–7 BEDROOM 235 E. Lane Ave. 120 E. Norwich Ave. 118 King Ave.Ave. 2 BEDROOM 190198 E. Norwich Ave. E. Norwich 235 E. Lane Ave. 2173 Indianola Ave. Ave. 28 W. Maynard Ave. E.King Lane Ave. 198 220 E.410 Norwich Ave. 2184 Ave. 190Indianola E. Norwich Ave. 34 E. 13th Ave. 220 E. Lane Ave. ½ E. E. Norwich 17th Ave.Ave. 1 BEDROOM 5 51 BEDROOM 198 130 W. 9th Ave. 2 1 2425 BEDROOM 5 87 BEDROOM 34102 E. 13th E.220 LaneE.Ave. N.BEDROOM High St.Ave. Lane Ave. W. 8th Ave. 28 W. Maynard E. Lane Ave.Ave. 2425 N. Norwich High St. Ave.Ave. 87221 E. Lane 186130 E. 6–7 BEDROOM 34 E. 13th Ave. 1 BEDROOM 112-114 KingAve. Ave. 5 BEDROOM W. 9th 221 Lane E. Norwich Ave. 186214 E. 190 Norwich Ave. 65 E. W.Ave. Maynard E. Norwich Ave. 235 E.Ave. Lane Ave. 130 W. Ave. 9th Ave. 87 E. Lane 2425 N. High St. 400 King Ave. 102 W. 8th Ave. W.W. Maynard Ave.Ave. E. Norwich Ave.6521 214 E.33198 Norwich Ave. Patterson E.Ave. 13th Ave.Ave. 22121 E. W. Lane Ave. 102 W. 8th Ave. 186 E. Norwich 410 King Patterson Ave. 220Neil E. Lane Ave. 33112-114 E. 13th Ave. King Ave. 2403-2405 East Ave. Ave. 1540 Ave. 65 W. Maynard Ave. 112-114 King 109 E. Tompkins St. 214 E. Norwich Ave. 2403-2405 East Ave. 34 E. 13thAve. Ave. 1540 Neil Ave. 120 E. Norwich Ave. 400 King 118 King Ave. 21 W. Patterson Ave. 400 King Ave. 33 E. 13th Ave. 1202173 E. Norwich Ave. 130Ave. W.Ave. 9th Ave. 118 King Indianola Ave. 2403-2405 East Ave. 410Ave. King Ave. 1540 Neil410 Ave.King 410 King 2173 Indianola 102 W. 8thAve. Ave. 410 King Ave. 2184 Indianola Ave. 3 BEDROOM 120 E.2184 Norwich Ave.E.Ave. 109 Tompkins St. 118 King Ave. Indianola 109 E. Tompkins St. 112-114 King Ave. 51 ½ E. 17th Ave. 2173 Indianola Ave. 20-22 W. Maynard Ave. 410 King Ave. 51 ½ E. 17th Ave. 2 BEDROOM 400 King Ave. 63Maynard W. Maynard2184 Ave.Indianola Ave. 2 BEDROOM 28 W. 410 King Ave. 3 BEDROOM 51 ½ E. 17th 6–7Ave. BEDROOM 28 190 W. Maynard Ave. 66Norwich E. E. Ave.Ave. 109 E. Norwich Tompkins St. 6–7 BEDROOM 2 BEDROOM 20-22 W.Ave. Maynard Ave. 3 BEDROOM 235 E. Lane 190198 E. Norwich E. Ave. Lane Ave. 235 E. Lane Ave. E.220 Norwich Ave. 28 W. Maynard Ave. 63 W. Maynard Ave. 6–7 BEDROOM 198 E. Norwich Ave. W. Maynard 220 E. Lane Ave. 51 E. 17th Ave.Ave. 190 E. 20-22 Norwich Ave. 235 E. Lane Ave. 66 E. Norwich Ave. 22034 E. E. Lane Ave. 3Ave. BEDROOM 13th Ave.Ave. 54 E. 13th 198 E. Norwich 63E. W. Maynard Ave. 34130 13th Ave. 220 E. Lane Ave. 20-22 Maynard Ave. W.W. 9th Ave. 220 E. Lane Ave. 96-98 W. 8th Ave. 66 E. Norwich Ave. 130 W. 9th Ave. 51 E. 17th Ave. 102 W. 8th Ave. W. Ave. 34 E. 13th63 Ave. 118Maynard King Ave. 102220 W. 8th Ave. King Ave.Ave. 54 E. 13th Ave. E. Lane 130 W.112-114 9th66 Ave. E. Norwich Ave. 406 King Ave. 112-114 King Ave. 400 King Ave. 102 W. 8th51 Ave. 96-98 W. 8th Ave. 220 E. LaneAve. Ave. E.E.Ave. 17th 400410 King 127 Tompkins St. King Ave. 112-114 King Ave. 118 King Ave. 51 Ave. E. 17th Ave. 410 King 10954 E. E. Tompkins St. 13th Ave. 400 King Ave. 406 King Ave. 54 E. 13th Ave. 109 E. Tompkins St. 410 King Ave. 4 BEDROOM 96-98 W. 8th Ave. 127 E. Tompkins St. 96-98 W. 8th Ave. 109 E. Tompkins St.Neil Ave. 2390 3118 BEDROOM 118King King Ave. Ave. 398 King Ave. 3 BEDROOM 20-22 W.406 Maynard Ave. King Ave. Ave. 4 BEDROOM 406 Ave. 404King King 20-22 W. Maynard Ave. 3 BEDROOM 63 W. Maynard Ave. St. 127 E. Tompkins 2390 Neil Ave. 63 W. Maynard Ave. 127 E. Tompkins 20-22 W. Maynard Ave. Ave. St. 66 E. Norwich 398 King Ave. E.220 Norwich Ave. 63 W. 66 Maynard Ave. E. Lane Ave. 404 King Ave. 4 BEDROOM 22051 E. E. Lane Ave. 66 E. Norwich Ave. 17th Ave. 2390 Neil Ave. 4 BEDROOM 51 E. 17th Ave. 220 E. Lane Ave. 54 E. 13th Ave. 398 King Ave. E. 13th Ave. 2390 Ave. 51 E. 54 17th Ave. 96-98 W.Neil 8th Ave. 404 King Ave. W. 8th Ave. 398 King Ave. 54 E.96-98 13th118 Ave. King Ave. 118 King Ave. 404 King Ave. 96-98 W. 8th Ave. 406 King Ave. 406Ave. King Ave. St. 118 King 127 E. Tompkins 127 E. Ave. Tompkins St. 406 King 127 E. Tompkins St. 4 BEDROOM 4 BEDROOM 2390 Neil Ave. 2390 Neil Ave. 398 King Ave. 4 BEDROOM 398404 King Ave. King Ave. 2390 Neil Ave. 404 King Ave. 398 King Ave. 404 King Ave.

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2173 Indianola Ave. 2184 Indianola Ave. 51 ½ E. 17th Ave.

MUCH IS YOUR MONTHLY RENT?

$

58%

more than $550

$500-$550

6–7 BEDROOM 235 E. Lane Ave.

12% Featuring: -Large Bedrooms -Pet Friendly Properties -Affordable Units starting at $350 per person -Campus Based Rental Office -Resident Portal & Online Leasing

2425 N. High St. • (614) 263-2665 • info@gasproperties.com • www.gasproperties.com

less than $450

17% $450-$500

14%

5 | The Lantern | Thursday, February 4, 2021

2. HOW DO YOU

COMMUTE TO CAMPUS?

69% Walk

18%

6% Bike

Car

7% Bus

3. HOW MANY

ROOMMATES DO YOU HAVE?

None 20% Two 27% One 12%

Three+ 41%

where you want to be.

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6 | The Lantern | Thursday, February 4, 2021

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Free air and tool stations

Biking Routes

Editor’s pick short-cut

THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT VOICE OF THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

The Lantern is a student publication that is part of the School of Communication at The Ohio State University. It publishes special editions periodically, and online editions every day. The Lantern’s daily operations are funded through advertising and its academic pursuits are supported by the School of Communication. The School of Communication is committed to the highest professional standards for the newspaper in order to guarantee the fullest educational benefits from The Lantern experience.

Sam Raudins Editor in Chief Managing Editor for Content Jasmine Hilton Richard Giang John R. Oller ME for Design Managing Editor for Digital Content Jack Long Trevor Simpson Copy Chief Sarah Szilagy John R. Oller Campus Editor Max Garrison Assistant Campus Editor Owen Milnes Campus Producer John R. Oller Sports Editor Keaton Maisano Jack Emerson Assistant Sports Editor Curtis Grube Sports Producer

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Thursday, February 4, 2021 | The Lantern | 7

A guide to biking at Ohio State MAX GARRISON Assistant Campus Editor garrison.237@osu.edu

C

ampus cyclists can be a hot-button issue at Ohio State. Some people love riding between classes, while others want everything on two wheels banned from university property.

Personally, the childlike wonder of pedaling as fast as I can, launching over curbs and not comprehending the physics of how bicycles even stay upright has kept me riding mine nearly every day.

No matter how you feel about the blisters, saddle sores or never figuring out which hand signal is left and which is right, here is a guide to biking around campus, complete with my picks for short cuts, bike choice, maintenance options and more.

What kind of bike works best?

Short answer: The bike you already have.

The best bike to ride at college is whatever dusty bike is tucked in the corner of your basement. You don’t need to go out and buy some fancy road bike that will simultaneously break your bank account and the speed limits between your quantum physics and greek literature lectures. If you have a bike, that’s the best bike for you.

If you don’t have a bike and are looking for something to hold up to campus life, I recommend finding a used mountain bike with moderate size tires that will hold up to riding up and down curbs.

You can find used bikes at shops near campus such as Once Ridden Bikes on Indianola Avenue near East Duncan Street and Dandy Bikes on North High Street near East Tompkins Street.

What about maintenance issues?

A broken or misaligned bicycle part can be an intimidating fix if you’ve never dealt with it before, but a lot of issues can be fixed using a simple bike tool that costs less than $10. I always keep mine in my backpack.

For more serious issues — or if you don’t feel comfortable with the DIY approach — the Bike Hub connected to the RPAC next to the tennis courts is a good option.

What kind of lock?

Good: U-lock Better: U-lock + a cable running through your wheel spokes.

Thursday, February 4, 2021 | The Lantern | 8

Keeping your off-campus home safe MARY KIDWELL Lantern Reporter kidwell.1442@osu.edu

O

ff-campus and commuter students have multiple options for adding safety measures to their homes for the academic year.

The Office of Student Life Off-Campus and Commuter Student Services offers free safety devices year-round, such as free window and door alarms, smoke alarm batteries and light timers, Rachel DeMooy, program manager in the Office of Student Life Off-Campus and Commuter Student Services, said. Offcampus students can also

Student Services, said.

Off-campus students can also purchase their own devices such as smart locks and doorbell and security cameras.

According to the OffCampus and Commuter Student Services , 18- and 19-year-olds experience the highest rates of home burglary in the U.S., with renters experiencing a higher rate than homeowners.

University spokesperson Dave Isaacs said these devices are helpful for students who depart from and return to their residences at atypical times.

Smart Locks

Security Cameras

At Best Buy and Amazon, most smart locks are more than $100. At Walmart and Target, smart locks start at about $70.

Security cameras are also sold on Best Buy’s, Amazon’s, Walmart’s and Target’s websites. Best Buy sells cameras for more than $100, while there are some on Amazon for less than $100.

At Walmart and Target, the price varies from about $30 to more than $100.

9 | The Lantern | Thursday, February 4, 2021

(614)294-1684 InnTownHomes.com Doorbell Cameras On both Best Buy’s and Amazon’s websites, smart doorbells start at $59.99.

Prices vary on Walmart’s website but some can be purchased for less than $100.

Target’s website included many different price ranges.

Are you ready to find your fall 2021 home?

1-5 Bedrooms Available in Great Locations (614)294-3502 IukaParkCommons.com

Smart Plugs Smart plugs allow for the turning on and off of household amenities and lights from a phone or on a timer. These devices have a variety of prices on Best Buy, Amazon, Walmart and Target depending on the make and quantity of plugs.

Security System Home security systems are sold by both Best Buy and Amazon and are typically more than $100. Walmart and Target do not offer many options for home security systems.

2-Bedrooms available for August Furnished and Unfurnished (614)294-5381 Ohio-Stater.com

Convenience, Privacy, and Security Studio Apartments Located on N. High St

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10 | The Lantern | Thursday, February 4, 2021

Conflict, connections among roommates during pandemic AUBREY WRIGHT Lantern Reporter wright.2257@osu.edu

Some of Emma Zanlungo’s residents on the first floor of Canfield Hall.

W

ith 200-square foot rooms, white cinder block walls and no visitors or parties, Ohio State students may confuse their residence halls with Shawshank — but if their cellmates are all right, they might make it out alive.

Students following COVID-19 guidelines and staying in the

confines of their dorm rooms as much as possible this year may find themselves building both friendships and tension due to constant interaction with roommates.

Common areas of residence halls require mask wearing and social distancing. But within their rooms, residents can agree upon their own set of requirements for

COURTESY OF EMMA ZANLUNGO

hygiene and social distancing, Josh Harder, a Morrill Tower resident adviser and third-year in political science, said.

However, if expectations differ among roommates, conflict can ensue.

Cameron Cherry, a first-year in university exploration and resident in Morrill Tower, said a conflict arose between her and

her roommates after someone violated their rules for guests, causing COVID-19 to spread in their suite.

A roommate invited someone else in without the knowledge of the other roommates, Cherry said.

She said open communication was key to resolving the issue.

“We have come together as suitemates and talked about our issues,” Cherry said. “We’ve been like, ‘Hey there’s some tension here, let’s work it out.’”

Cherry said she believes this direct communication helps solve roommate conflicts and avoid suitemates turning to gossip or ignoring the problems within their dorm, escalating tension to a breaking point.

Emily Johnson, a first-year in sociology and resident in Canfield Hall, said she spends most of her time in her dorm room with her roommate.

“I love my roommate, but obviously being around someone all the time is a lot,” Johnson said.

“We are always on top of each other, which does get to be a lot sometimes.”

Johnson said she and her roommate avoid conflict by communicating frequently and scheduling their days so that they are not in each other’s way.

“If one of us does something that annoys the other, we’ll just tell each other, ‘That was annoying,’ and then we won’t do it again,” Johnson said. “We try not to step on each other’s toes.”

Outside visitors are not allowed to enter residence halls, Harder said, so much of the socialization among on-campus students happens between residents who live in the same building. Although expectations of physical distancing means it’s less likely those connections stretch more than a few yards

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past the dorm room, Harder said the relationships inside the rooms may create stronger bonds.

“Roommates maybe have become closer due to COVID. They’ve gotten to know each other more and spend more time together,” Harder said. “There’s less genuine connection between rooms, but maybe a more intimate connection in a single room.”

Cherry said simple times with her suitemates such as watching “The Bachelorette” in their common room and going out for dinner at Cazuela’s Grill near campus helped them grow closer.

Johnson said she feels she has a close relationship with her roommate and the other girls who live on her floor. She said finding things to do with her roommates and neighbors — such as taking trips to the North Market or simply checking out a card game from the residence hall front desk — has helped.

Johnson and one of her building’s residence advisers, Emma Zanlungo, a third-year in psychology, recommended the card game “We’re Not Really Strangers” and other simple gestures, such as keeping the door to the hallway open, as a way to strengthen relationships between roommates and create relationships with others beyond their own dorm room.

Zanlungo said facilitating socialization on her floor has been challenging this year, but some of her first-year residents managed to push past barriers created by COVID-19 and make friends with others in their hall.

“At the end of the day, these are freshmen, and they’re here to make friends,” Zanlungo said.

“Everybody is open to getting to know other people and being friendly, it’s just a matter of making those moments happen.”

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Thursday, February 4, 2021 | The Lantern | 11

Romantic roommates: how to live with a partner NICOLAS YOUNGBLOOD Former Arts & Life Editor

C NICK ROLL | LANTERN FILE PHOTO

The intersection of a romantic and roommate relationship presents challenges that neither situation presents alone — not harder to overcome, but different.

This column was originally published in The Lantern Feb. 5, 2020

ollege is the first time I got to make As a former resident adviser, I told my up my own rules — do what I want, residents all the time that you don’t have to date how I want, live where I want. like your roommates; just live with them.

One of the most tempting choices for a That is clearly no longer the case with a lifelong romantic like myself was to move significant other. Luckily, if you’ve come in with my significant other, and it turned far enough to consider moving in together, out brilliantly. After six months of living you and your partner are probably pretty together, we are stronger than ever. Getting compatible. But there will be differences — in your cleaning habits, how you stock here wasn’t easy, though.

The intersection of a romantic and the fridge, what you want to watch on TV and a million other for things. (continues on roommate relationship presents challenges Amazing Amenities Residents 12) that neither situation presents alone — not • page Multi-Story Fitness Center harder to overcome, but different.

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12 | The Lantern | Thursday, February 4, 2021

(continued from page 11) What would just be sources of mild friction with a regular roommate highlight a key difference when it’s with your partner.

Although platonic roommates have rooms of their own linked by a communal no man’s land, you and your partner will live in a truly shared space, where every room belongs to both of you completely.

The best way I’ve found to mitigate this bind is through open and honest conversation. And I mean a lot of it.

Discussions between my girlfriend and me started months before signing a lease and continue to this day. These proceedings will look different for everyone.

The important thing to remember is that the results matter. While we might have been happy to leave well enough alone in past disagreements, my girlfriend and I now have to advocate for ourselves constantly and find a compromise. This might seem like basic relationship advice, but it becomes crucial once you move in together.

And these conversations, when done right, are extremely beneficial to your relationship. To this day, one of our most intimate dates was the first grocery trip my girlfriend and I took together.

Now that we’ve tackled the emotional end, there’s plenty of more pragmatic advice I can give, although none of it is one size fits all.

Despite sharing a bed, my girlfriend and I chose to get a two-bedroom apartment, and it was one of the best decisions we made. After converting the second bedroom into an office, we now have separate spaces dedicated to studying, sleeping and leisure. My partner’s latenight study sessions won’t keep me up, and my movie marathons won’t interrupt her while she does homework. It also means we have two closets, eliminating potential conflict about storage.

Before moving in, make finances extremely explicit. Not just bills, but groceries, gas and nights out. Who pays for what, when and how? This can be a sensitive topic, but you’re doing your loved one no favors by avoiding the awkward.

And it needn’t be a 50-50 split. My girlfriend’s parents support her financially, while I work for every cent I spend, meaning we are at very different levels of financial stability. It’s something we have accepted without shame. Bear in mind, while finances have to be explicit, your

relationship should never be transactional.

Like finances, lay out your chore expectations early. If your partner currently spends a lot of time at your place, you might think you practically live together already, but they don’t have to sweep your body hair off the bathroom floor. It’s best to do the chores you’re most picky about, because then they’ll always be done right. Regardless, clean up your own messes and do your own laundry.

Finally, there is perhaps the hardest conversation you will have to have before moving in with a significant other, but it is one of the most important: What happens if you break up? It’s a possibility that can’t be ignored, and if you don’t think your relationship can handle that acknowledgment, it’s probably too soon to consider moving in together. In case of a breakup, we know who would move out, where they would go and who owns what.

Signing a joint lease means signing a contract that you’ll be staying together for another year or more, which could put a lot of pressure on the relationship. My solution was simple: I didn’t. The lease is in my girlfriend’s name, and I Venmo her my share of rent (I plead the fifth on the viability of this arrangement in the landlord’s eyes). It might seem like a risky strategy, and it is. I could be kicked out with no recourse if things go south.

The idea is to have faith in your significant other as a person, not just a partner. If you don’t trust them completely to treat you with fairness and compassion, even in the case of a falling out, you aren’t ready to live together.

And that’s OK. Relationships develop at different rates. Most college students are a pain to live with, and it doesn’t bode poorly for their potential to find love.

Sometimes the healthiest thing you can do for a budding romance is decide not to take the next step.

While the logistics are important, the most crucial consideration when thinking about moving in together is whether you’re ready. That’s the hardest part to determine, but once you do, the rest of the decisions aren’t tedious or daunting; they’re exhilarating. Every discussion I have with Natalie about whose turn it is to do the dishes is an affirmation that we are strong enough to be here. Every grocery run is an “I love you.”