Over this past Christmas holiday my cousin was home from LA visiting our family in the Midwest. Around here, small spaces aren't always a badge of honor since the cost of living is cheap and apartments aren't exactly difficult to come by. But when she returned home and announced that she was living in a closet (literally) and actually loving it — everyone became concerned.
When you live in a heavily populated metropolitan area it's easier to find understanding and acceptance for small space living habits. For those who aren't used to such realities, it can become difficult to talk about your lifestyle with friends and family members who — although may support you — don't enjoy the same style of living.
In the case of my cousin, everyone kept giving her this sympathetic nod and telling her that it's OK, she'll find somewhere bigger soon and some day she'll have her own house — because that's what you do in the Midwest, you grow up and buy a house. Surely she'll find a space larger than a closet (but you can't beat her insanely low rent price), but for now her living situation suits her lifestyle perfectly. It might feel extra cozy at times but she's not complaining. This space allows her to live where she wants at a price she can afford and work in the field of her choice. Her small space isn't a housing stepping stone in her mind, it's a lifestyle choice.
Do you have difficulties with your family or friends understanding why you love a small space so much? How did you help them come to terms with your new square footage? Are you uncomfortable when you visit friends whose living quarters are tiny? Share your thoughts and advice in the comments below!
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With good timing, this post comes to me. I just recently bought my first "home": A 400 sq foot studio. I naturally am organized and live without much because of my beliefs and personal preferences. I have one "friend" who is insistent that I won't survive in the studio and can't seem to understand why I would want to live there. I've given up explaining; my home, my way! (It feels nice to say that now.)
Eck. We get people commenting on how small our house is ALL the time, and sometimes I see pity in their eyes, which sort of sets me off. The thing is... our house really isn't that small. It's 740 sq ft, with a huge kitchen! A generously proportioned bathroom! Perfectly sized living space, and enough room for my grandmother's dining set! It's a well-laid out house, with an entire basement for storage.
Our stuff fits in it perfectly, and right now there are only two of us living here, so why would we need more space? Plus, we were able to collect nicer furniture and reno the kitchen because we weren't house poor. That's a pretty solid argument for living small, and my family seems to understand.
That said... I often feel I deserve their pity for living without closets.
I am from Istanbul, Turkey and majority of the ppl live in three bedroom apts. Now live in a one bedroom apt and everybody gives me the pity look, they say it is cute and hope eventually I will get a bigger apt. But to be honest I love it, cleaning is much easier, decorating is cheaper, plus why would I have two extra bedrooms and pay high maintenance? Not to mention Real Estate Taxes.. There is already a high price tag for living in NY, why spend more?
Almost 3 years ago, my hubby & I bought our 1300 sf house. Big by many standards, in my opinion. Before we had even moved in, my mother was walking around the empty house, saying we had already outgrown it. Thanks, Mom. I told her that anytime she'd like to give me about $300,000 I could get a bigger house.
And I also said that if she didn't want to stay in my tiny house & share the tiny bathroom, I had plenty of hotels I could recommend.
Seriously, I know my house is "small." I like it that way.
A few members of my family used to look askance at my renting an 800 square foot apartment and not owning a car...
...but now they're underwater in their mortgages, complaining about high gasoline prices for their hours-long commutes, and envious at my extensive travel schedule.
yes, but i think my hurdles have a lot to do with the number of apts i've had in the past. since i was 18, i've lived in 9 carefully chosen apartments (the most for 16 months), and they've all been a step in a 'bigger' direction.
last year, after financial struggles with a long distance move, i found an adorable 500sf apartment and i LOVE it.
when my family comes over (which is almost never because there's not a lot of room to entertain with the set-up), they always comment how they 'can't understand where i keep all of my things'.
i take it as a compliment for me being super organized and able to 'hide' all the clutter =)
The last apartment that my husband and I rented was an over 1300 square foot three bedroom townhouse. It was a great place but the idea of cleaning it (which i prefer to do on one designated day) was giving me major anxiety. (could also have a lot to do with the fact that my husband works 60+ hour weeks so a lot of the cleaning and upkeep goes to me) Now we rent a tiny house (no attached neighbors!) that doesn't have a dining room and has a tiny eat in kitchen. both bedrooms are on the first floor with a small attic space. i love it!! It's not a great house to entertain but we make it happen anyway! outdoor space is key!!! And as for cleaning this new place- i find it much less stressful and rewarding since I get more instant gratification! Also, it's tiny enough that I can clean as i go about my day easier.
This post came at a good time (thank you) since I've become increasingly frustrated by a family member constantly commenting on how our condo is a shoebox. We moved from a 2,300 sqft home by the beach to a 1,000 sqft condo in the city. I could write a book on how good the move was for us. We are able to design our condo to fit our personalities without attempting to fill the space with junk just to have something there. We don't have to do any work (other than pay the HOA) for the huge lap pool, spa, gym or mow the lawn. Other than storage and guest space being limited, we are extremely happy with our decision to downsize and to live more with less.
Boooooo!
Just kidding. But I thought this post was going to be about helping your guests understand how to USE your small space, in the way that the wing chairs, in the example photo, are IN FRONT of the bed, effectively separating it from the public space and making it off limits. ;)
I've had a similar problem with family just not understanding the appeal of a tiny apt. When family came to visit me they stepped into my 1 br on the Lower East Side of Manhattan (which by NYC standards is pretty big) and guffawed and made jokes. "I have to step outside to change my mind!"
They ignored their good breeding and rudely asked my rent, which they then used as evidence of my insanity. (Should any of them read this, sorry, I love you, but that was offensive.)
Anyway, I'm further shocked by how few of my fellow New yorkers understand my current impulse for a smaller pad (I often wake feeling adrift in my 400 sq ft!) I want to live minimally, and feel the freedom I associate with owning as little as possible. I want my money to go towards travel plans and not rent.
Anyway, to the small spacers out there, you are not alone.
We downsized from a huge house we had designed and built for us to a much smaller home. WE were paying the mortgage, maintenance, cleaning on the spare room, unused rumpus room etc. Now we are very happy in a house half the size and we are traveling more and I can afford to change careers. The big flash house was nice to have but I'd rather pursue other dreams!
Kind of related, we had people become concerned that we weren't using the designated master bedroom in our townhouse as our bedroom but were using it as an office. Well the extra space was nice in an office space and the non-master bedroom had plenty of space and was quieter. Some people were OBSESSED with this and we had to remind them that this was not in fact their townhouse.
um yes yes and yes.
We live in Richmond BC Canada a city just outside of Vancouver. In a part of the city that is very HOUSE. Not many apartments. We live in a 950sqf two bedroom with our two kids. Our living room has 10ft ceilings, we have an enclosed balcony that we turned into the kids playroom, huge master bedroom and a very open space living room/dinning room. We love it and most importantly we can afford to pay the mortgage, the seniors on either side of us are dead quiet and can't hear my kids make noise (all the time) and it is in a Fabulous nature filled area. Also it allows me to stay home with my babies. My cousins in particular cannot fathom why I wouldn't put the kids in daycare and move out to Cloverdale (the boons) so we could AT LEAST get a townhome. Ha! They were absolutley mortified when we found out our second child was a girl (our first was a boy) and discovered (gasp) we were going to have them share a room! Ha It's just water off a ducks back now but boy was I angry those first few jabs....
Maybe they were secretly jealous of the freedom you enjoy? I know I have always been puzzled by the suburban middle class assumption that everyone wants a faceless tract home in the 'burbs...I recently dated a divorced man with three college-aged kids, who had two bedrooms that were only used for their occasional visits. He told me when he was first divorced his son 'had to sleep on a pull out sofa in the living room' and he felt terrible. I never could figure out what was so terrible about that (maybe a reader can help me out)?
Anyhow, if your family doesn't approve, they don't have to visit :-) Enjoy your space, and your life, and don't worry about what your suburban friends and family think, just think of the boring life you'd have if you did what they wanted!
I think Cashew and I might be neighbors. :)
My house is 756 sq feet with a basement for storage. I have two bedrooms and a nicely sized bathroom with lots of storage (the bathroom, not the bedrooms!). I'm renovating the kitchen to open it up to the LR/DR and get more useful space. While I've been working on the downstairs, I've essentially been living upstairs in two rooms - and it's been fine! The only area I wish were bigger is my patio.
On the flip side, I know a couple who are looking to sell their 3 bdrm townhouse, and the requirement for the next house is that it be at least 2500 sq ft. Another couple I know bought a house because they said they had too much furniture to fit in their townhouse. I don't get it.
I'm thankful to come here and find like-minded people who don't think 756 sq. ft. is crazy small.
Its a lifestyle choice not the cost of the land.
We moved back from middle suburbia to the edge of the inner city- middle suburbia felt like the middle of nowhere for a couple who had moved out from the inner city due to kids.
The house is the same internal size but has more rooms. The land is a lot smaller but heck I can see my back fence so I feel more secure.
And my husband is home 20 minutes quicker via public transport- with 2 small children, no family support and a full time job, I'll take smaller anyday.
I have the opposite problem. I simply can't understand why ALL of my coworkers would much rather commute several hours to work and live in their McMansions. No one ever visits them because it's too far to drive. We have made a conscious decision not to endanger our lives by driving hours, in the Colorado snow, to get to work. They simply don't understand why I would be so angry when I'm left to run the whole office on snowy days. And they ALL want to come to our tiny apartment to have parties because we are so close!
No explanation needed. We are urban people arguing against the suburban ideal. It's a fundamental difference in values. (Not a knock on anyone's values...just saying we have to agree to disagree on this one.)
"We are urban people arguing against the suburban ideal."
Exactly - like so many commenters saying how foolish it is that we choose to rent rather than "Own", with platitudes like "I'm building equity" or "I don't want to throw my money away"...
...of course, they conveniently forget that when you're paying a 30-year mortgage, closing costs, brokers fees, etc - there's alot of money being "thrown away", not to mention the current housing depreciation.
Now that we're expecting our second child, we get questions about when we're buying a house. (We bought a 1080 sq. ft. condo, near the top of the market a few years ago. We couldn't sell now if we wanted to.) My family sort of gets it, but the majority of my friends did the "grow up and buy a house" thing... and most of their houses cost far less than our condo!
I was raised a typical suburbanite, and I've grown to love urban living. I can walk everywhere! I don't need giant toys for my kid. We don't buy books, we get them from the library. We go play at the library. We went from feeling "stuck" in this housing situation to embracing it. (Who knows if we'll ever have a house. I'm not sure if my husband will ever be willing to mow a lawn!)
@bepsf - i totally agree, and furthermore i have never understood that whole " i don't want to throw my money away" mentality. is having a place to live not worth a certain amount of $? sure, home ownership has some perks, like being able to paint one's bedroom whatever color one wants, but there are many downsides to it too. renting is a much more flexible scenario, and in these economic times, where a move might be necessary to find work, a much more logical one.
besides, i love that i am not on the hook if the roof leaks or the washing machine gives up the ghost. i heart my 600 sq ft apartment. :)
Right!
My parents think it's a shame we don't have a yard. That's right! We've got a park behind our house instead that we don't have to mow or rake the leaves, or clear the sprinklers!
I have always loved small spaces. When I moved into a studio apartment, everyone was concerned too. I have more fond memories there than anywhere else. Some people are just small dwellers, especially if you have other things you would rather do than tend to your belongings and home!
@Chenell - exactly. People are making statements about values without acknowledging they are. So we small-space dwellers get "helpful" (read: passive-aggressive) suggestions and questions that are actually expressions of discomfort with our not aligning with suburban values.
I find it amusing to have these conversations, because so many of my choices go against the grain of suburban/strivers' expectations. No, instead of getting married, having kids, moving up the career ladder, driving a nice car, buying a nice suburban house -- I have a Vespa, write & paint instead of having a real job, and play folk music on my banjo. So having a small apartment fits whatever image of irritating urban hipster my cumulative lifestyle choices conjures up. Judge away! :)
My family sees needless deprivation. In fact, my mom offered to pay my cable bill when I first let it go. She actually thought I was having money problems because why else would I give up such an essential basic 0.o
Fast forward to today and I'm usually defending my efficiency apt sans stove and/or the decision to not buy a condo. My view of limitless association fees the defeating the of point of the amoritized home loan just does not compute. I'm simply considered cheap and/or misguided.
I doubt I'll ever buy a sfr in Frisco, but if I do, I'm fine with 0-2bd house that's typically in the 600-800 sqft range. It would fit my needs just fine.
Easy : I tell my family that my 700 square feet downtown appartement is twice the price of their 2000 square feet country home...
My husband and I are in the process of buying a condo, which we have had a surprisingly tough time convincing my family is a good idea. Even though it's not lacking in space, the idea that you're living around other people and don't have a yard or garage of your own seems absurd to them. It works for our lifestyle, so it's tough to explain it to someone who doesn't live the same way we do.
YES!! I have had many people come visit me from my home state and make snide comments about the size of my apartment. And it infuriates me because it was a lot of work finding this apartment which is HUGE by NYC standards!! If they'd just be upfront instead of passive aggressive I'd have plenty to say. LIke hello I can have whatever ethnic food I want delivered to my door any time! I can drink at a bar and not worry about a DUI, I don't have to work at a gas station (no offense gas station attendants, just not my shtick)...etc, etc.
People we knew didn't understand when we bought our condo, which is small for the area (1400 sq ft) and just has a patio, rather than a yard. A lot of that went away when they came to visit us, though, because the house is so well-designed and has plenty of space for the two of us. (We could have gone smaller, but we just loved this house and it has all the features we wanted). I think they still think we're crazy for not having a yard, but I see how much money and work have gone into my sister's yard--yikes!
My small house is in the country,so still have yard work, mowing, etc. The house had a sweet calm feeling even though essentially unfinished. I like to look at model homes and RE ads, even imagine living in a large place with a HUGE craft room. But the reality of cleaning and upkeep isn't worth it. That time is well spent sitting in the window watching the wildlife that comes around. reading knitting, and of course keeping an watchful eye on the computer blogs ;)
So visitors have to sleep on the sofa and share the one bathroom. Oh well.
Eh, I always think this type of mentality is limited to people that have never left their rural area. I actually feel a bit of pity for those people that don't even experience the world.
In addition to explaining small living spaces, I've had a really hard time with my family from rural New York not understanding why I don't have a driver's license
Where I grew, that's what you strive for! Getting a license and a car as soon as possible after you've turned 16! And now living in San Francisco, I haven't driven a car in over two years. Now I'm waiting for a non-driver ID and was home this past week and everyone was concerned that I didn't have a license, as if life will be crippling without one.
I just got the "stop throwing your money away" talk from my dad, who doesn't understand how I could love a 225 sq ft apartment... I posted pictures online, proud of how I'd decorated, and got concerns about the size. To which I say: It's my half-kitchen, my tiny living room, my life! And I love my cozy little house.
I'm not immune to this. My nephew once visited my 1000 sq. ft. house and declared upon entry, "This place looks like if you pressed a button, it would just fold right up."
I think we have a very limited knowledge of the REALITY OF HOW PEOPLE ACTUALLY LIVE. Despite what the media would have you believe: not everyone has an office job; not everyone has a house--and certainly not one with multiple bathrooms, a guest room, or an office--or any space they could turn into a "mancave" or "womancave." Not everyone is married; not everyone has kids, not everyone is young or white. Many folks don't drive and never had and never will and this is not an issue. And guess what--not all kids would find Disneyland a dream vacation (that is, kids who even get to go on vacations), and not all dads like sports. I could go on and on and on about the general cultural assumptions that seem to be reinforced every day...
And even the urban/suburban divide is not as AT readers seem to think: In my experience, many people in the suburbs are politically active, live in smaller homes and apartments and like art and culture and organic foods and drive electric only; and many urban folks I know are apolitical, live in large homes, chauffeur their kids to soccer in suvs, and prefer sports to art for entertainment. So I've become pretty wary of these generalizations.
That said, the media push for more and bigger has been relentless over the last 70/80 years, and we know how effective advertising and marketing are in shaping human "desires" -- to the extent that many folks don't really even know they have a choice about the type of lifestyle they WANT to lead.
We have a 1300 sq. three bedroom home that has served us well through the years. We raised two kids near lots of friends, family, etc. It's been convenient in many ways. However, we'll be empty nesters soon, God willing, and I'm ready for something much smaller. Easier on the wallet, less upkeep and we just won't need this much space. We only have a couple of friends who understand. The rest think we're bonkers--but to them 1300 sq. is the little "starter" home, then on to bigger and "better" asap. In North America we tend to have a very skewed idea of what is enough.
I get the "living in a closet/shoebox" comments all the time from my family. For me, living in a small space is all about living within my means. I don't understand getting bigger and better when you don't really need it, I don't want to be in debt the rest of my life! Screw equity, I want to be able to move wherever I want on short notice! :)
it's all relative. my cousin was shocked at how much a pay for a brooklyn studio compared to what she was paying for a townhouse in maryland. my eyes popped out when i saw my friends brooklyn studio, which costs a bit more than mine. my cousin didn't understand the nyc market, partly because i used to live in a similar sized place for $500. i didn't understand my friend's choice to live in an in-and-out b/c i forgot she had to scramble at the last minute to find it. the size falls below my standards for people our age. but hey, it's just a rental.
My mother's sister once passed comment on our home (as in, the one my parents have & I grew up in): O I couldnt stand a little house like yours.
Overlooking that my parents own theirs outright & said aunt was flogging hers bc she couldnt afford it.
We just got a note from my sister in law (who just bought a new 2,700sf house in the midwest).
"Cant wait for you to visit and see the place with all the furniture"
We live 800 miles away. And she wants us to come to see their furniture.
I haven't had too many negative comments about my apartment (917 s.f.) from my family but I sense they think its a "starter home" and that we will move into a bigger place eventually. I really could live here forever though. I love the city and I love walking everywhere. And everyday I walk through my door after work I feel happy.
One thing my co-workers couldn't believe is that I didn't have a wireless internet connection. But we only have a desktop computer so what would be the point? Then they couldn't believe I didn't have a laptop. What if I wanted to check something on the web and I'm not in the office? Well, the beauty of a small space is that it is not much effort to walk five feet to the computer.
I'm living in a 300 sq ft studio (give or take a foot or two). When my thoroughly Midwestern friends and family (most of whom live in larger homes, condos, or 2 bedroom apartments) have come to visit, they've said things like How cute, How wonderful you're so close to work, How unfortunate that your landlord is a jerk but how charming and what reasonable rent!
Apparently you all have unpleasant friends and families. Or perhaps they're aggravated by your all too evident self-righteous attitudes.
Thank you orbit for this breath of sanity: "And even the urban/suburban divide is not as AT readers seem to think: In my experience, many people in the suburbs are politically active, live in smaller homes and apartments and like art and culture and organic foods and drive electric only; and many urban folks I know are apolitical, live in large homes, chauffeur their kids to soccer in suvs, and prefer sports to art for entertainment. So I've become pretty wary of these generalizations."
@besf- that is usually what I say...don't own, no car, no cable because I LIKE it that way.
Plenty of $ in the bank, and now all of my friends have situations where their mortgage is underwater or they are going into foreclosure.
for what? To buy into an illusion of an American dream? I dunno- for me- I'd rather be solvent.
Addendum to my comment: I also don't have a car or a working tv. I also don't judge my friends and family if they do have these, and in return they don't judge me. Everyone's lifestyle is different and common courtesy towards others will usually engender common courtesy in return.
we're moving from a 2000 sqft home in the 'burbs to a 1000 sqft home that is only 1/2 mile from downtown. for us it's a wonderful trade-off as we never used all the space we had anyway and it just seemed wasteful. now i'll only have one bathroom to clean instead of 3! most of our family does not understand, but to each their own. we are minimalists that don't have much and they are constantly buying bigger homes to store more stuff.
We get plenty of comments wondering when we're going to buy a "real" house, since we own a 2 bedroom, 1200 square foot condo that only has a deck, no yard. It stings a bit, because it feels like a real house to me, and I do feel stuck because we bought at the height of the market and there are now huge single family homes for sale for less than we paid on the condo.
But living in the Twin Cities, I kinda love having a condo and not a house. While all my friends and coworkers had to shovel piles and piles of snow during this brutal winter, I stayed inside, drank tea and watched cartoons with my son while our association did it for us.
For me it has nothing to do with being urban or suburban or rural. Our home now is an apartment of 600 sf (two adults and a toddler) and we might later buy a house in the 'burbs but I'd still want small. Preferably no bigger than 700 sf, but we could no with much smaller since we'd have a yard then. It's a lifestyle choice, we are minimalists and don't need lots of space. Also having a big expensive home would feel like a waste of money and resources. We are renting now and we don't want a huge mortgage which will take away the feeling of freedom that you have with lower living expenses. Like, if your job sucks you can just leave it, or you can choose to retire early because you have savings. I stay at home with our child and my husband works four-day weeks, which would not be possible if we were stretched thin financially. For us spending time together is priceless.
Nope, like sororitysheep, my family and friends exclaim positive vibes over my small-lish homes. When I was a park service intern I was provided 2000 sq ft house, that also doubles as storage for taxidermy animals, to live in by myself. I chose one room to live in and ignored the rest of the house with its huge kitchen, ginormous living room and it's oversized stone fireplace. In fact it was abit traumatizing and my family and friends never forgot it. Maybe that's why they're so nice about my choice of small residences.
i falsely believed i needed to "upgrade" with each move, even in rentals. extra bedrooms for guests who rarely came. more bathrooms, even though i'm single. set-aside rooms to work from home. ugh. it was so tiring. this last move, i pared down my possessions and moved into a loft with one bathroom and no yard upkeep. i am still destashing possessions in hopes of getting down to ONE minivan load full, for the next time i move (which will likely be to nyc). feels good to be free!
I'm no longer in the kind of small space that generates "how come" comments. But I have a few thoughts for those of you who do...
In response to "why don't you move/upgrade/get more space" coments: "in THIS economy?/real estate market?/city? Are you kidding??"
For discussions on the psychological and environmental aspects of "right sizing" Sarah Susanka's books are nice (good eye candy, too.) (The Not So Big House, etc.)
And for emarks about your lifestyle choices, brag! Evey choice has it's up-sides and down. Talk about the things they would envy!
All that said, it may be that in SOME cases, people comment because the wayyour place is set up provokes comment -- clutter, weird combinations that are the result of lack of space, etc. could be fixed and might make the whole small space thing seem more rational! Just sayin'!
Not only size of ones home, but lifestyle as well can be a source of confusion. My family didn't understand living in an apt that is around 400sq ft, and not having a car, and not buying the latest fashion trend that is in this minute. For the 'comfortable' set it seems strange.
I think its all about personal preference, there is no right or wrong size. I'm sure most people here make little remarks about people who commute that piss commuters off. It goes both ways.
My parents lived in Beijing, China. They used to live in a one room home (with me!) and cooked on a portable stove in the hallways. And they had good jobs (head engineer and Beijing university English lecturer). When they moved to Canada, they promised themselves that they would never live in a high rise tower ever again. Now they live in a almost McMansion sized house with a big backyard in a picturesque suburb of Vancouver. So naturally, the first place I lived in on my own is a 350 sq ft studio in downtown Toronto. My parents can't understand why I want to live in an apartment somewhere I can take public transport rather than drive for the rest of my life and take my kids to the park rather than have a pool in my backyard. I don't think their disbelief is unreasonable or rude. It just hard for them to reconcile with their own experiences and lifestyle choices. I can even understand their need for large space coming from where they lived. How many urban dwellers dream of buying a big farmhouse in the boonies and moving there? Lots of people. Just read the New Yorker.....
>>just want to point out that when my parents lived in Bejing, I was like 2 years old...so it didn't color my living choices in anyway...living in a boring suburb -> terrible.
@bepsf- you're so right on. i am currently a homeowner who is going through a foreclosure. i lost my job & could no longer afford the mortgage. i'm trying to sell it but b/c the housing market is crap i'd have to sell it for $20,000 less than what i paid for it. houses are no longer a guaranteed good investment. also, who said it was such a good investment anyway when the majority of your monthly mortgage payment is going towards paying interest. if i ever buy a house again, i will pay in cash. so, now i'm going back to renting & i feel free. if something goes wrong, i don't have to pay to have it fixed.
This post cracks me up. Even Apartment Therapy has succumbed to the McMansion of America. I can't believe a THOUSAND square feet is considered small HERE these days.
I remind myself at times that I don't need to justify myself to anyone.
When someone asks "why" about my living situation I just tell them, "because I want to," or "I like it." That usually turns the conversation around. People sometimes assume you want the same things they do. Once they hear that I like it they either let it go or they comment on some positives from my choice.
If someone is interested in wanting to know why because they want to know me better or understand I'll explain. Otherwise I don't give reasons. What more do I need to say other than I want to?
I live in a small "starter" home, which is 1,200 sq ft. and we've done a lot of work to the place. It was the real estate agents who referred to it as a starter home and the rest of the "herd" grasped this mentality. I find it amusing that my current home was considered a fine place to raise a family after WWII. A neighbor is one of those people. How it ever came to be dissed as a small no nothing is beyond me. I've also been on the receiving end of rude, offensive comments as well given people's self-absorbed bent to talk about themselves and compete rather than to actually get to know someone. I seldom invite people over anymore given that I find too few seem to have cultivated a gracious attitude. For what possible reason would I want to be friends with someone who is so superficial that they need to criticize me for living in a smaller space? Get a life or grow a personality. Whatever! I grew up in the beach communities in Calif. and realized that I would never be able to afford the type of home and lifestyle that my parent's did given real estate prices. I moved to Colorado and didn't want the new huge home with the price tag or commute. I live in an area where the older homes "bungalows" are being scraped off for the McMansions, which now sits empty and it breaks my heart.
Well I love where I live. It makes me happy and I made the right choice for me. I love my small comfy home and have a beautiful garden. I also have great access and can walk everywhere, if I want too and I can take the lightrail into downtown. Most of all I've been building a home--a welcoming place where I can really be me.
@GardenMuse, It's amazing that people dare to be so rude to your face about your home. That's unacceptable even from friends and family. To me, a person's home is almost sacred, almost like a person's religion. A guest who mocks my home isn't invited here again.
The only Bigger=Better mentality I approve of is TV size..mmmm Jon Hamm on BluRay.