The XX Factor: What women really think.

A Half a Loft of One's Own

I've lived by myself for the past year or so. And while I love having my own space (so much so that a swinging Friday night for me sometimes involves sewing new throw pillows) I often miss the social nature of roommate life—sometimes you just want someone to sit next to you while you watch The Real World. If you assume that singleton living is just a stop on the way toward romantic cohabitation, then fine; the loneliness can be dealt with as a character-building exercise. But if you don't want to shack up with a partner—or reproduce, essentially birthing your own roommates—and you don't want to live alone, what are your options?

If you have the money—and a good architect—you can do what the two women profiled in Sunday's New York Times Home and Garden section did: design a loft that consists of two connected but separate apartments. The gorgeous space (see the slideshow here) provides the women—who are 54 and 65—both "companionship [and] a great deal of privacy." The arrangement is less than official—one woman paid for the loft and the renovations, and there's no written or legal agreement between them—but to me it's a heartening step toward recognizing the very real, very concrete role friendships can play in our adult lives. Hell, if I could have a two-fer apartment with my best friend (complete with 90 YARDS of bookshelves!) I might never move in with my boyfriend, either.