TAKE A MOMENT TO READ THIS ESSAY FROM A QUASI-FORMER BOOMERANGER...

Since I graduated college, I have been living with my parents because it wouldn't be practical not to. After I graduated, I got a job as a reporter for the weekly newspaper of my hometown on Long Island. My parent’s still owned the house that I grew up in, and they stayed there on weekends. During the week, they lived in a two-bedroom apartment in Midtown that they purchased ten years ago. I couldn’t really afford to live on my own and I didn’t want roommates, so I stayed at home.

My father helped me get my second job assisting a real estate agent who sold them their apartment, and who happened to live and work out of an apartment a few floors above. Though it wasn’t really what I was looking for in terms of a career, I took the job mostly out of convenience -- staying in my parent's apartment, I could take the stairs to work.

A few months ago, I was lucky to get a job as a writer for a public relations firm. Finally, I found a job doing work that I enjoyed and could even afford to move out. Although I was comfortable at home and really enjoyed my mother’s company, I realized that at twenty eight years old, it was probably time for  me to go. By living at home, I could never completely feel like an adult.

About two months ago, I started searching for an apartment that would be near my parent’s place because my mom helped me take care of my dog while I was at work, and somewhere that was close to Central Park, another dog-related reason. As I was beginning to give up on the possibility of finding something spacious in my price-range, a friend told me that he was moving to Brazil, which meant that his one-bedroom apartment, conviently located near the park and two blocks from my parent’s apartment, would be empty. He generously accepted my offer to sublet his apartment and finish
out his lease for the remaining six months. I agreed to pay more than I really wanted to, but it seemed worth it since he was paying three times as much. In exchange for the reduced rent, I had to take care of his cat.

After about a week of staying in my friend’s apartment, I started spending more time at my parent’s apartment, to the point that I only went to the sublet apartment to feed the cat or if I was with friends. Insead of jumping at the opportunity to be on my own, I opted to stay at home. I couldn’t help but think that I had made a $9000 mistake and should have remained where I was. Granted, I was staying in an apartment that reaked "gay" rather than being furnished with my stuff, but wouldn’t I want to wake up without hearing my father shuffle around the apartment in his slippers or my mom up early scrubbing the floor. No, I’d rather have the comfort that being home offers. It made me realize that living with my parents is a choice. It’s not just a situation that arises by default, but a state of mind. Home represents familiarity and safety -- something I am having a hard time giving up. A one-bedroom on the 46th floor with stunning views to the Hudson River pales in comparison to being able to hug my mom whenever I want. Is  that really so terrible? Maybe not, but something about it seems off.

With college graduation almost here, it's amazing how many of you will be returning home. And while many of you know what's in store on the homefront, you might not be aware of how important it is to get your financials on track before leaving school. Since most of you are neck-deep in school loans, paying these off will probably be at the top of your list. But remember, if you have credit card debt, make sure you pay it off at the same time. With high interest rates being what they are, you'll want to start paying down the balance immediately.

One important note: Consolidate your loans before July 1. For the first time in many, many years, interest rates on federal Stafford student loans will most likely shoot up to about about 2 percent on July 1. But you can lock in the low current rate if you act quickly. if you think these rates won't make a difference, well, you're wrong. How about 6K during the life of a 20K loan. That's a lot of money in the long run, so get you to your lending officer on time.

So the other day I was talking to an old, actually younger friend, and she told me some great news! We met while working for a faceless, shall-remain nameless media conglomerate (now on it's last legs). We had both being going through a crisis of sorts -- me because i couldn't hack one more day of writing about lip gloss and she, well, I don't really know actually. What I do know is that she had been busting herself trying to live in NYC. Sure, there were the movie premieres, the celeb parties, and all that bunk, but I just don't think she was happy. So it came as no surprise that we bonded, despite the fact that I was hired to work as her boss. Really not fair, because she deserved the job more. Anyway, we became friends and when I decided to quit said conglomerate after just a three month stint (commitment was never my thing), she quit soon after and decided to move home to Florida with her parents. Now this could have gone either way. She could have been miserable, reviewing her glory days back in NYC and sulking in her room all day. But she didn't. Just a few years later, she has a very prestigious job and is now buying a condo in the area. Guess how long it would have taken her to reach the same goal in NYC? By my calculations, with her saving about $5 a month, maybe by the time she turned 73. Anyway, I just wanted to say a big congratulations to her and remind you all that not only is there life after moving home, there can also be a happier ending.

I don't know if any of you are avid Hatch readers, but it's a great magazine for twentysomethings. Whatever your issue -- career, dating, money -- they've got something totally wry, candid, and clever to say about it. Started by Jon Horowitz, after a brief quarterlife crisis, the online mag has become mandatory reading for all things twentysomething. Anyway, after manyh ours of logging in and reading the mag, I finally got to meet the whole gang at my book party. Yes, T.J., Jon, Jay, and Lauren came all the way out to NYC to support the book launch. I can't say enough about how great it is to meet people who are giving a voice to this generation. Really! I'm getting ferklmept. And that's ultimately the best part of my job. I mean, I spend all day toiling away in my bedroom home office. That's right, sometimes it gets lonely on the road. So when I finally get to meet actual live people in person who are working toward the same goals, I must admit, I do get a little misty.

And check out the HATCH interview -- I actually sound somewhat articulate...http://www.hatchmagazine.com/story.phtml?id=279

So after seven years of not being in touch with my uncle -- you know, your standard falling out  -- we have finally reconnected. And it's great seeing the family. Despite being my only uncle that I have ever met, he is also my favorite. That's why my mom, sister, and I decided to head to Chicago for his birthday. As luck would have it, it's like old times all over again, except one thing -- my 29 year old cousin still lives at home. Granted they have a huge house and a comfy yard (damn you New York City) and also work together in their home business, he's still been home a very long, long time. Lucky for my cousin, I came bearing a brand new copy of the book. But between you and me, I don't think he's really interested in moving out anytime soon. That's right, hard to believe, but some people actually like living at home.

I'm very excited...Lots of cool stuff is happening on the book front. Michelle Singletary, a personal finance columnist for the Washington Post, has chosen my book as the book of the month! That means she will be giving away 35 copies of the book AND I'm going to do a live chat on the website on May 26, Noon ET. I'm just thrilled about that and lots of other stuff happening, too. There's the book party! That should be fun. Since I've never even had a book party before, I really wanted to throw something this time around. I almost didn't have one, thinking no one would come, but I decided that, worse comes to worse, I'll be sitting around drinking pitchers of sangria and eating a trough of burgers on my own. I really can't help but see a problem with said scenario. Anyway, it's looking like actual real live people may be showing up, so I'll have to share my burgers.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/04/30/AR2005043000188_pf.html