my castle needs a moat

[kindkit]

I haven't done a poll in ages, so here's one based on my recent experience of bailing out on hosting a Buffy rewatch and potluck evening. Partly I bailed for good reasons (e.g. heat and lack of air conditioning), but partly because the thought of having people--people I like!--in my living space was making me miserable with dread and anxiety.

I think if my apartment was divisible into private and public spaces, I might feel somewhat differently. But I live in a studio. People would see my sleeping area and they'd have to go through it to get to the bathroom. Hmmm. I also might feel differently if my job didn't involve dealing with people all the damn time, so that my home is very much an introvert's refuge.

Anyway, I'm curious about other people's views.

Poll #18560

This poll is anonymous.
Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: Just the Poll Creator, participants: 25

How do you feel about having guests (short-term, not overnight) in your house/apartment?

I love it!
2 (8.0%)

I enjoy it.
8 (32.0%)

It's okay.
4 (16.0%)

I don't really like it.
7 (28.0%)

Arrrrgh, no, this is my space, go away!
4 (16.0%)

Comments

[malnpudl]

I have powerful mixed feelings. I really do enjoy it, once it's happening. But the anticipation is very uncomfortable; my house-keeping is minimal at best, and at times certain things get away from me. Getting the public areas of the house into even minimally acceptable condition is really stressful, and makes me both anxious and cranky as all get out. But then people come, and it's all worth it, and I immediately get wistful about when I can do it again.

In your situation, with no clear boundaries or visual/physical barriers between public and private space, it would be considerably more stressful, I think.

[kindkit]

Yeah, the beforehand stress is hard, and so is the cleaning. It's weird because I can't help wishing I was the kind of person who threw wonderful dinners and parties and whose house everyone loved to be in, but in reality I am not that kind of person at all. (Mind you, if I had the kind of house/apartment implied by such a fantasy, and staff to help me keep it party-ready--which is also implied by the fantasy, I think--it might be different.)