Tonight I was sitting on the couch, leaning back against the driver’s seat while Ali stood at the sink doing dishes, Ouest laid on the floor in the hallway playing, and Lowe scampered down off of his bed yelling, “Pee!” as he scrambled for the bathroom door. This simple scene played out in about a hundred square feet of space, and it struck me then that I have zero desire for any more. Ali is happy too, though I think if I could build a wall around the kitchen with a door that locked from the inside, she would be even more so. (Save me the comments about how I should get my butt in the kitchen—Ali won’t allow that to happen, and I’m not pushing it.)
I don’t often talk about our tiny living space, because honestly I almost never think about it. We’ve been featured quite a number of times through the years on websites like Tiny House Blog, Tiny House Swoon, Tiny House Listings, and basically any combination of three words that include Tiny House, and yet I don’t think we’ve ever considered ourselves tiny home livers. I don’t know if this tiny home mentality simply formed gradually over time, if it was inside of us all along and was part of the reason we chose this lifestyle in the first place, or if it was subconsciously an outright rejection of our own upbringing. When we visit family we enjoy sprawling out in big spaces, but nine times out of ten you’ll find all four of us in one room. Hell, even on the beach we end up all piled up one one small blanket.
I don’t really have any point I’m trying to make here other than that I was sitting there taking in the scene before me tonight and I was happy inside. It’s a feeling I might not have had if we were scattered about a big house. So I guess the tiny house moniker fits us pretty well after all.
I finally decided to just come right out and ask people if I could take their picture.
23 Comments on “Tiny”
Such an odd feeling, about taking pictures of strangers. I’m the same way, I’d love to but don’t feel comfortable asking. Without a camera I have almost no issues walking up and talking with a stranger. Something I’m going to work on….maybe.
Happy Birthday Pat. I see you got cupcakes too!
Oops ! Not cupcakes. A cake.
I know people who replicate their parents in the way they live and others do the complete opposite. I had the best parents and a wonderful upbringing, but my parents were both pack rats. I never remember having a problem with it and actually liked all the knick-knacks my mom collected. But somewhere along the way, I realized I am a minimalist. I don’t collect anything and I try and keep it to only the essentials. My family jokes that if they sit around too long, I am likely to donate them, sell them, or throw them out! I don’t think it was a conscience decision. I’ll be curious to see how much I’ve scarred my kids. They’ll probably end up like my parents!
Tiny is all about location. In a nice climate you have an indoor/outdoor living aesthetic that makes a small space fun. A famliy of four in 100 square foot condo in a Minnesota winter would be a different experience. Yet another reason not to live in the north in the winter.
Especially when the little ones are not quite so little. Can you imagine two moody teenagers living with you on a boat or in a bus? Oh lordy.
Tiny Houses is the “new” thing. HGTV even has a series on it. Some as small as 183 sq ft.
Cozy….that’s what it is. Happy New Years to you all. Look forward to reading more of your adventures. Fran
Don’t kid yourselves! Your space is HUGE compared to boats! I remember visiting a timeshare in PV (free food) and stretching my arms out and remarking “I can’t touch the walls!!” Eveerything is relative! 🙂
You must be joking. Maybe compared to a 27′ boat, but our 43′ Spindrift was a mansion compared to this 27′ bus. Thirteen foot beam compared to eight, and 16′ shorter. Not to mention the massive amounts of storage space in a boat. On the boat all of our water tanks, engines, water heaters, electrical, etc.. was under the floor, not on top of it. I would say we have maybe half the living space we did on the boat—probably less.
BTW, Happy Birthday, Pat!! 39 again?? 🙂
Nah, 41. I’m into the boring birthday years. I figure from 41 to 48, who cares? 49 you start to worry about 50. And after that? Oh, boy.
It only gets better… unless it gets worse of course… 😉
BTW, you left the Nachos a nice, sincere note on their end-of-the-road post.
The world needs more good people like them around.
Hey Pat,
What camera kit are you using these days? Pics look great. You’re becoming a hell of a photographer.
-J
Canon 6D with the 24-105mm lens. We also have a Canon 15mm fisheye and a Canon 50mm. But the walking around lens is the zoom. And thanks for the compliment. (And hey, Ali shoots a lot of the pics too.)
I’m glad you asked to take her picture… mujer Magnífico! Ella es hermosa!
Living in a big house is overrated. We are in a house for the next year and it is way too big. People think it is great that we have such a big house since we have a big family ,but nobody really enjoys it. And b=nobody will rent a small house/cottage because they say we won’t fit. All of the kids have expressed that they wished they were back on the boat. Even the 14 year old teenager. She enjoys her tiny cabin. All of us are excited to get back to tiny house living. (except for the full size fridge. That is true luxury)
We went from a 3000 sq ft house to about 400 sq ft trailer….What an adjustment!!!! It all works out….getting rid of ‘the stuff’ lol!!!
Pat – At some point along the way I always say ” Don’t count the candles, just eat the cake!” Happy Birthday.
people often remark how small it must feel on our boat. and we have a huge boat compared to most liveabaords and cruisers and of course RV’ers. I always say, it may be small for a house but it’s a big boat and more than enough space for all of us because as you guys well know most of our living is done outside. Fabulous photo of the vendor on the beach!
A lot of so-called Tiny Houses are nowhere near tiny, are they.
I guess wintering in warm climates makes tiny living much easier.
We just sold our house and have downsized to a small condo while we get the boat ready to move on by the end of the year. I don’t miss the house and I’m looking forward to downsizing even more. Most of the space wasn’t used anyway .. and just more to clean! Happy Belated Birthday Pat!