I haven't posted in awhile..a lot going on in my life at the moment.. hopefully it will settle down...for a while anyway.. I am still on the hunt for a trailer frame for my Tiny little piece of Tinytopia....At 55 years and ticking... I still desire a home.. a place to call my own.. presently I live with my son, and I am very grateful that I have a place to live. However, I need my own home. But with no job, only unemployment my options are few. Do I rent a place and spend the rest of my life working to just pay for rent & living expenses..or do I build my own place.. its a no brain er for me..build.. However I have had a few bumps in the road..a few curve balls thrown at me..but I've managed to squeak by them.. and here I am..roaring and ready to get on with my project..building my TinyTopia...my little piece of Americana...my home.
I spoken before about when you get my age you realize just what is important . My family is thee most important thing. My sons! My Mother , Sister and my niece and nephew. That is what life is about for me.. them.. So I want to spend how ever many days I have left on this earth..enjoying them. Being as much a part of their lives as I can possibly be. My TinyTopia can afford me to do that. With my family strung out to many states and even Countries...it will make it easier for me to pack up and go spend time with them , if I have my Tiny House and with it being paid for..no strings attached to a land lord. I may not always move the Tiny House to where I am going, but its nice to know that I could.
So now I am in the process of figuring out what my needs are in my TinyTopia. First I need to have a work space. More than anything this is important because I want to make my living at home. I am Still unclear about how I will do this. But mulling through a few ideas..It's also important to me to have a proper cooking area. And room for prep. I love to cook. I enjoy cooking and would be unhappy if I did not have this outlet in my life. I can do with out many possessions..but the ability to still do "things" important to me is necessary. Grant it, I will have to let go of my many kitchen "possessions", which I am find with, but I will still have the ability to cook.
Next come comfort. I see pictures of these Tiny homes with theses tiny wood benches they call a couch. I've seen pictures of the homeowner , leaning back against the wall..trying to look all comfy, but in the pictures its says...this is not comfy! I need comfort..I demand comfort! There I said it ..I can get rid of most of my possessions, but like my cooking,,, I need comfort! So I will devise a sitting area that not only looks comfy but is! How will you do what others haven't , you ask. By designing a sitting area that is lush and full of padded walls,fluffy pillows and reclining backs...look for the pictures...in the future! The last two items are less important than the previous, but still are a must! I need a toilet and shower. Period. It can be small, but efficient. And lastly, my sleeping space. At 55 years old, with a bad knee replacement, I will not be able to climb a ladder to the loft! No way Jose! So I need to design steps, yes I hear you saying , steps? In that small space? Are you kidding? No, I am not kidding. I am dead serious. It has to have steps. Not wide steps, but steps, no ladder. So my plan is to design steps that are functional. Functional? Yes, functional. My steps will have storage on each step. Each will pull out for added storage. And under the steps will be the tiny bathroom. With a pocket door. Now that I have all my wonderful ideas spelled out..its time to make a blueprint.. so I sign off...for awhile.. so I can get busy!!!!!! Wish me luck..Cheers! And Happy New Year!
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Sunday, September 18, 2011
How it all began.
The Tiny House movement has evolved in my life over the past three or so years . Seeing the need for a afforadble way to live, and a flexable way to change the senery if I so had the need., or desire to do so.
Now I don't know about you, but in my case I can't not even afford to buy one house, let alone one here in North Carolina, one in Ohio and one in warmer weather than eaither of those states!
I've lived in an RV before and the thought did cross my mind to purchase another one, But reality set in and I remembered the price tag and it is not an option. Even a used one is out, most parks won't take you in if its more than 10 years old. And its a RV, is not a house, and it really isn't custom to my liking. Cookies cutter RV's are a dime a dozen. And if you want to stay low keyed and park it in your sons back yard...some housing assocciations won't allow it... so whats a girl to do??????????
The Tiny House movement caught my attention...the thought of living "off the gird" if I wanted, and the thought of having mobility at a moments notice, appealed to my senses. Having reached the double nickle age....OK I will just put it in text for all to See..."55"! And while recovering from a Total Knee Replacement....One has a lot of time to ponder lifes questions...One starts to think ahead a bit to retirement, starts to think about what adventure could be lurking around the corner...starts thinking I hate working in a cubicle..with a w**ch for a boss...and I need a change..but how? Yes, I had too much time on my hands to think!
But think I did....I took a look at my life and decided what is important to me and what isn't. Reaching the pivotal 55 this year , losing my father and a dear friend has made me ask myself, what do I want out of life? What do I need out of life? What do I need to change? Is there more to life? Or is this it? What do I want to do in the next "season" of my life?
First I have to say I have learned that "things" are not what life is about. Nor is a job that makes you unhappy. I learned that sometimes, there is no tomorrow. And if you wait on tomorrow to have the life you want.. you may never have it.
I also learned that what kind of car I drive or how big of a house I live in..doesn't make me happy. And it does not define who I am or what I stand for.I learned that you can't judge a person by their possessions, nor should you.
I learned the most important things in my life are GOD, my two sons, my mother, my sister and my niece and nephew and their familes, and my Country! Family that is what I cherish the most. A family that is spread across the world. I have my son Mike who lives here in North Carolina, My son Ryan lives for the moment In Romainia. My mom , sister and niece live in Ohio, My sisters retirement home is in Florida. My nephew and his family live 2 hours away in another part of North Carolina. And I want to be close to them all!
With the Tiny House I can! I can spend time in NC, go up to Ohio, even down to Florida. The money I save on rent...I can fly to Romainia! I can spread myself out across the lands!!! Now this is what I want!
Now to find a job I can do where ever I am! (Actually I want a travel job, I will work on that one!)
Back to the Tiny House Project,
How can you get involved in The Tiny House Project? Well here's how.....
To others who are thinking about the Tiny House Movement..please follow my blog and see how it progress...the in's and out's the high's the low's...and maybe it will empower you to build your own!
Now I don't know about you, but in my case I can't not even afford to buy one house, let alone one here in North Carolina, one in Ohio and one in warmer weather than eaither of those states!
I've lived in an RV before and the thought did cross my mind to purchase another one, But reality set in and I remembered the price tag and it is not an option. Even a used one is out, most parks won't take you in if its more than 10 years old. And its a RV, is not a house, and it really isn't custom to my liking. Cookies cutter RV's are a dime a dozen. And if you want to stay low keyed and park it in your sons back yard...some housing assocciations won't allow it... so whats a girl to do??????????
The Tiny House movement caught my attention...the thought of living "off the gird" if I wanted, and the thought of having mobility at a moments notice, appealed to my senses. Having reached the double nickle age....OK I will just put it in text for all to See..."55"! And while recovering from a Total Knee Replacement....One has a lot of time to ponder lifes questions...One starts to think ahead a bit to retirement, starts to think about what adventure could be lurking around the corner...starts thinking I hate working in a cubicle..with a w**ch for a boss...and I need a change..but how? Yes, I had too much time on my hands to think!
But think I did....I took a look at my life and decided what is important to me and what isn't. Reaching the pivotal 55 this year , losing my father and a dear friend has made me ask myself, what do I want out of life? What do I need out of life? What do I need to change? Is there more to life? Or is this it? What do I want to do in the next "season" of my life?
First I have to say I have learned that "things" are not what life is about. Nor is a job that makes you unhappy. I learned that sometimes, there is no tomorrow. And if you wait on tomorrow to have the life you want.. you may never have it.
I also learned that what kind of car I drive or how big of a house I live in..doesn't make me happy. And it does not define who I am or what I stand for.I learned that you can't judge a person by their possessions, nor should you.
I learned the most important things in my life are GOD, my two sons, my mother, my sister and my niece and nephew and their familes, and my Country! Family that is what I cherish the most. A family that is spread across the world. I have my son Mike who lives here in North Carolina, My son Ryan lives for the moment In Romainia. My mom , sister and niece live in Ohio, My sisters retirement home is in Florida. My nephew and his family live 2 hours away in another part of North Carolina. And I want to be close to them all!
With the Tiny House I can! I can spend time in NC, go up to Ohio, even down to Florida. The money I save on rent...I can fly to Romainia! I can spread myself out across the lands!!! Now this is what I want!
Now to find a job I can do where ever I am! (Actually I want a travel job, I will work on that one!)
Back to the Tiny House Project,
How can you get involved in The Tiny House Project? Well here's how.....
I am contacting local business to inquire about materials that I need to build my "Tiny House". I am at the present asking for any donations you may be able to contribute, Reclaimed items when ever possible. I am interested in the following list:
Old Heavy Duty Utility Trailer 8-12 feet wide and 24-30 feet long. Electrical outlets
Scrap Lumber for both inside and outside use compost toilet
Exterior Siding plywood or OSB
Used dry wall Kitchen cupboards
Counter top (4 foot section) Light fixtures
Electrical wiring Bathroom sink
Windows of all shapes and sizes
Sky lights Glass Panel front door
Ceiling fan Bathroom vent
Kitchen vent Insulation
Used wood for flooring, walls and ceiling
Used wood for bookcases, benches
Shower stall Tin for roof
Shaker singles for part of outside exterior
Spindles for loft area Other items that you may see fit for the project.
If you’re Company would like to participate in this worth while “building of this “Tiny House”, please contact me. I understand that many builders and other’s in the house building Industry have left over supplies that can still be put to great use. Especially in a “Tiny House’ application. Those short boards can now be put to great use! I am dedicated to building this” Tiny House” with all reclaimed products when ever possible. Any product that is truly “Green” is also a plus! And remember any item donated for re-use is kept from the landfill! I am available to pick up any donated items. In addition if your company has any trades men or women who would like to help with giving their time on this worthy project, please pass along my letter. I would love to invite them along!
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