This is my first year living off campus in a downtown historic house, even though I'm in my last year at the College. Even though I love the freedom and independence that I never really got living on campus, there are definitely some challenges that have come along with living in my house. 

I think one of the very best things about Charleston is the history and beautiful scenery- and going along with that is the privilege CofC students have of living in these homes. But here I break it down for you in a simple list of the pros/cons of historic home living.

Pro- Like I said before, independence. Even though this isn't specified to historic houses, the fact that I have privacy, freedom, and an overall feeling of adulthood I never had before living my campus apartment or the sorority house is pretty hard to ignore.

Con-Bills. Along with that awesome feeling of maturity and adulthood comes bills, bills, bills. Keeping track of my finances used to just be limited to food, clothes, and alcohol. Now my access to water, electricity, and Wifi depends on my own responsibility. Sigh.

Pro-Awesome roommates. I've been pretty lucky with my roommate situations over the years, but now I get to live with two of my very very favorite people, and nothing can beat that. They're the girls who will go on late night food runs with me, and drink with me on random Thursday afternoons. The best.

Con-Rodents. Um, we have a fourth roommate though. A mouse. Or maybe a raccoon, judging by the trail of eaten food it leaves. It sucks, and it's scary, and we don't want to set up a mouse trap because we don't want to have to look at its dead body. But we don't like what its alive body is doing. It's a real predicament. We also have roaches, but that's a whole other thing...

Pro- I repeat, freedom. We also have a 5th roommate! Aka the bar we put in the weird open closet in our living room. Margarita blender, champagne glasses, mixers, and shot glasses included. I did not have that when I lived on campus.