Exogeny Network ™

Downsizing

&

Living Small

Beginning on August 1st, 2010, Gia & Greg embarked on an experiment of living small in a travel trailer.  Poor design and inefficent construction aside, the travel trailer experiment was "walking the walk" as they explore the thrills and chills of living small.  Their goals? To find out what would work for them and what wouldn't, and to explore the reality of living in tight quarters with their two dogs and two cats.  Will they survive?  How will it go?  You can read Gia's blog here and hear about their daily trials and tribulations, as well as their thoughts about living small.

The bottom line, after seven months, is that it isn't easy.  If there are relationship problems, they WILL raise their ugly heads.  Maybe sticking couples in a travel trailer for six  months before marriage would radically reduce the divorce rate in the USA--you would know if there was a problem long before the wedding occurred!  (On a happy note, Gia and Greg's relationship is just fine!)

The biggest issue is space, of course.  Or rather it's the lack of it.  Storage space for everything from tools to gizmos and gadgets.  Clothing.  Boots (try to figure out a way to store size 14 shoes!)  Work space for computer work.  Where will Gia sew?  How can she whip up a gourmet meal to photograph it?  What works and what does not work?  Where is anything?  It takes ten minutes for chaos to completely take over, as once things are out of place, there is no longer any kind of order or possibility of finding anything.

The McMansion

This is what the bloated, oversized "spacious" home commonly constructed in vast tracts of America really is. 

Oversized.

Overpriced.

Over rated

Expensive to heat & cool.

Expensive to pay taxes on.

Expensive to construct.

Constructed of cheap materials.

Shoddy workmanship.

Looks great.

Continual maintenance needs.

Lasts almost long enough to pay off.

30 year mortgage.

30 years of working...to pay for the roof over your head that is now beginning to fall down on your head.

Who wants this?

Mansions may be impressive, but...do you want to pay for it?

Have you looked for resources for small houses?  Done any research about how you can reduce your carbon footprint?  How about your personal overhead for home ownership?  Cutting costs and maintaining the highest quality is a goal everyone can strive towards.

There are the obvious solutions advocated by numerous governmental agencies and utility companies, but what else can you do?

Solar power

Wind Power

Insulation

Insulated windows

Air lock entries

Trees for shade and wind breaks

Passive solar heating

Home gardening

Home food preservation

Energy efficient appliances

Energy wise landscaping

Recycling

The efficient, small home

Well designed

Efficient construction

Individualized in design

Efficient space usage

Components constructed in a factory setting for cost effective and precise engineering

Modular in design to allow for customizing

Minimal resource use

Lower taxes due to smaller size

Better materials used in smaller quantities

Precise workmanship

Pride of ownership

Minimal maintenance needs.

Long lasting, weather resistant designs

Attractive exteriors with modern appearance.

15-20  year mortgages

15-20 years of payments and a lifetime of ownership

Products designed for living small