In my last English class on Wednesday, we were discussing the musical Rent when someone asked, "Why do artists have to live in New York City?"  They don't have to, of course, but my professor argued that to be truly productive in art you have to be among people who are interested in and doing the same sort of thing you are.

The same argument can be used for living on or near campus during college.  I went to high school in Worthington, which is about twenty minutes north of OSU.  Many of my friends who go to OSU and have family in central Ohio elected to live at home for part or all of their college career, and some of my parents' friends have asked me why I didn't do the same thing.  First of all, there was decidedly more friction between me and certain members of my family when I graduated high school, friction that has lessened greatly due directly and indirectly, I think, to decreased face time.  Not only did I have less opportunity to push the wrong buttons at home, but I also had the space to mature that I don't think I could have had living at home.

But aside from that, there is something special about the college living experience, even for someone like me who doesn't party and doesn't drink.  It's hard to hang out until 1 am with your best friends if your mother is waiting up for you at home (and you're as supremely vulnerable to guilt trips as I am!)  It's hard to justify coming down after hours to campus to be involved with student organizations, especially if gas is running $4 a gallon.  It's hard to study when you're at home near your bed and kitchen and chores...that's why so many students can't even study in their dorm rooms.  When I really need to get something done, I pack up my laptop and head to the library.  Even though I'm still on the computer, the not-home atmosphere is less conducive to procrastinating.

And finally, there's just the je ne sais quois about OSU's campus.  I've lived here for four years, with decreasingly frequent trips home for groceries and laundry, and I love this place.  Yes, the rents are expensive for apartments that aren't that great.  Yes, it's annoying walking down streets littered with trash and beer bottles.  Yes, the neighbors can get loud and I haven't slept a night without earplugs since September.  But goshdarnit, you can't get this sort of experience anywhere else, and I think after a certain point you don't want to, but for now I'm glad to be where I am and glad to be sticking around another year.