Elm Drive East

Semi-reclusive bibliophile and two overindulged cats seek long-term roommate to share small apartment. Successful applicant must have a high tolerance for silence, cat fur, tracked litter, piles of books, eclectic decor and apathetic dusting skills. Master bedroom with (woefully unpretentious) walk-in closet and bittersweet view; furnishings optional. Shared bathroom, kitchen and living room. Unlimited Wi-Fi; central heat and air. Laundry and gym on site. Walking distance to two libraries, a pool, two parks, a 24-hour grocery store and Square One. At intersection of 4 bus routes. Rent includes all utilities; parking and laundry extra. NO SMOKING.

MORE ABOUT US: I am a late-middle-aged, self-employed English tutor, editor and writer. In the mornings, I teach online (so will require relative quiet between the hours of 5:30 and 10:00); in the evenings, I meet students at the library. The cats are also middle-aged, so their entertainment generally consists of making demands and very brief horse fantasies, with an occasional houseplant assault.

I am queer-friendly (a Sapphist, myself) and somewhat left-leaning, with NDP/Green Party-type inclinations. Though I don’t partake of either, weed and alcohol are fine—as long as nothing is smoked. (Eat and drink whatever you like.) I’m vegetarian and have a lot of food allergies; the cats eat a great deal of fresh fish and meat, as well as cat food.

I am absolutely inflexible on the no smoking rule. Non-smokers only, please.

MORE ABOUT THE LIVING SPACE: It’s an older building… so you should think “location, location, location”. There are some bugs in the building, but the management is swift to call in pest control should you see a single bug, and there are none in the apartment because I take fierce precautions. The decor is worn and out-of-date. There are lots of kids and pets in the building; when the windows are open, you can hear the traffic on Hurontario (and there’s a fire station just down the street).

The apartment is small but bright. The view is two-fold: if you look straight out, you see some nice trees (which are particularly impressive in the summer), the neighbouring building and Hurontario; if you look down, you see the parking lot and garbage bins. Don’t look down.

There’s a small balcony. In the summer, I grow herbs and a few flowers. I’ve never found it pleasant for lengthy sitting, but the cats and I spend a few minutes out there each day.