Upgrade Yourself
After living in the tiny house for a few weeks, I can confidentially say this move has been a total life upgrade. Coming from a 4000 sq ft house to one that is under 400 sq ft really wasn’t that concerning – I have lived in plenty of small apartments with my husband. I was concerned about how the kids would adjust, how I would find quiet space to work, and if we would truly enjoy the amount of outside time that would be necessary to make this whole situation work.
Turns out, more outside time was just what we needed! The kids have been on a new hike EVERY. DAY. They are coming up close and personal with wildlife, seeing historic homesteading cabins, and most importantly are getting so worn out with the additional activity that they are sleeping soundly thru the night. And you know what? Thanks to all the outside time we (the adults) are getting, we too are sleeping soundly thru the night; full sized bed and all! These past weeks have been the first time in 7 years my husband has stayed in bed past 3am.
Working from home has been easier than it was in the big house. Thanks to our custom made murphy bed/desk, I actually have more desk space than I ever did in the big house. The kids are out hiking early each morning and I have the house to myself – i.e. TOTAL SILENCE. This was rare in the big house mostly because there was no reason the kids needed to leave.
Everything I need to make my work space more comfortable is all within arm’s reach. This means I am spending more physical time being productive, and less time searching the house for items I need.
When I need a break from work, instead of vegging in front of the TV with my husband, I am out taking my own hikes. I come back feeling refreshed and rejuvenated – something I never feel after watching TV.
After the kids head to bed, sitting on the porch with a cup of tea (or a glass of wine!) while listening to the river behind our house and enjoying the warmth from our camp fire feels like such a luxury. That “wind down” time was previously only experienced while on vacation, or camping. Talk about living the good life!
Do I miss the extra space of the big house? Nope! We cut out the areas we rarely used. With less space and fewer chores, we are filling our time with more engaging family activities, more time in nature, and honestly, more time just enjoying the moment.
So go ahead, upgrade yourself to a better quality of life.