Why go smaller?
I have been meaning to make this post a while now and just haven't. But I figured I needed to justify (even if only to myself) the reasons I want to go smaller. I want to also use this post as a marker in my adventure. With this new year (2011) I want this to be my year of changes and I want to document that. To be able to go back and see what is changed would be great.
I don't see this as going so small. I currently live in a mobile home (trailer) I believe it measures 14x70 feet and has three bedrooms and two baths. This place has a nightmare combination of issues wrong that are slowly pushing me into my desire not only for something smaller, but for something easier to care for.
So I figured I'd answer the questions I have heard so far.
So what is the problem?
Water- always an issue in my current home. When I moved this trailer, and moved in I left in place the original water lines . This was a mistake. Now current money issues make it hard for me to replace and I barely have running water. The showers are totally unusable and a bath is possible in the secondary bathroom if I am willing to wait an hour to fill the tub. That of course is also if the hot water tank is actually working.
Heat- I had numerous furnace issues, and then between HEAP rarely deigning to help me, and lack of funds, half the time I am sitting huddled under a blanket with a tiny electric heater under the blanket with me. Unless of course someone is kind enough to take me in for a few days to give me a break from the constant cold I deal with. The HEAP usually will show up around April.
Roof- a basic assumption is of a roof over one's head. In my case, the roof leaks. Badly. Fixable, but I am only one person and I am not a roofer, nor can I afford one or find one to date.
Kitchen- Or should I say, lack of one. I had a lovely kitchen when we moved in. Circa 1989 but it was a nice kitchen until we discovered the black mold. Now I have cabinets finally, and even some insulation and sheet rock, but few skills to fix it. But it at least is closer to something I can get done than most of the place.
The rest is mainly cosmetic, I'd like to replace all the walls (because of the mold we had) and I need new floors in nearly every room from plywood (at $28 a sheet not in my budget right now) and actual flooring.
Skirting- Ah. Now we come to the crux of this place's issues. A well insulated skirting means that a trailer will function well. It is basic to a trailer's well being. I cannot afford $28 a sheet (current price) and I need probably 20 sheets because the entire trailer needs to be skirting. And to be properly done, I also need sheets of foam insulation and to look nice, something to cover the skirting would be nice.
So why not fix it up and live there?
Well, I sort of plan to. This is my only home at the moment. I do not own the land, but this is a nice trailer and worth fixing. The issues are in my opinion, minor and not a big deal. They are however numerous and tedious. Not to mention tough on the budget of someone who lives on less than $1000 a month. (way less)
My goal is to fix it up then sell. Get at least my 3 grand investment and get out. Not fixed perfect, but at least fix the major issues I mention above. This money can then go towards a purchase of land in a township in the area that has no silly and archaic laws on the size of a house. My current township requires a minimum of 600 square feet which is far too big for my needs even if my son lives with me until he is 45.
You are single. What if you get "involved"?
I seriously was asked this by a well meaning relative who thinks this plan is proof I have lost my mind further.
Ideally, the person who I am involved with will get it. If they don't to live with me, maybe they want their own living pod. I happen to agree that you would have to really love someone to live in such a confined space but I do think it is possible. I will soon have no children at home, but if I wind up with someone with kids, I see it as a chance to raise another generation to appreciate the small things in life.
You have a lot of crap.
Which is another basis for doing this. For years I have been aware that my "stuff" owns me and not the other way around. I for one am tired of it and have been taking steps to remove "stuff" from my life. This is still a work in progress. I admit it. But really, I have made amazing progress.
What is your goal?
This is still in the flexible stage but right now I think I want my house on wheels. I have of course mentioned a piece of land but honestly? That isn't a given. I have plenty of offers from friends who would be fine with me parking in their yard.
So, for 2011, I would like to at least work towards the purchase of my utility trailer. I have not decided on size yet, mainly from not knowing much about these things. 7x18 seems to be the average, so I am looking in that size range. Still going to be around a few grand.
Then it will be reclaimed lumbers, and other supplies. I do plan on spending some money when it comes to things like floors, I keep hearing how smaller houses are more $$ per square foot but I frankly feel that is bunk. This isn't Northern California, it is Northern NY and here we understand Yankee thrift.
Doesn't mean I plan on shorting myself though. I think in a smaller place you need to be just as lavish as a big house and I have no intention of not having things like a washer and a nice fridge. I'm not a barbarian.
Have you lost your fucking mind?
Well, no. I don't think I have actually. If anything, I finally have come to my senses. I don't need 3 bedrooms and 2 baths. I don't need a living room so big that heating it is impossible. Do I think everyone should do this? Of course not. I think I should do this.
So what do you want out of me?
Nothing. Unless you want to help. If you can roof, hang sheet rock or anything like that, I'd be happy to let you feed you a dinner, rub your feet or in walk around behind you with a water bottle.
Otherwise, I'd be thrilled to trade some sewing skills or some books or whatever for materials like plywood.
So that's the majority of why and why nots. You'll see more of course as this journal progresses. Thanks for reading...
Cross posted to Green Goals
I don't see this as going so small. I currently live in a mobile home (trailer) I believe it measures 14x70 feet and has three bedrooms and two baths. This place has a nightmare combination of issues wrong that are slowly pushing me into my desire not only for something smaller, but for something easier to care for.
So I figured I'd answer the questions I have heard so far.
So what is the problem?
Water- always an issue in my current home. When I moved this trailer, and moved in I left in place the original water lines . This was a mistake. Now current money issues make it hard for me to replace and I barely have running water. The showers are totally unusable and a bath is possible in the secondary bathroom if I am willing to wait an hour to fill the tub. That of course is also if the hot water tank is actually working.
Heat- I had numerous furnace issues, and then between HEAP rarely deigning to help me, and lack of funds, half the time I am sitting huddled under a blanket with a tiny electric heater under the blanket with me. Unless of course someone is kind enough to take me in for a few days to give me a break from the constant cold I deal with. The HEAP usually will show up around April.
Roof- a basic assumption is of a roof over one's head. In my case, the roof leaks. Badly. Fixable, but I am only one person and I am not a roofer, nor can I afford one or find one to date.
Kitchen- Or should I say, lack of one. I had a lovely kitchen when we moved in. Circa 1989 but it was a nice kitchen until we discovered the black mold. Now I have cabinets finally, and even some insulation and sheet rock, but few skills to fix it. But it at least is closer to something I can get done than most of the place.
The rest is mainly cosmetic, I'd like to replace all the walls (because of the mold we had) and I need new floors in nearly every room from plywood (at $28 a sheet not in my budget right now) and actual flooring.
Skirting- Ah. Now we come to the crux of this place's issues. A well insulated skirting means that a trailer will function well. It is basic to a trailer's well being. I cannot afford $28 a sheet (current price) and I need probably 20 sheets because the entire trailer needs to be skirting. And to be properly done, I also need sheets of foam insulation and to look nice, something to cover the skirting would be nice.
So why not fix it up and live there?
Well, I sort of plan to. This is my only home at the moment. I do not own the land, but this is a nice trailer and worth fixing. The issues are in my opinion, minor and not a big deal. They are however numerous and tedious. Not to mention tough on the budget of someone who lives on less than $1000 a month. (way less)
My goal is to fix it up then sell. Get at least my 3 grand investment and get out. Not fixed perfect, but at least fix the major issues I mention above. This money can then go towards a purchase of land in a township in the area that has no silly and archaic laws on the size of a house. My current township requires a minimum of 600 square feet which is far too big for my needs even if my son lives with me until he is 45.
You are single. What if you get "involved"?
I seriously was asked this by a well meaning relative who thinks this plan is proof I have lost my mind further.
Ideally, the person who I am involved with will get it. If they don't to live with me, maybe they want their own living pod. I happen to agree that you would have to really love someone to live in such a confined space but I do think it is possible. I will soon have no children at home, but if I wind up with someone with kids, I see it as a chance to raise another generation to appreciate the small things in life.
You have a lot of crap.
Which is another basis for doing this. For years I have been aware that my "stuff" owns me and not the other way around. I for one am tired of it and have been taking steps to remove "stuff" from my life. This is still a work in progress. I admit it. But really, I have made amazing progress.
What is your goal?
This is still in the flexible stage but right now I think I want my house on wheels. I have of course mentioned a piece of land but honestly? That isn't a given. I have plenty of offers from friends who would be fine with me parking in their yard.
So, for 2011, I would like to at least work towards the purchase of my utility trailer. I have not decided on size yet, mainly from not knowing much about these things. 7x18 seems to be the average, so I am looking in that size range. Still going to be around a few grand.
Then it will be reclaimed lumbers, and other supplies. I do plan on spending some money when it comes to things like floors, I keep hearing how smaller houses are more $$ per square foot but I frankly feel that is bunk. This isn't Northern California, it is Northern NY and here we understand Yankee thrift.
Doesn't mean I plan on shorting myself though. I think in a smaller place you need to be just as lavish as a big house and I have no intention of not having things like a washer and a nice fridge. I'm not a barbarian.
Have you lost your fucking mind?
Well, no. I don't think I have actually. If anything, I finally have come to my senses. I don't need 3 bedrooms and 2 baths. I don't need a living room so big that heating it is impossible. Do I think everyone should do this? Of course not. I think I should do this.
So what do you want out of me?
Nothing. Unless you want to help. If you can roof, hang sheet rock or anything like that, I'd be happy to let you feed you a dinner, rub your feet or in walk around behind you with a water bottle.
Otherwise, I'd be thrilled to trade some sewing skills or some books or whatever for materials like plywood.
So that's the majority of why and why nots. You'll see more of course as this journal progresses. Thanks for reading...
Cross posted to Green Goals