General Discussion

ladyVet

(1,587 posts)

81. I've mostly lived in small houses/apartments.

Mon Dec 14, 2015, 07:25 PM

Dec 2015

Not "tiny", as in the tiny house movement, but small. Grew up in houses too small for our family of eight, and have lived in whatever I could get later, with a husband and two kids, and later no husband but three kids. And we all have stuff.

Currently, I'm in a single wide trailer, four bedrooms, two baths, combined kitchen/living room. About 1000 square feet. We've been renovating as we can (opening up the two main rooms), but there still isn't enough room for four adults and two dogs. We have a house guest at the moment, so that makes it a little harder.

At least it's paid for.

I don't want a huge house, but I'd like to have another 500 square feet. I have my hobbies, and I like some solitude, so it would be nice to have more room to put my stuff in, where I could be on the computer or watch TV without someone walking behind me all day. And a separate laundry room. Gods, I would love that.

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Anyone on DU live in a 'tiny house' . . . [View all] fleur-de-lisa Dec 2015 OP

<tin foil hat> I still think KatyMan Dec 2015 #1

I have wondered about that too! fleur-de-lisa Dec 2015 #4

It's certainly about diminishing expectations Warpy Dec 2015 #33

I'm quite pro-tiny house for environmental reasons laundry_queen Dec 2015 #37

I have a good wife, 2 young kids and employ ten people in my law practice. AngryAmish Dec 2015 #55

I have big trouble with the idea that people who seek to make everyone else be migrant wokers Bluenorthwest Dec 2015 #71

Mine is 2300 square foot in the Florida home yeoman6987 Dec 2015 #76

Yesterday I saw them advertised as "Granny Pods" on FB. CrispyQ Dec 2015 #82

My house is 750 Sq ft. I could live in less easily. leftyladyfrommo Dec 2015 #2

I love the tiny homes too! fleur-de-lisa Dec 2015 #6

Mine is 850, plenty big for one. Basic LA Dec 2015 #46

Does 3 adults and one spoiled kitty in a <1000 sq ft count? TexasProgresive Dec 2015 #3

Two adults and 4 medium to large size dogs in under 950 sq. ft. here. hobbit709 Dec 2015 #7

I would say that qualifies! fleur-de-lisa Dec 2015 #8

That's pretty good laundry_queen Dec 2015 #38

I feel your pain. fleur-de-lisa Dec 2015 #42

Dear God, that is the funniest thing I've read in ages Trailrider1951 Dec 2015 #60

My books take up more space than those teeny houses. hobbit709 Dec 2015 #5

Yeah for you and your books! fleur-de-lisa Dec 2015 #9

Yeah, we have thousands of books too. We could open a library. hunter Dec 2015 #61

I never have any trouble renting our 484 sq. ft studio garage apartment mnhtnbb Dec 2015 #10

Your apartment sounds lovely! fleur-de-lisa Dec 2015 #13

I suspect the next generation will be forced to live in smaller space. mnhtnbb Dec 2015 #15

I've probably driven by your house! ladyVet Dec 2015 #80

I've had three people in the neighborhood ask me recently--when out walking my dog-- mnhtnbb Dec 2015 #84

In about 6 years I will be retiring onto a sailboat FLPanhandle Dec 2015 #11

Jealous! fleur-de-lisa Dec 2015 #14

Are you going to sail? The Caribbean? Or just keep it in a marina? mnhtnbb Dec 2015 #16

The first destination is the Bahamas then go from there. FLPanhandle Dec 2015 #17

Wow! Kaleva Dec 2015 #44

Years ago, I worked on a boat one summer - closeupready Dec 2015 #73

Many people do live in boats here in the US FLPanhandle Dec 2015 #83

Not since I moved out of the dorm in 1964. MineralMan Dec 2015 #12

I don't, though I would prefer there were more "small" houses. kentauros Dec 2015 #18

Agree 100% about the code issue. fleur-de-lisa Dec 2015 #29

And suburban American, as well as urban neighborhoods, kentauros Dec 2015 #39

I do. herding cats Dec 2015 #19

From what I have seen and read about them fleur-de-lisa Dec 2015 #41

Years ago I was honored to be invited to visit the home of jwirr Dec 2015 #20

Years ago I started looking into one as a way to retire w/out Pakhet Dec 2015 #30

I don't know if I could handle the ladder to a loft fleur-de-lisa Dec 2015 #52

I ended up homeless and started moving in with family that jwirr Dec 2015 #66

They make good TV fodder greytdemocrat Dec 2015 #21

I too tend to think it's just a fad. fleur-de-lisa Dec 2015 #47

i think so too shanti Dec 2015 #50

I'm thinking in a few years of building one in the backyard tammywammy Dec 2015 #22

Too many hobbies and a love of tools dumbcat Dec 2015 #23

I think it would be easier to consider if I was a foot shorter Bonx Dec 2015 #24

I lived in this for 4 years... EX500rider Dec 2015 #25

My girlfriend inherited some land on Catalina Island Sen. Walter Sobchak Dec 2015 #26

cool! would be stunning on Catalina Liberal_in_LA Dec 2015 #36

That's worth inheriting, I love Catalina particularly the little visitied interior. Bluenorthwest Dec 2015 #72

We will have to see what transpires Sen. Walter Sobchak Dec 2015 #88

I have 600sq ft and can't imagine anything bigger now. LiberalArkie Dec 2015 #27

They look very attractive to me because there is so little to clean Warpy Dec 2015 #28

I have about 900 square feet SheilaT Dec 2015 #31

I don't know how people in those things make room for pets or hobbies. LeftyMom Dec 2015 #32

I went on a tour of an eco-village wickerwoman Dec 2015 #54

Yes, tool lending libraries and shared shop spaces are great. I wish my community had one. LeftyMom Dec 2015 #65

I rented a tiny bungalow type place for two years..maybe 300 _ 400 sqr feet Liberal_in_LA Dec 2015 #34

What I don't like about the tiny houses I've seen on TV PADemD Dec 2015 #35

Stability shouldn't be too big a concern if built well. Liberal Veteran Dec 2015 #57

and most of those tiny houses KT2000 Dec 2015 #62

Yes, it's called an apartment. ;) Starry Messenger Dec 2015 #40

Frugal living and tiny may not go well together. Kaleva Dec 2015 #43

I live in a "too large" house, but any we might want to downsize to shraby Dec 2015 #45

I hope it becomes a trend. Liberal Veteran Dec 2015 #48

Agree 100%. fleur-de-lisa Dec 2015 #49

SO loves the idea... me not so much. HereSince1628 Dec 2015 #58

I have experience with tiny apartments. wickerwoman Dec 2015 #51

If they were in desirable locations where you can walk to things, would love one. Hoyt Dec 2015 #53

lived in a 35ft 5thwheel for 12 yrs...does that count? VanillaRhapsody Dec 2015 #56

Just downsized from 2,500 to 950sq/ft. safeinOhio Dec 2015 #59

I did a big chunk of my life easttexaslefty Dec 2015 #63

I'm in 1100 sq ft now madville Dec 2015 #64

I think those showcases of 'tiny homes' are fantasy Matariki Dec 2015 #67

When I was single and had no kids, I lived in a little 1920's style bungalow. Sheldon Cooper Dec 2015 #68

For the past three years, I've lived in a 34 ft Class A motorhome with three slides, by choice. SammyWinstonJack Dec 2015 #69

lived for a couple years in a converted 1 car garage...it was big enuf dembotoz Dec 2015 #70

No. Screw 'tiny houses'. Do I have to shop at Dollar Stores too? elias49 Dec 2015 #74

Alrighty then! fleur-de-lisa Dec 2015 #75

1300 square feet, but snacker Dec 2015 #77

We just moved Runningdawg Dec 2015 #78

I went to high school with Jay mattvermont Dec 2015 #79

I've mostly lived in small houses/apartments. ladyVet Dec 2015 #81

Early 1960s 1939 Dec 2015 #85

where will our servants sleep ? olddots Dec 2015 #86

Not now, Blue_In_AK Dec 2015 #87

I know someone who's building one Rocknrule Dec 2015 #89