The Office Shuffle

I've been in the same office space for almost 3 years and really like my little corner. (I have 3 walls, bookshelves above my head and behind me. I'm now what they would call a "senior student," which means I have a lot of seniority to choose another space in the yearly office shuffle if I wanted. I've been asked twice if I want to move, and both times I said no. I don't really want to since, as I said, I like my space. And moving requires a lot of effort; I have a lot of stuff in my office. Even if I have 4 officemates and a two-person office would be quieter . (But (a) my officemates aren't loud, and (b) that's what headphones are for.)

Today I got an email from the grad student in charge of helping with the yearly office shuffle. It was addressed to me and my adviser's other student, Steven. It basically said, "How would you two like to move into a quiet two person office?" and a few other things about how they want to put incoming first years into our space. (My current officemates are all moving out.)

I didn't know what my answer would be (though probably no -- I'd be moving down a floor, which would mean there would be a set of stairs between me and the printers, AND I'd be far away from the other grad students and such), but I decided to go see where the new office was. Imagine my surprise when I find the office (which is already vacant, so the door was closed) and my and Steven's name was already on it! I was really amused by this, and went back to my office and wrote Steven an email that said "Think long and hard about this...our names are already on the doors!"

But don't worry, the sign on the door is not stone. I can still make my decision, though I got a follow up email from the grad rep and he said that another grad student (a now-third year) will be moving in. Steven and I could probably play the seniority card if we really wanted to, but I'm guessing both of us don't care enough to. It would be nice to be in the same office as Steven, but considering how we keep fairly opposite schedules, it would be more like having my own office. Hmmm....that may not be so bad either. If only I didn't have so many books. And those three walls.