Tiny House Fever

Just when you think not much surprises you anymore, something happens that reminds you surprises are always around the corner and that you can still, at the age of 60, feel like a schoolgirl with the thrill of a new adventure. And just when you think you no longer have fantasies that could possibly become reality, one that you used to dream about surfaces with imminent possibility and you’re reminded that everyone has dreams -- even you -- and that, once in a blue moon, they do come true.

Tiny-house living is all the rage! In case that saying is foreign to you or you’re too young to be familiar with it, "all the rage" means extremely popular. So it is with tiny-house living. Being in the business of buying and improving houses for resale, this tiny-house phenomenon has recently been on my radar and has had me quite intrigued. Could a couple of individuals peacefully co-exist in a mere 200-300 square feet? Unlike staying in a hotel, these brave souls are doing this as a permanent way to live. There are many reasons for choosing this way of life…living in something you own, free and clear…saving on housing costs to have more money for other things…a desire to have a smaller footprint on the planet. The reasons are many and varied. But I believe the main reason for most of these daredevils is the desire to pare down, to live with less, to be less-encumbered with things and more engaged in life. This is not an unfamiliar subject in my recent posts. Could it be that this upcoming generation is less impressed with moving ahead in the “things-acquired” category and more impressed with making life more meaningful? I think they  find tiny-house living a way of focusing on experiences and things other than -- well, things. They are not concerned with keeping up with the Joneses (another old saying) or moving up the "house ladder" from a beginner's home to their forever "mcmansion." I am tending more and more to agree with them and love the episodes on HGTV of people making their tiny-house dreams come true.

For several years now, the hubby and I have enjoyed hiking at state parks in Georgia and are fortunate to have one very close to where we've lived. More than once, we’ve walked past the campers and dreamed about what living in a camper full-time could be like. We’d be forced to live with less, be forced to practice our politeness skills instead of going to opposite ends of the house when we've had words, forced to share more things (like the bathroom!) but, on the fun side, free to be in the great outdoors where we love taking in the many pleasures of nature. But, alas, we have continued with the status quo where we do the same old things everyone else does. But recently as we’ve calculated the times we’ve moved into houses to fix them up and re-sell them (about six times in seven or eight years, including apartments), we have discussed the fact that we are tired – TIRED! – of moving so often.

May I introduce you to my new home?!!! Yes, it's true. We are becoming full-time campers while we purchase our next house and prepare it for resale! It has absolutely everything two people need to co-habitate (is that a word?): a comfy queen bed, a complete and well-appointed (mini) kitchen with a stove top, oven, fridge, and microwave. It has ample storage and cabinet space; a working toilet and shower; a comfy sofa, flat-screen TV, and table to seat four. We are beyond excited to announce that we are denouncing the status quo! I'm sure it will not be forever, but it's our present forever!  And the best part? The park is our neighborhood! Out the front door and into the wilderness in less than five minutes...oh, yeah.

This is happening, baby!

​This is one of those times where you see how things come together producing a situation that becomes no less than what was obviously meant to be. A few days ago we pulled in to the apartments where we had reluctantly decided to make a down-payment on a short-term lease, only to find out they had given the apartment to someone just seconds before we had gotten there. Just seconds I'm telling you, and it was their last available one! And it's no easy feat finding an apartment where they offer a short-term lease. But through other circumstances as well, we now find ourselves first-time travel-trailer owners and that travel trailer is now our home...our hub for work, house-hunting, and recreational activity and fitness (the many hiking trails) -- our home sweet home.  Would you like a tour?  Thought you'd never ask!     

My adorable little kitchen

Showering is an elbow-bumping event!

Living/dining

Dishwashing central

And you know there had to be a comfy bed or it would've been a deal-breaker for me! This gal needs her sleep...

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So how's it going after our first two nights here? There are positives and negatives. For one, you feel like you're on a boat at times because, being a non-permanent structure, there is movement when you walk around -- not too bad but movement nonetheless. You have to keep things really tidy or the place gets trashed in like 20 seconds. You realize that you not only have to love your mate to live like this, but like him as well! The biggest plus? You realize that you really can live with less...fewer dishes, fewer novelties, fewer products, and fewer feet of personal space (ask me how that's going in a month!).

And you very quickly notice that alone time for yourself is now a bit scarce. I told the hubs before we moved in to not be offended if I find myself needing space and send him out for awhile.  He said he understood.

So when that happens (and it already has!), he just goes out in the yard...and we have  a really, REALLY big yard!

​We are not big-business investors, we are just normal everyday people following our dreams. We are ordinary, less than perfect human beings, desiring to make the most of our resources and live out our passions.

​So follow us on our adventure..it's gonna be fun (I hope!).