What You Need to Know about What You Want

I am a huge fan of down-sizing and 'living smaller'. In fact, I have drawn up a concept house design that I hope to build one day and create a whole neighborhood for those that choose to live smaller. Bring back the day when neighbors were known and life was shared, a simpler time when walking down the sidewalk was a sensory experience because you could smell dinner cooking in your neighbor's house. Quaint little houses that hug their occupants in cozy comfort rather than multiple rooms laying empty and life-less most of the time. That's the idea behind my concept houses for those ready to embrace living smaller, adults - whose children are grown and gone - living in an old fashioned neighborhood in independent and private space of their own.

My Honey and I have 1321 square feet in our home, not large by most standards but it is larger than we really need for the two of us. Notice I used the word 'need' as opposed to 'want'. Maybe you want a larger house, that's your prerogative. My goal is to continue to down-size until we find the perfect space for us.

However, for me, living a simple and smaller life means smaller square footage, not less quality of life. It also means smaller volume of possessions to have to house, so less square footage is required. Less footage means less space to heat and cool. Less floor space to mop, less products required to keep clean. Less stress and money to maintain. When the excess and extraneous is gone there is need only to house the important and cherished. I like the way that sounds! My concept houses are designed for that lifestyle. 

I research and read about people already living this lifestyle to learn what they do, what works or doesn't work for them, what they would change to make things better. Almost every one of them report a better quality of life when there is less quantity of stuff and space to maintain. Their discover more free time to devote to friends and family, more energy for the things they want to do rather than every spare moment used to 'keep house and yard work ' caught up. The common element each and every one has mentioned is taking these steps after coming to terms with 'need' over 'want'. A change in their way of thinking and prioritizing brought them all to the same conclusion.....living smaller really allows them to experience 'life' in their lives. I like the way that sounds, too!

So, Friends, I will keep you posted on the things we discover and change to bring more quality of life to our home on Hacienda Hill.