Unusual Living Arrangements?

[Breathless]

I have solid plans to build a tiny house this summer. I have chosen a barn style structure, with french doors rather than a barn door. 16*20 ft with a loft master bed room. I plan to be as much off grid as possible, but completely off utilites.
In the past, I have owned large homes, at one point a 6 bedroom 3 bathroom bunglow home, with 2.5 car garage, next was a 1800 sq ft 4 bedroom house with 3 bathrooms.. now my 2 kids are grown, and out of home and I just cant justify the wasted money and space anymore.
There are a few things that I found in common with each of these homes, huge bills to heat, huge electric bills as every light in the house seemed to be left on, way too much time spent cleaning floors walls baseboards toilets windows... and I would live in the haven of my bedroom aka office aka games room with attached bath.. I was always working insane hours to pay for this life yet i was house poor and unable to free up funds to do the things that make me happy, like travelling the world visiting with all you fine folk, doing things that matter most to me in 3rd world countries.

So .. change is necessary, and I am going to have the most epic little house with little bills.. doing more of what I love to do!

[homoe]

Originally Posted by Breathless

I have solid plans to build a tiny house this summer. I have chosen a barn style structure, with french doors rather than a barn door. 16*20 ft with a loft master bed room. I plan to be as much off grid as possible, but completely off utilites.
In the past, I have owned large homes, at one point a 6 bedroom 3 bathroom bunglow home, with 2.5 car garage, next was a 1800 sq ft 4 bedroom house with 3 bathrooms.. now my 2 kids are grown, and out of home and I just cant justify the wasted money and space anymore.
There are a few things that I found in common with each of these homes, huge bills to heat, huge electric bills as every light in the house seemed to be left on, way to much time spent cleaning floors walls baseboards toilets windows... and I would live in the haven of my bedroom aka office aka games room with attached bath.. I was always working insane hours to pay for this life yet i was house poor and unable to free up funds to do the things that make me happy, like travelling the world visiting with all you fine folk, doing things that matter most to me in 3rd world countries.

Good for YOU! Owning a big house drains not only ones purse string but also one's free time IMHO at least

[bright_arrow]

Originally Posted by Breathless

I have solid plans to build a tiny house this summer. I have chosen a barn style structure, with french doors rather than a barn door. 16*20 ft with a loft master bed room. I plan to be as much off grid as possible, but completely off utilites.
In the past, I have owned large homes, at one point a 6 bedroom 3 bathroom bunglow home, with 2.5 car garage, next was a 1800 sq ft 4 bedroom house with 3 bathrooms.. now my 2 kids are grown, and out of home and I just cant justify the wasted money and space anymore.
There are a few things that I found in common with each of these homes, huge bills to heat, huge electric bills as every light in the house seemed to be left on, way too much time spent cleaning floors walls baseboards toilets windows... and I would live in the haven of my bedroom aka office aka games room with attached bath.. I was always working insane hours to pay for this life yet i was house poor and unable to free up funds to do the things that make me happy, like travelling the world visiting with all you fine folk, doing things that matter most to me in 3rd world countries.

So .. change is necessary, and I am going to have the most epic little house with little bills.. doing more of what I love to do!

I am all for minimal time cleaning/more money spent on more enjoyable experiences. I'm happy for you!!

[laruss]

My partner and I lived together for 2 years and then we decided it would be better for our relationship to live apart. We've been doing that for almost 3 years now. I couldn't imagine living with anyone ever again.

[*Anya*]

I overlooked this thread somehow and just found your tiny house post today!

For the first time yesterday, I recorded a bunch of Tiny -House Luxury shows from HGTV. I was really impressed with everything that they could do.

I previously had a house that was 2500 square feet with my long term ex, sold that, moved to a small house that was 950 sq ft and now I am in a 750 sq foot furnished apartment.

I got rid of so much stuff when I sold my 950 sq footer. I was looking around yesterday, thinking, ""I don't have much left but there is more I can get rid of".

It was painful when I sold my house to pare down to the minimal but other than photo albums that I gave to my youngest, I really can't say that there is anything that I miss anymore.

I think that I could live in a tiny house. It would need to be one level though, the knees are not what they used to be.

It is the land that would be the issue. I do love California but land is pricey.

I would have to figure that one out.

I love that you are going to have your epic tiny house.

It sounds wonderful!

Originally Posted by Breathless

I have solid plans to build a tiny house this summer. I have chosen a barn style structure, with french doors rather than a barn door. 16*20 ft with a loft master bed room. I plan to be as much off grid as possible, but completely off utilites.
In the past, I have owned large homes, at one point a 6 bedroom 3 bathroom bunglow home, with 2.5 car garage, next was a 1800 sq ft 4 bedroom house with 3 bathrooms.. now my 2 kids are grown, and out of home and I just cant justify the wasted money and space anymore.
There are a few things that I found in common with each of these homes, huge bills to heat, huge electric bills as every light in the house seemed to be left on, way too much time spent cleaning floors walls baseboards toilets windows... and I would live in the haven of my bedroom aka office aka games room with attached bath.. I was always working insane hours to pay for this life yet i was house poor and unable to free up funds to do the things that make me happy, like travelling the world visiting with all you fine folk, doing things that matter most to me in 3rd world countries.

So .. change is necessary, and I am going to have the most epic little house with little bills.. doing more of what I love to do!

[Breathless]

For the winter months this year, I rented a little cottage out on the lake. Beautiful lake, tourist town, but in the winter, it is only the locals with a real comfy feel. The cottage was a little 2 bedroom, wood throughout, little bit rustic, very small but cosy. The back deck was larger than the living space inside. I purged so much moving in to this space! I have been a pack rat most of my life, a result of being homeless in my early teens, so I held on to everything after having nothing. This past weekend, I moved out of the cottage and am trying out the comforts of a motorhome (kind of feels like Glam Camping, all the luxury's but little bills) for the summer months while getting ready to build, and oh wow, more purging. Today I was looking through some of the things that I 'had to have' and Im now just a few days later say.. 'and why do I have to have that?' It really is getting easier to let go of stuff.

Anya, I have heard of some really neat places in Oregon, tiny home communities, and I am sure that there has to be some in California.. (I wouldn't want to leave there if that was my home either) I will let you know if I come across any in my search. Honestly, in so many ways this feels epic and exciting, I dont know why I waited so long.