General Discussion

IrishAyes

(6,151 posts)

106. Agreed.

Wed Nov 20, 2013, 10:24 PM

Nov 2013

Even though my present house is quite large, and I hope to keep it, what I love most is that it's paid for and the property taxes are low and rebated at my age and income. (Let's see how long that lasts if this state gets any redder.) I can thumb my nose at almost anybody I want to, and I don't have to take a lot of guff from any of them. Sometimes it can be hard to find a workman to do what has to be done around here beyond my capability, because they assume my $ is tainted somehow by my politics. But I manage one way or another, and my relative independence doesn't do much to shut my mouth.

What I have is what a lot of people crave - comparative independence from the Iron Heel. The less you have, the less demands vulture capitalists can make of you because then how much do they really have to threaten you with?

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"TINY HOUSES"....Could this Work for Some? [View all] KoKo Nov 2013 OP

It would work for ALL of us if we'd get off our selfish consumerist asses. NYC_SKP Nov 2013 #1

Not ALL of us (kids) but it certainly would be more efficient use of space for many. Gormy Cuss Nov 2013 #2

We kids bathed together. But then we had hot cold running river water, too, and played with dirt. NYC_SKP Nov 2013 #3

I love my tiny "house" cbayer Nov 2013 #14

Buenas noches! NYC_SKP Nov 2013 #15

It's definitely not for everybody. cbayer Nov 2013 #20

Message auto-removed Name removed Nov 2013 #45

Big houses and big cars have a price paid by everyone. nt NYC_SKP Nov 2013 #46

Message auto-removed Name removed Nov 2013 #53

There is a radical difference between 64 sq. feet and under 1000. pnwmom Nov 2013 #47

Ikea has a lot of stuff for making small spaces work... Blanks Nov 2013 #70

My wife amd I will be empty nesters in 3 years... Earth_First Nov 2013 #61

The elites would LOVE for us to live like sardines. WinkyDink Nov 2013 #97

There won't be any elites. They'll have all been served up for dinner. NYC_SKP Nov 2013 #99

Is that why Blackwater could control the masses post-Katrina? WinkyDink Nov 2013 #125

I like small abodes tazkcmo Nov 2013 #128

I'm a big Tiny House fan. IrishAyes Nov 2013 #4

Have you looked into shipping containers? Blanks Nov 2013 #71

I think I've checked out almost the entire internet by now IrishAyes Nov 2013 #80

The roofs are probably better than trailer houses... Blanks Nov 2013 #89

Thanks! IrishAyes Nov 2013 #91

They'll handle over a hundred tons jmowreader Nov 2013 #105

Thanks. I know if a roof can support a heavy load, snow's a wonderful insulator. IrishAyes Nov 2013 #107

They're not wheelchair-accessible KamaAina Nov 2013 #5

Some are..... DeSwiss Nov 2013 #19

Sweet! KamaAina Nov 2013 #30

Good point. A certain proportion should be required to be accessible (nt) Nye Bevan Nov 2013 #27

living in a shed... yikes. nt dionysus Nov 2013 #6

I can see it. But Seattle has been inundated with "apodments". nolabear Nov 2013 #7

These are Tiny Houses but for individual occupancy. KoKo Nov 2013 #13

I understand Tiny Houses. I've seen them. But the apodments are NOT low income! nolabear Nov 2013 #33

I found an apodment story. 140 square feet, $500 per month and up. nolabear Nov 2013 #38

Pretty crazy, thanks for the link...nt Jesus Malverde Nov 2013 #76

43 units on a 5000sf lot??? lumberjack_jeff Nov 2013 #88

Are they sort of like college dorms then? Dorms with suites and cooking pnwmom Nov 2013 #48

Actually a little nicer than dorms, but hardly bigger. nolabear Nov 2013 #66

I found one Japanese multi-purpose furniture design that could fit into just a very few square feet! IrishAyes Nov 2013 #87

Hopefully zoning requirements and such won't make these impossible Marrah_G Nov 2013 #8

Indeed in most places I think building codes and zoning laws would prevent these types PoliticAverse Nov 2013 #9

It's a sad thing Marrah_G Nov 2013 #37

Yeah, I was thinking that too. laundry_queen Nov 2013 #43

One way poorer people built their houses was one room at a time as they could afford it... PoliticAverse Nov 2013 #55

In the Midwest, the first thing to do was to dig a hole in the ground eridani Nov 2013 #60

common sense solution rarely applied reddread Nov 2013 #64

'A Pattern Language' and... druidity33 Nov 2013 #62

Have to agree 2naSalit Nov 2013 #12

zoning would kill it in most places. you might be able to put them up in trailer parks. JVS Nov 2013 #10

I've always been a fan demigoddess Nov 2013 #11

Yes...with Open Space and plantings to make it attractive and Community Garden...? KoKo Nov 2013 #18

These aren't just for the homeless or disadvantaged IDemo Nov 2013 #16

I would feel very comfortable living in such a place. Kaleva Nov 2013 #34

It's an updated Hooverville. Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2013 #17

When the government values supporting the wealthy on the backs of the working person. jtuck004 Nov 2013 #21

I keep thinking of people I knew who were obsessed with their grand staircase.... Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2013 #24

Or the balconey of their investment firm. n/t jtuck004 Nov 2013 #25

...and even at that they are fought against. Egalitarian Thug Nov 2013 #56

Cobbled together shacks and small jewels are 2 entirely different things. IrishAyes Nov 2013 #92

Imagine coming home to discover someone stole your house. Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2013 #95

Well, I wouldn't be making mine portable. IrishAyes Nov 2013 #96

If the Rich gave a DAMN about PR they would have bought up Detroit to GIVE houses to the poor. Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2013 #101

Quite true. IrishAyes Nov 2013 #102

Every so often I look in at Realtor.com at properties back east.... Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2013 #114

Good grief. IrishAyes Nov 2013 #116

I saw a Victorian in Battle Creek that they couldn't even sell for $7k become an empty lot.... Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2013 #117

Thanks, I saved the picture. IrishAyes Nov 2013 #118

Maybe it goes back to Lady and the Tramp.... Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2013 #120

Indeed. IrishAyes Nov 2013 #121

I've thought it would be cool to wire a solar battery bank to power antique wall sconces with LEDs.. Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2013 #122

Kauai is recycling shipping containers KauaiK Nov 2013 #22

Love Kauai! PasadenaTrudy Nov 2013 #67

Conestoga Hut; Eugene, Oregon Ace Acme Nov 2013 #23

A good plan for a camp! Kaleva Nov 2013 #32

Why not? I've lived in shoebox-sized apartments. Nye Bevan Nov 2013 #26

K & R, very cool dreamnightwind Nov 2013 #28

Sorry, too small. Beacool Nov 2013 #29

i could fill that tiny thing with just my musical equipment. dionysus Nov 2013 #69

Of course, I was just being flippant. Beacool Nov 2013 #72

i thought you just copied the youtube link from the browser? dionysus Nov 2013 #73

When I right click on the video there are three choices. Beacool Nov 2013 #108

Could it be instead that stuff has you? IrishAyes Nov 2013 #81

I was kidding, but I do have plenty of stuff. Beacool Nov 2013 #109

Well, since my income peaked and tanked partly due to one of the businesses I had - IrishAyes Nov 2013 #113

I like this idea. burnsei sensei Nov 2013 #31

I lived in a tiny house for about eight months Blue_In_AK Nov 2013 #35

Looks like they used pallets for the walls. ErikJ Nov 2013 #36

Blown in insulation. IrishAyes Nov 2013 #85

Room enough for a mattress, kitchen, and a TV? Works for me. NuclearDem Nov 2013 #39

I have a guy living in my backyard shed ErikJ Nov 2013 #40

Some people just don't need a lot of junk to be happy Victor_c3 Nov 2013 #79

Hmmmm... SoapBox Nov 2013 #41

my friend is not homeless. DesertFlower Nov 2013 #42

Something like that would be perfectly miserable in Sacramento most of the year, if not dangerous. LeftyMom Nov 2013 #44

What is even more miserable is no shelter at all. Marrah_G Nov 2013 #54

Yes, but that thing would kill people in our heat. LeftyMom Nov 2013 #110

those are lovely lil homes Liberal_in_LA Nov 2013 #49

I think tiny houses are really cute, and I really adore the aesthetics of some designs -- but struggle4progress Nov 2013 #50

So many empty houses in America-- the homeless could be housed without new construction Dems to Win Nov 2013 #51

I've seen plenty of Tiny House designs that included all facilities; at least a shower, often a bath IrishAyes Nov 2013 #84

These make sense if you have absolutely no stuff. SheilaT Nov 2013 #52

They need to build these things out of bluedeathray Nov 2013 #57

cob mopinko Nov 2013 #75

I lived in a single wide trailer Warpy Nov 2013 #58

I live in a single-wide mobile home now. RebelOne Nov 2013 #83

yep a million ways to skin that cat reddread Nov 2013 #59

I've told my father JesterCS Nov 2013 #63

I could definitely do it, but I'd need a yard or shared commons for the dog. tridim Nov 2013 #65

I think it's a good idea that people are thinking about better solutions. ladyVet Nov 2013 #68

I will not rest until the Waltons and Koch's are living in them. TBF Nov 2013 #74

EXACTLY. THANK YOU. Some people aren't grasping that this is what the 1% WANT for us: NO WinkyDink Nov 2013 #98

That's why I rail against "ebooks," downloads in lieu of owning physical media. duffyduff Nov 2013 #112

It's my understanding at least that when you download an ebook, IrishAyes Nov 2013 #124

You are me! OMG, books, books, everywhere, nor any place to read! Haha! I'll read them in my next WinkyDink Nov 2013 #127

Not much in life's more beautiful than a book. IrishAyes Nov 2013 #129

Wait until everything is in a "cloud". WinkyDink Nov 2013 #126

This is NOT an "alternative" and is downright unhealthy. duffyduff Nov 2013 #77

I think there's an element of overcorrection and escape fantasy going on here. lumberjack_jeff Nov 2013 #86

Yea I agree with you lumberjack_jeff Hippo_Tron Nov 2013 #100

So those of us who might PREFER a small home in order to remain independent as we age, IrishAyes Nov 2013 #94

That's not the point - TBF Nov 2013 #104

Agreed. IrishAyes Nov 2013 #106

I can see that point as well TBF Nov 2013 #115

One of the few posts where I agree with virtually everyone Nevernose Nov 2013 #119

Austerity for the masses while the kings have their castles - TBF Nov 2013 #103

+1,000,000 duffyduff Nov 2013 #111

Looks neat but... Locrian Nov 2013 #78

Tiny homes Jesus Malverde Nov 2013 #82

we used to have plenty of public housing questionseverything Nov 2013 #90

My family of four lives in 90 sq ft FreeJoe Nov 2013 #93

Much better than no house. mwrguy Nov 2013 #123