I Moved to NYC at 22 and Lived With a 70
businessinsider.com • • entertainment
Key Points:
- William Swanson, a 22-year-old medical sales worker, moved to New York in June and needed a short-term rental before his friends arrived to share a long-term apartment.
- Finding short-term housing in NYC was challenging due to time constraints and high costs; after exploring Facebook groups, Airbnb, and rental sites, he found a suitable listing with a 70-year-old woman named Aleyda on SpareRoom.
- Despite initial concerns about communication barriers and living with someone much older, Swanson had a positive experience with Aleyda, who set clear house rules and was a caring, laid-back roommate.
- The NYC rental market proved difficult to navigate, with high competition and prices; Swanson eventually secured a long-term apartment in the East Village with roommates at a similar monthly rent to his short-term stay.
- While Swanson appreciates having his own room and more independence now, he misses the unique support and companionship provided by his previous living arrangement with Aleyda.
