Vivek

My name is Vivek. I’m looking to move into a collective or shared living space. I have plenty of experience of both. In the past, I co-created a collective and was part of several collective homes but took some time off the collective living and lived on my own.

Here’s a bunch of stuff about me.

I’m a brown cis man, a settler-Canadian, a meat eater turned vegan, turned vegetarian, turned meat eater. Happy to share my journey of many transformations.

I cook all my meals at home, 80% South-Indian, and practice food sovereignty to keep my culture and identity alive in an ever-diluting world. I don’t love cooking but I love cooking with people and for other people if I have the help. I’ve treated many to my South Asian delicacies.

Dishwashing is my most hated chore, and therefore one criteria I have about finding a home where I will be happy, is, if it has a dishwasher. I always want to keep a kitchen tidy and useable

I can get down and dirty and really put some elbow grease in fixes/cleaning and I do best at household upkeep when I feel like I’m part of a team rather than on my own/solely responsible for an overwhelming number of things. I’m not a good rally-er of events and leave the organization to others who are better at it because of my full-time job.

I’m naturally more of a day person than night person. I currently work as an Associate Producer at River Road Films- If you’ve seen Island of the Sea Wolves on Netflix; that’s us! www.riverroadfilms.ca My work days are typical 9-5 and I am a person who loves to bike to work rather than work from home, so If you work from home, we might be a good fit. But having said that, I want to live bikeable distance to Kits or Point grey.

I’m an introverted extrovert. I’d love a household where it’s okay to go to your room and do stuff by yourself, but it’s also super welcomed to hang out with your housemates and play a boardgame or talk about your day or occasionally go out for a beer or hangouts with other friends. I’m fairly quiet, and I sometimes like to watch movies at medium-loud volume at reasonable hours, especially while I’m eating, I can also use my ear plug if that’s an issue. Overall, I consider myself particularly quiet.

I currently don’t smoke/vape or do any drugs and don’t mind others who do as long as it is not a chronic problem that makes the home an unsafe place. I am not a big consumer of alcohol either. I would sip on wine/beer while cooking together or at social gatherings.

I’m empathetic, emotionally honest, and kind. I value mutual care and I’m big into consent. And boundaries. And respect. Basic human decencies/

My IDEAL living situation would have: • two fridges • gas stove • shower • more than one (toilet) bathroom • hard floors (in the room) • laundry on site • full height ceilings • natural light • clothes line • big kitchen/dining table • regular house meetings to check up on each other • collective responsibility re decision making/household admin • clear responsibilities/expectations but with minimal bureaucracy • livingroom with lots of plants • secure bike storage • A dog or several in the house • intergenerational • anti-oppression • lots of kitchen space • close to public transit • walking distance to groceries • bedroom at least 100 square feet

I’m not actually expecting to find all those things, at least not right away, but no harm putting it out there.

I can share references of my past roommates if needed, as well as friends and co-workers