Living Small
I know that this has become a trendy topic since the economy flushed itself, but I've always been fascinated with the "Living Small" movement. The Devil Queen is the largest home I've ever lived in with its 1850 square feet. You know what? Even with a family of three, it was more than I ever needed or could use.
I saw this little story on CNN today:
"João Pessoa, Brazil
I have lived in a 25-foot sailboat, a 28-foot motor home, a 32-foot sailboat, and now an 800 sq ft apartment. I was happiest with the 25-foot sailboat.
When you have a lot of "stuff" it owns you. You have to care for it, worry about it being lost, stolen, or destroyed, insure it, and maintain it.
When I had very little, I was free to do as I pleased every day. I had a car and could take off to visit friends and relatives whenever I wanted. Being on a boat, if I wanted to sail away for a day or a month, there was nothing to stop me. "
And then there are the folks at Tiny Tumbleweed Houses. Here is another CNN story featuring them. While I'm all for smaller, I think I'd like more than 100 square feet even it was just me living there. Personally, I like the Enesti with it's 681 to 774 square feet depending on the version. Too bad they don't have a version with higher ceilings. I love the Devil Queen's 12 foot ceilings, and while I'd like less floor space, I'd miss those airy heights.
So, has the whole home improvement experience gotten anyone else day dreaming about living in a shoe box?
I saw this little story on CNN today:
"João Pessoa, Brazil
I have lived in a 25-foot sailboat, a 28-foot motor home, a 32-foot sailboat, and now an 800 sq ft apartment. I was happiest with the 25-foot sailboat.
When you have a lot of "stuff" it owns you. You have to care for it, worry about it being lost, stolen, or destroyed, insure it, and maintain it.
When I had very little, I was free to do as I pleased every day. I had a car and could take off to visit friends and relatives whenever I wanted. Being on a boat, if I wanted to sail away for a day or a month, there was nothing to stop me. "
And then there are the folks at Tiny Tumbleweed Houses. Here is another CNN story featuring them. While I'm all for smaller, I think I'd like more than 100 square feet even it was just me living there. Personally, I like the Enesti with it's 681 to 774 square feet depending on the version. Too bad they don't have a version with higher ceilings. I love the Devil Queen's 12 foot ceilings, and while I'd like less floor space, I'd miss those airy heights.
So, has the whole home improvement experience gotten anyone else day dreaming about living in a shoe box?
Labels: Decrapification, Deep Thoughts
posted by John | 9:34 PM
4 Comments:
I can't say that I've ever wanted to live in a super-tiny space, but living in my old house (~1200 sq ft) has helped me to gain a little perspective on the American obsession with "stuff". In my house, there simply isn't a lot of extra room for nonessentials. Closets are teeny and the bedrooms are small. Our living room smaller than the kitchens in most new construction. Our bathroom has less square footage than a modern closet. But, this house helps me to keep my priorities straight. We can't accumulate a lot of junk because there simply isn't room. New homes seem to breed isolation; there's a separate space for every person or activity. In our house, any activity besides sleeping has to be done in the living room or dining room. It promotes togetherness whether we want it or not!
Our first house was about that size. It did limit the overflow and was much easier to keep up. Definately miss it now.
Di's comments are really well-written. I have tiny little closets in my house, too, and a serious lack of storage space. It does make me re-think what I "need" versus "want", and I've gotten rid of a bunch of junk I tought I needed since moving in here. From a financial standpoint, with winter coming, I wish I lived in one of those teeny little houses pictured in your post. I think I could afford to heat that.
After 7 years hard time using the laundromat and my clothes picking up strange scents and finding a-b-c chewing gum sticking to my favorite blouse from the dryer, I DEMAND my very own laundry facilities. My 980 sqft 3-bedroom house did provide that!
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