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[–] 35 points 8 months ago

Must have been all that avocado toast

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  • [–] 25 points 8 months ago*

    I have one house mate in his 70s and one in her 80s, and she has lung cancer. Luckily our social systems are taking care of them, barely; but that's going away and the cost of living is rising way faster than projected.

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  • [–] 48 points 8 months ago (1 child)

    Well yeah, because he has a roommate

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  • [–] 10 points 8 months ago (2 children)

    If we have to have 1 roommate now it's gaurenteed we will need at least 2 in a few more decades.

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  • [–] 6 points 8 months ago

    Frankly, at 87, it's probably best not to live alone anyway.

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  • [–] 4 points 8 months ago*

    I know of at least 3 GenX guys with roommates. I think they're all divorced.

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  • [–] 2 points 8 months ago

    ah yes, headlines that outright contradict the article contents. love it.

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  • [–] 4 points 8 months ago* (3 children)

    Interesting story, but headline not accurate:

    When asked if he could cover all of his expenses using Social Security without a roommate, Ferber said, "Barely. What really helps naturally is working at Costco three days a week."

    So, yes, he could afford rent without a roommate, but its understandable why he has a roommate anyway.

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  • [–] 6 points 8 months ago (2 children)

    Because he is working 3 days a week at 87 years old!

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  • [–] 5 points 8 months ago (1 child)

    I think you may want to read the quote again. He can afford it "barely" without working. The working 3 days a week at Costco is what makes it not barely.

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  • [–] 2 points 8 months ago

    Barely without working, can easily mean that he doesn't have enough for other cost after rent. Rent is generally the most important bill to pay unless you want to become homeless.
    He also says this:

    When asked if he could retire, Yafet said, "I wouldn't be in New York if I retired."

    Meaning that the expenses are too high even for a tiny tiny apartment of only 46 m² !
    To be able to "afford" rent but not to be able to live, actually means you can't afford the rent.

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  • [–] 1 point 8 months ago

    I would love to have an 87 year old roomie. I get along with the elderly. They are chill and usually not fucking full of hot air.

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  • [–] 0 points 8 months ago

    Sure just “roommates”. That’s always my I was told my great aunt and her friend were. Suspiciously there was only one bedroom.

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  • 7 comments in c/aboringdystopia@lemmy.world view that post
    [–] 22 points 8 months ago (1 child)

    They missed an opportunity to turn that into a uplifting story about how elderly fight the loneliness epidemic... /s

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  • [–] 9 points 8 months ago (3 children)

    This doesn’t upset me because there’s no way I live that long

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  • [–] 1 point 8 months ago (2 children)

    see. everyone does that. no problemo I will just die. but you don't die. you just live more and more horribly.

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  • [–] 3 points 8 months ago

    What are the cultural imperatives and protocols when your roommate dies? Do you host a wake for him, in the apartment you're about to be evicted from, since his name was on the lease?

    Imagine suddenly being forced to move, at the tender age of 69, when you're poor enough to require a roommate.

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