Am I Wrong for Leaving Roommate Alone in Storm?
AITA debates staying with clingy roommate during a storm or helping elderly neighbors shovel, roommate insists they're obligated to stay, who's right?
It’s not every day you get stuck between a looming winter storm and a roommate who treats “bad weather” like “mandatory relationship time.” In this post, OP is trying to leave for a safer, more practical setup, but their roommate is convinced they’re legally, morally, and emotionally required to stay put.
OP has been living with a friend for about two years after losing their own home. Now a giant winter storm is coming, and OP wants to stay with family or help shovel at an elderly woman’s property across the street. Meanwhile, the roommate lives in an apartment building, so his “storm problem” is basically power outages, not getting trapped under a mountain of snow.
So when OP says they don’t want to sit with him during the storm, the real fight is not about shovels, it’s about control.
Original Post
I've been staying with a friend for about 2 years now due to losing my home. He is in his 40's and healthy.
He is also very clingy. There is potentially a giant winter storm starting this weekend and I would like to stay with a friend/ family member who is in their 80's to help shovel.
They have a large property to shovel. We may also help another elderly woman shovel who is on the same street.
My roommate insists that I am obligated to stay with him during large storms because I live here. He says everyone he knows agrees with him.
He lives in an apartment building so he doesn't have to worry about anything except possibly losing power. I stayed with him during the last big storm.
He doesn't even have a vehicle to shovel out. He doesn't have to go outside at all.
I don't want to be here with him during the storm. And I can help my two other friends shovel who live alone.
AITA for not being with my roommate for the storm?
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OP already proved they can handle the last big storm, but this time the roommate is acting like that means OP owes him storm babysitting forever.
While OP is planning to help elderly neighbors shovel on a large property, the roommate’s situation is mostly staying inside and hoping the lights keep working.
The roommate also has no vehicle and no real need to go out, which makes his “you live here, so you must stay” argument feel extra clingy.
And once OP points out they’d rather help two other friends who live alone, the roommate suddenly starts insisting “everyone he knows” agrees with him.
We'd love to hear your take on this situation. Share your thoughts below.
OP might not be wrong for choosing the shoveling plan, but the roommate is definitely treating it like a loyalty test.
For another family showdown, see why one sibling refused to split the cherished heirloom bracelet.
