Hello, bluebicycle, I'm so sorry this is happening. I agree that it's probably a good idea to move out. Hope you can find a place to live soon -- if you do not have enough money to pay for an apartment, maybe there are HUD or other subsidized buildings that you could apply to.

I do not agree that it's any parent's "right" to go through a son's or daughter's things,whether they are an adult living with them, or a minor child living with them. My parents, while they had good sides to them, and many bad faults, NEVER invaded our privacy. We KNEW this about them. They honored us, and treated us in most ways with respect. We were not "pets" or brainless little cutsies to them. They would never have even considered to, for instance, open our personal mail. We were raised to not spy on people, not to pry into other people's business, including members of our own families.

While this part of my post is not really related to the subject on your thread, I'll add about my folks that, on the negative side, they went "too far" in not invading our privacy. I was just talking with my sister today, and we both agreed that we got NO guidance from them about dangers out there in the world, or how to know what guys were safe or unsafe to date - or marry ! BUT we also agree that our parents were extremely naive people.