The Tiny Houses got me…
C.E. Grundler
Yep. I’ll admit it. I completely forgot what day of the week it was, and somewhere within some random bit of research I was doing, (for the life of me I can’t even recall where this particular detour began,) I stumbled across a Tiny House.
For anyone not familiar with a Tiny House, it is precisely what it sounds like. A house that is very tiny. In some cases, EXTREMELY tiny. Yet, in the land of super-sizing, barge-sized SUVs and McMansions aplenty, these itty bitty houses are part of a small but growing movement towards a more modest, affordable and sustainable approach to living. Viewed through the eyes of your average suburban dweller, these micro-houses might seem like some sort of joke. No one could ever happily, willingly, live in such a small space. But viewed through the eyes of anyone who has called a boat under 40 feet home, they’re downright spacious, not to mention charming and well thought out. Some of these homes are built on trailer bases, which essentially makes them mobile homes, allowing their owners to relocate easily or travel while steering clear of zoning issues. One site points out that “** Many municipalities allow you to put a structure of 120 square feet or smaller on your property without permitting or inspections. See your local building codes and zoning restrictions for any use or setback restrictions.”
Land-dwelling need not involve an excess of space, with all its care and feeding, not to mention financing, and for someone such as my daughter, starting out, it might be an option to explore. And for those looking to settle back on shore after years of liveaboard life, such as Mike and Mary, these lovely little homes may be quite appealing. And for anyone looking to break free from the higher costs of modern living, it’s something to consider.
Here’s some links to the pages that have sucked me in. Be forewarned: don’t look unless you have some time to spare — they’d delightfully addictive!
http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/
http://www.fourlightshouses.com/pages/tiny-houses
https://www.facebook.com/LittleHouseontheTrailer
https://www.facebook.com/TinyHomeBuilders
http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/collections/customer-slideshows/products/ellas-fencl#ad-image-0
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