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I (22 M) and my 4 roomates (21-24 F) all share an apartment with 1 kitchen, 5 rooms and 2 bathrooms. We tend to get along but we argue over the bathrooms more than we’d like

They tend to take a long time to get ready in the mornings, and I tend to take a long time at night because of my coping mechanism.

Basically once or twice a week, I take a few edibles, turn off all the lights, and shower while on the floor in complete darkness, rolling around in soap. I call this my Olm time after the blind cave salamander. I basically roll around in all the soap and just pretend I’m a little cave dwelling salamander while high as shit, and then rinse off and crawl out of the shower and head to my room.

It’s like meditation. I go to a completely different state mentally. This is the only thing that has significantly helped me with stress, while allowing me to incorporate all of my self care duties into my routine. Becoming one with the Olm is my only option.

My roomates don’t know about Olm time but they have realized I take a while in the shower some nights, and they have tried to argue by saying that everyone needs to get ready for bed too. I’ve told them that they take a really long time in the mornings, and I often have to brush my teeth in the kitchen sink because the bathrooms are basically locked from around 6:30-8:45 every day because of how long they take.

Basically they’re all pretty frustrated with me and I’m pretty frustrated with them. That self care time is pretty much what keeps me going through really hard days, and they don’t seem to get that, even when they tell me how important their getting ready time is for them in the mornings. I don’t know if I’m being an asshole or if I’m genuinely standing up for myself here. AITA?

For INFO, Olm time ranges from 30-45 ish minutes. I normally try to plan it for when they’re not home or already asleep but it’s not always possible. I don’t run the water the whole time (I normally turn it off for a while to chill in the soap for a bit) and we live in a big apartment complex so I’m not using all the hot water.

I agree we need to communicate better, especially because my roommates like to store their stuff in the bathroom when I like to store mine in my room so I can use either bathroom.

I try to check in with them before I shower but sometimes they work/ have class late so it’s not always possible.

I’m hoping I can convince them to store their stuff in their rooms like I do to make it less of an issue.

🎶 gimme that olm time religion

🎶 gimme that olm time religion

So my roomates and I all talked it out and came up with some better solutions. I did not specifically call it Olm Time nor explain in detail, but yeah here’s the gist:

They have started doing more of their morning routines in their rooms, and they have moved most of their bathroom stuff to their rooms, and that’s generally cleared up most of our mutual frustration.

Also, I found out that since I clean the bathroom before I Olm, (like 15-20 minutes before Olm Time while the edibles kick in) they still can’t use one of the bathrooms because I’m cleaning, so it’s functionally the same as an hour+ of Olm Time. I didn’t really think about it like that because it’s good for all of us to have a clean space, but when the door is closed it’s literally the same as me using the bathroom so now I feel kind of dumb for not realizing that in the first place.

We’ve agreed that I’m going to keep the door open while I’m cleaning so they know what I’m doing and that they can stop by and use it before I Olm if they need to, and it also gives them a fair warning because they know I’ll be in there for a while once the door is closed.

I (22 M) and my 4 roomates (21-24 F) all share an apartment with 1 kitchen, 5 rooms and 2 bathrooms. We tend to get along but we argue over the bathrooms more than we’d like

They tend to take a long time to get ready in the mornings, and I tend to take a long time at night because of my coping mechanism.

Basically once or twice a week, I take a few edibles, turn off all the lights, and shower while on the floor in complete darkness, rolling around in soap. I call this my Olm time after the blind cave salamander. I basically roll around in all the soap and just pretend I’m a little cave dwelling salamander while high as shit, and then rinse off and crawl out of the shower and head to my room.

It’s like meditation. I go to a completely different state mentally. This is the only thing that has significantly helped me with stress, while allowing me to incorporate all of my self care duties into my routine. Becoming one with the Olm is my only option.

My roomates don’t know about Olm time but they have realized I take a while in the shower some nights, and they have tried to argue by saying that everyone needs to get ready for bed too. I’ve told them that they take a really long time in the mornings, and I often have to brush my teeth in the kitchen sink because the bathrooms are basically locked from around 6:30-8:45 every day because of how long they take.

Basically they’re all pretty frustrated with me and I’m pretty frustrated with them. That self care time is pretty much what keeps me going through really hard days, and they don’t seem to get that, even when they tell me how important their getting ready time is for them in the mornings. I don’t know if I’m being an asshole or if I’m genuinely standing up for myself here. AITA?

Happy Black Fae Day!

I did this as part of a collaboration post with many other wonderful black creatives over on IG. My theme was Warrior Fairy.

Creative Direction and editing by me