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Summer Fun for Roommates

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Lemonade

Summer is here! If you’re anything like us, you’re ready to get out of the house and enjoy all the fun and excitement the season has to offer!

What are your favorite summer festivities?

The summertime is full of activities and celebrations that are perfect to enjoy with your roommate! Wondering where you two should start? We’ve put together a list of fun events in St. Louis and beyond to kick start your summer adventures!

St. Louis, MO

If you’re in the St. Louis area, check out one of these great activities:

Shakespeare in the Park

Make your way to Shakespeare Glen in Forest Park between June 1-26 to enjoy Much Ado About Nothing in the great outdoors. These annual performances are always a big hit–and they’re free! Don’t forget your picnic blanket! 

Whitaker Music Festival

The beloved Whitaker Music Festival hosted at the Missouri Botanical Gardens returns this year! The gardens host a wide array of musical artists on Wednesdays throughout the summer, and it’s the perfect place to enjoy a picnic and stroll through the gardens. Did we mention admission is free with a reservation?

Procure Market

Want to support local women-run businesses? Procure Market is a monthly pop-up event held at the new St. Louis Foundry that features more than 50 creative women business owners. The event is curated by The Women’s Creative. The Foundry is also home to some delicious food vendors, so don’t forget to grab a snack after you shop!

St. Louis Zoo

Home to over 14,000 animals, the St. Louis Zoo is always a fun place to visit! With extended summer hours, there’s no excuse not to stop by and enjoy the fun. Also, from June to August, the zoo hosts weekly music on Fridays as part of the Jungle Boogie Friday Night Concert Series.

Muny

For over 100 years the Muny has been producing phenomenal outdoor musical and theater performances. With shows like Mary Poppins, The Color Purple, Legally Blonde, and Chicago, this year’s line-up has something for everyone. Buy tickets in advance or go day-of to see if you can snag free tickets! 

Cardinals games

Would it be summer without a trip to Busch Stadium to see a baseball game? Check out the Cardinals Schedule and bond with your roommate over some popcorn and a round of “Take me out to the Ballgame.”

 

Live Elsewhere?

Our list so far has been St. Louis-centric, but most cities and towns have some great summer festivities you can tap into. Regardless of where you live, here are some ideas as you make plans for the summer with your roommate:

Outdoor Movies or Concerts

Many local parks departments, libraries, or arts and culture organizations host outdoor movie or concert series in the summer. Most are free and family-friendly !Check with your local Parks and Recreation Departments to see what activities are happening near you.

Festivals and Fairs

Depending on where you live, you may know of annual fairs, community celebrations or festivals happening nearby. Many communities host local art fairs or festivals focused on food (think barbeque or strawberries) or drink. Most State and County Fairs are also held during the summer months.

Holidays and Special Events

Keep an eye out for events that celebrate local holidays or events in your community. Common summer events you might see include Pride Month parades, Juneteenth celebrations, and  Fourth of July parties. Many block parties and neighborhood gatherings are also held in the summer, so keep an eye out for special events promoted in your area.

Picnic or Barbeque

Don’t let a lack of larger events stop you and your roommate from enjoying the weather and each other’s company! Create your own summer fun by picnicking in a local park, taking a nature walk, trying a new restaurant or barbequing in the backyard together! You don’t need to plan a big outing to have fun with your roommate!

 

Interested in learning more about the roommates who have bonded through homesharing? 

Learn about Rebecca and Vanessa, Amy and Yuki, or Alan and Caleb!

Making the Most of your Homeowner Profile

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Woman browsing Odd Couples Housing Profiles

Whether it’s Facebook, Linkedin, or a dating website, personal profiles are an important part of online life. Homesharing is no different. Your profile is a place for you to share about yourself and what you’re looking for in a roommate. It’s also an important source of information for potential roommates to learn about you, your home, and what living together might be like. In fact, many Seekers will decide if they’d like to meet a Homeowner based on what they see in their profile–and a good first impression can go a long way!

The Odd Couples Housing profile questionnaire has many of the important factors for homesharing built in. However, there are also many opportunities for you to personalize your profile and make it yours.

So how do you put your best foot forward?  If you’re having trouble deciding how much to share or what to include in your profile, you’re not alone. It can be hard to know where to start. To help, we’ve compiled a few ideas to inspire you! 

Here are some tips to help you showcase yourself and your home: 

HELLO, IT’S ME

You may be tempted to stick with homesharing logistics in your profile, but your future roommate is thinking about the house match and personality compatibility. Instead of focusing solely on the bedroom amenities or parking situation, share a bit about yourself! If you’re feeling stuck or aren’t sure how to talk about yourself, think about how a good friend might describe you or share a unique hobby or fun fact. That could end up being a good ice-breaker when you meet Seekers. Or you might find that you and your potential roommate have more in common than you expected!

CHECK YOUR BOXES

Your profile is a great place to share about yourself, but it’s also an opportunity for you to describe what you’re looking for in a roommate. The Odd Couples Housing profile questions cover many of the basic issues that can come up with roommates, but you might have more specific ideas about what you’re looking for. For example, you can note in your profile that you’d like to eat together regularly or go on occasional errands. 

A DAY IN THE LIFE

Sharing a “typical day” or an “ideal day” is another way that Seekers can get to know you through your profile. You don’t need to get too detailed, but it’s nice for Seekers to know if you work the night shift, travel frequently, or have weekly friend gatherings at your home. It can also give some insight into what’s important to you and how you like to spend your time, which is important in a roommate relationship. 

A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Seekers are curious to know about you and your home, but they’re also often curious about the area in which you live. The questionnaire includes a section about your home, where you can indicate what is  near your home (bus routes, shopping, night life, parks, etc.), but in your profile, you can elaborate beyond the checklist. Consider sharing a bit more about the coffee shop near your house, the library you frequent, or the bike path you’ve been meaning to check out. Let Seekers know why they should be as excited about your home as you are!

SMILE FOR THE CAMERA

A few photos of your house can have a big impact on Seekers who are imagining themselves in a new home. Use your phone or a digital camera to snap a few pictures of your space and upload them to your profile. We recommend taking photos of the Seeker’s bedroom, bathroom, and common spaces, like the kitchen. If your home has other interesting features (back patio, garden or cozy breakfast nook), you also might consider posting those photos. 

DON’T WORRY!

Constructing your profile may feel overwhelming at first, but you’ve got this! As long as you complete the questionnaire, you’re off to a great start. Your home will become visible to Seekers as soon as the basic questionnaire is complete, so once that’s done,  you can take a break and edit the details later. Remember, you can complete your profile at your pace—there’s no need to do it all at once if you’re feeling stuck. You can update edit your profile at any time by logging into your account and going to your profile tab.

Good luck! 

Still have questions or want to sign up? Odd Couples Housing Match Team can work with you to answer your profile questions.

Meet the Odd Couple: Q&A with Intergenerational Roommates Rebecca and Vanessa

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Two intergenerational roommates sitting on a patio bench, both smiling

Rebecca (right) and Vanessa (left) were matched in October 2020 through Odd Couples Housing’s homesharing service.

What do a retired RN and occupational therapy postgraduate have in common? Well, a lot more than you might think! Homeowner Rebecca and seeker Vanessa found one another with help from our unique homesharing and roommate-matching platform. Vanessa’s studies required a three-month stay in St. Louis, and she was on the hunt for just the right place.

Here, the former housemates — and now, friends — answer a few questions about their experience, the matching process, and how our Matching Team became their silver bullet.

First thing’s first: Why did you sign up for Odd Couples Housing?

R: I had four years of experience hosting international high school students. And after COVID-19 hit, they couldn’t come back. A friend of mine tried Odd Couples Housing and had a great experience; She referred me.

V: I’d never been to St. Louis, and was a bit nervous to travel there alone! I wanted a safe housing situation with someone who knew the city. I was also interested in the concept of intergenerational living and thought it’d be a fun opportunity to try something new — a homeshare program that assisted with matching roommates was perfect! And, being on a student budget, having lower monthly expenses was very appealing.

Has homesharing impacted your life in any way?

R: It has enriched my life. Vanessa and I still keep in touch, and I’m looking forward to her returning for a visit someday! My new roommate, Neera, is very sweet and kind. I’ve had some health issues lately, and she’s always willing to help. Neera is from Nepal; I enjoy learning about her home. Our age difference makes things interesting as we both learn from one another. You can make good friendships through Odd Couples Housing, which is a big plus!

“I could not be happier with my Odd Couples Housing experience!” –Vanessa, Seeker

V: I could not be happier with my Odd Couples Housing experience! It was a fabulous fit for me. I had a safe and affordable place to live while keeping my housing costs down. And I made a great friend who helped me fall in love with St. Louis. I’m so happy I made the choice to sign up!

What would you say to someone on the fence about joining?

R: You meet the best prospects through Odd Couples Housing. The matching quiz is instrumental to see who’s a good fit. You can meet your matches virtually, or the Matching Team can arrange a home visit for you, which is great. I am now in my second homeshare. And I find it reassuring knowing that I have their support if there are any difficulties.

V: Odd Couples Housing is committed to making sure that every match is a success. Rebecca and I met in a Zoom meeting, where we thoroughly discussed our living styles and preferences. The Matching Team communicated with both of us throughout my entire stay, which made me feel secure that if any issues came up (which none did!), they’d be there to help.

Answers have been lightly edited for clarity.

About Odd Couples Housing

Our mission is to connect generations. Intergenerational housing gives older and younger people the chance to strengthen their community while enhancing their own lives. Whether you’re looking for a compatible roommate or a less expensive place, we’ll connect you to the right people who fit your lifestyle and personality.

Looking for a compatible roommate in Denver or St. Louis? Sign up now to get started FREE!

10 Things to Do With Your Roommate in St. Louis This Summer

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Top 10 Things to Do in Denver With Your Roommate This Summer

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Debunking The Generation Gap

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Baby Boomers, you’ve probably heard a lot about the millennials. And millennials, I’m sure you’ve heard a thing or two about the Silent Generation. So, where did these generational delineations come from, and what about the stereotypes that accompany them?

The Generation Gap is defined as “differences of outlook or opinion between people of different generations.” It’s often used to explain perceived differentiation between people of varying ages and feeds some of the generalities made about the behaviors of people in different generations. It could help explain why you may get some skeptical looks when you bring up intergenerational living to your friends or family members! 

Take a look at the chart below to see where generations are commonly divided:

It’s easy to make assumptions about people based on when they were born. But, does our age define our opinions, talents, interests, and motivations? A study from the Cambridge University Press on intergenerational differences in the workplace says, not so much. In their words, “there is little solid empirical evidence supporting generationally based differences and almost no theory behind why such differences should even exist.” Simply put, you might have more in common with a differently-aged roommate than you think! 

Take technology use–this is a classic example of something that is often seen as a dividing force between generations. Millennials and Gen X-ers have a reputation for being too tech-dependent while Baby Boomers and the Silent Generation are seen as being out of touch with technological advances. However, a recent study from the Pew Research Center showed that that older generations are adopting technology at high rates. Nearly 70% of Baby Boomers have a smartphone! And just as interesting, while the rates of social media use have stayed steady for Millennials in the past several years, they have grown by at least 10% for both Baby Boomers and the Silent Generation. 

All this to say, the generation gap might not be so very big after all! If you’re thinking about ways to make connections with people of different age groups, intergenerational living could be a good fit for you. It’s a fantastic opportunity to get to know someone of different ages, debunk myths, learn a new perspective, and share what you know with another person!