You may get a little depressed when all of the roommates turn 21, and then when all of your friends seem to start hitting that age, too. Fear not, there are benefits to not being 21 yet, even if everyone and your mother can go out and not get turned away from that bar downtown.
1. Well, for one, you are saving a heck of a lot of money.
When all the 21-year-olds wake up the next morning to check their bank accounts and scream obscenities throughout the house, you can smile and know that the Pepsi you could only get from the bartender cost less than two dollars.
2. Seeing some interesting things.
Being sober when everyone comes home, not able to get into their own beds, creates some pretty great Snapchat stories and some even better “Remember when you did this” stories for the next morning.
3. Being the Mom or Dad
It never hurts to help out the older crew a few times. Giving your friends a ride to and from downtown saves them some money from Uber and gives you some control over when you want to leave. “That is your last one! We are the only ones here, let’s go!”
4. Feeling great in the morning.
“GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE!” might make the house upset and create an obstructive ringing in their head, but you are feeling great and not groggy at all. Take that run, go to the library, or do what needs to be done, because everyone else will be in bed until 3 p.m.
5. Welcome to my house party.
If everyone in the house can go out, but you cannot, no worries. Once someone yells, “Uber is here!” and the door closes, crank the speakers up, invite all the other underage friends over, and have the house to yourselves for a night.
6. You are the young one now, but just wait.
Yes, not being 21 puts a damper on the weekend, but when everyone is hitting their midlife crises, sit back and relax, because 49 feels damn good.
7. You are not the milk man.
No one is blowing up your phone or knocking at your door at 5 p.m. on Friday asking you to go the store and pickup a fifth or a case. “Sorry, that is going to be a no.”
Being underage is not the worst thing in the world. Yes, for now, and until you turn 21, weekends might be not as fun as they could be. But remember these positives of not being 21 when you are about to dial Mom or Dad’s number and see if they want to hang out. Live up the underage life, it is a great time. Kind of.