is a pet rat right for me?

Question
Hi,
I just wanted to know if a pet rat would be right for me?
I have had a rat before that lived for about 4 years but sadley past away :(        I have been living w/out him for a couple years now and I just loved his personality and how i bonded w/ him; wich came to my mind if i should get a pet rat again. He was the sweetest rat, we didn't even have to train him or anything, we had a cage for him, but i would take him out evey single day for a really long time, and he would just from couch to couch to get over to me because he was really attached to me and vise versa. I would just love to come home to that every day again, and im aware that if i get another pet rat, it will not always be the same, but it will be nice to have a friend when i come home from school every day and just have someone to talk to.  
I know very much about rats and know how to take care of them very well!
But here's the thing. It's summer right now, and i am only at my dads house half the week: wed. thurs. friday. sat. sund. but then next week, my mom gets friday. sat. sund.
so practicly im only at my dads half the week.
should i not get a pet rat just because of this?
i really love them and their just a joy to be around.

thanks so much!

Answer
It's so great to hear of people who put of the animal first in situations like these and stopping to think. It sounds like you would be a great rat momma and 4 years is an incredibly long life for a rat!

Here is the simple solution (as I am actually in the same situation); Get 2 rats. Rats should always have a same sex buddy anyway, and this is the perfect opportunity to show you why. When you can't be there 24/7, they will have eachother for company during those days and at night when most people can't be with their rats anyway. They also keep eachother warm and it can help their immune system as having a friend lowers the chances of depression.

Good luck!