PhD student looking for a room in a friendly house

Hi! I'm an incoming PhD student at the University of Southampton, researching the impacts of Sargassum (a brown seaweed) on the Caribbean — so yes, I'm a bit of a nerd about seaweed. But I'm also very sociable and love being part of a community.

I'd love to share a house with people who enjoy having dinner together sometimes, playing board games, watching movies, and generally hanging out and catching up on each other's days. I'm a big fan of house rituals — a monthly gathering or activity to get to know each other better and keep a good vibe going. That said, I also know my limits: when my social battery is low, I'll happily recharge in my room, and I'll usually give you a heads up when that's the case.

I'm very outdoorsy — most of my hobbies revolve around the ocean (surfing, sailing) as well as hiking and camping. I also love music and jam on my ukulele now and then (realistically, a couple of times a month).

Because of my fieldwork in Mexico, I'll sometimes be away for weeks at a time, so there will be stretches where you won't see much of me around the house.

I like being able to invite a friend or two over for dinner every so often, and would expect the same from housemates. I also have a friend visiting from Leeds at some point, so I'm open to occasional overnight guests from housemates too — just not as a regular thing.

On cleanliness: I keep kitchen surfaces clean and always wipe down after cooking, but what bothers me most is clutter in shared spaces, so I'd really appreciate housemates who keep communal areas tidy / are mindful about not letting things pile up. No passive agressive communication on my side, I will always try to communicate clearly with you!