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Thinking of Retiring in a Tiny House?


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Lots of people seem to think that tiny houses are just for young people but they’re not the only ones.

That’s not to say that all tiny homes are practical for someone who’s, let’s say, planning on going into their 70s, 80s, 90s, and 100s in one.

If you’re looking to go into retirement chances are likely that you’re looking into a lifestyle that just demands less of you, right? Because that’s what I would do.

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I’d rather get to spend my later years doing more of the activities that I enjoy and that I feel are for me because it only makes sense. And it’s a simpler less expensive lifestyle so you can live longer on less.

So whether it’s a small house on a foundation, a micro-apartment in the city, or a little home on wheels the idea of going small is bigger than ever and I think that’s happening because people want more freedom and control in their lives, wouldn’t you agree?

It isn’t just the environment. It’s also about us. About us having more time than stuff. Less junk and more quality. Smarter conveniences and chosen labors of love.

If you agree with what I’m saying here let me know with a “Like” below or virtual fist pump in the comments. I’m just kidding. I mean I’ll take a VFP, but I really wanted to ask you this..

How would you like to retire? In a small cabin? Modern? Rustic? How small? Cottage style? Or in a tiny house, cabin, or cottage? Or is it on a sailboat or an RV?

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Alex

Alex is a contributor and editor for TinyHouseTalk.com and the always free Tiny House Newsletter. He has a passion for exploring and sharing tiny homes (from yurts and RVs to tiny cabins and cottages) and inspiring simple living stories. We invite you to send in your story and tiny home photos too so we can re-share and inspire others towards a simple life too. Thank you!
{ 49 comments… add one }
  • Cahow
    June 29, 2013, 10:38 am

    Well, Alex, we’re already in our retirement home….our wee 800 sq.ft. cottage! Nary an elevation change ANYWHERE, we can shuffle our feet with ease when we reach that level of calcification. (LOL) Very affordable utilities, Lake Michigan a mere 500 ft. away down a “dirt road”, senior centre 1/10th a mile away…yup, we’re set.

    And I hope that projected age of “100” is a goal my sweetheart and I both achieve!

    Now, let me flip your question back to you, Alex: where do YOU see yourself retiring? Inquiring Minds Want to Know! 😉

    • winnie
      June 29, 2013, 2:22 pm

      Cahow, it sounds as though you found an ideal location. Good on you! Many of the rest of us hope for something similar, a place of our own with the potential for social interactions nearby, in a location that appeals to each. Personally, I have misgivings about many of the tiny house designs with lofts over the kitchen, no (or minimal) bathroom facilities, and the lack of foundations. Living in a mobile is fine, but as airstream notes, condensation can be a problem of long term residence shortening the life of their rvs. I hope many of those pushing micro homes come to recognize the best balance may be a small home rather than these tiny homes which aren’t really homes, except by very odd definition.

      • Theresa
        October 25, 2013, 10:15 am

        Winnie,

        Valid points. As an Interior Designer, I follow the Tiny House movement because it helps me to better understand solutions to space problems, and I currently do tons of work with apartment communities. My husband and I aren’t near retirement yet, but we built our home with the option of first floor living, so our plan is that the 2 bedrooms upstairs become storage once we feel the need to downsize and avoid stairs. The greater message is that until recently, people treated housing as disposable, moved or built frequently, for their immediate needs, and didnt consider 1 home that is designed to adapt for changing needs and last. The expense of buying/selling/building is very wasteful all on it’s own. Being able to adapt a small home for a couple, family, empty next is a great savings. The Tiny movement may be extreme, but the message of conservation of your time and money, storage etc is a great one to apply to all our spaces.

  • alice h
    June 29, 2013, 11:46 am

    Already part timing between a tiny studio apartment in my son’s city house basement and a 13′ Boler trailer on a nearby Gulf Island. Next step is upgrade to an 8×20 on the island as soon as I save up more money. I still have 5 years to go before retirement – one more year on disability and 4 of working if my next knee surgery goes well. Might get a little camper van so I can wander a bit and I have projects galore to putter with no matter where I am. All this depends on my health staying good. If it doesn’t, well I’ll just deal with it as best I can.

    There are starting to be a lot of people looking into aging in place on the islands with some creative solutions. Some of the early retirees there are now getting to the stage where it’s difficult to manage. Might be some opportunities for younger people to exchange a few chores for some living space in their own tiny houses or caretaker suites. As long as things were clearly spelled out and nobody takes unfair advantage of anybody else it has possibilities.

  • Virginia La Monica
    June 29, 2013, 12:48 pm

    Can’t afford land in So Cal, so a tiny house on wheels is out. Now looking at full time living in a fifth wheel in a nice RV Park nearby. 70% of the people there are full timers. Have been in a money pit of a Townhome community with a godforsaken HOA. So much wasted space and utility usage in a 1280 sf 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath space. Looking forward to the change 🙂

    • Nila
      July 26, 2013, 11:57 pm

      Virgina…my heart goes out to you. I can relate to the nightmares of HOAs. I wouldn’t have another house in one if it was given to me as a gift. When I sell I will lose so much I will end up in an RV or a very small house of some type….or a tent if things continue here the way they have been the past eight years. I recently read the best book on HOAs and wanted to pass the information on to you…and hope you will pass it on as well. “Neighbors At War!” by Ward Lucas. Amazing. Wish I had read it eight years ago. There is also an interesting website that he shares lots of information on… http://www.neighborsatwar.com

      Best of luck to you!

  • Ralph Sly
    June 29, 2013, 3:32 pm

    Alex, cut it with the good subjects, I have things to do today. LOL. Contra my young friend if I may call you one, and I am not patronizing with the word young, my skin used to fit my frame rather than just hang around also. I was a workaholic, first on the job, last to leave, the first to invest through hours or money in a good idea toward progress and MONEY. My life and passion was work, no one was going to call me a coward or slug and never could. My family had everything (material). My son at 20 something, sat on my back deck during a visit and said, I thought I would come down dad because I just needed a vacation. At 20 some, give me a break, vacation… where did I go wrong. Yes, he does have a good work ethic, but vacation, where did he get the idea there was life out there worth living that he could take time off work to enjoy. I certainly never by example taught them that. What a precious gift he received by who know who. We could have easily survived on a very small percentage of what material things I provided, all of which is junk, worn out and long disposed of if I had his wisdom and scaled down. They would have had a whole lot more or me, not that I ever missed anything they were involve in, I always put work aside for that but ran back it afterwards.

    Had I adopted a live life attitude in my younger years, life, although I have few regrets I imaging would have been as rewarding as I find it now. With literally nothing, but now, I ache with pains from wear and tear one gets from labor and not taking care of oneself the way my children do. And it’s amazing, they all live in nice homes, have everything they need but their work is focused on enjoying life. Dam smart kids, I must have married well into intelligence because they didn’t get it from me. With me it was always “one day”. (Hey, I had successes I didn’t even realize, smart wives. Who would have thought)?

    Living life as we refer it as small, I now interpret as living “life” large. I don’t know if anyone has done the demographics in regard to age with this philosophy but by some of your commenter’s, I would say the geezers could equal or be more than the younger people realizing this lifestyle is worth looking into. In my youth the words retire meant the use of the toys we had, travel and adventure in fine style. Hell, with the tech savvy of the youth today being able to provide sustenance on the move, they are retired and living life. Retirement does not mean never involving yourself in things with obligations. The roof has to be there and the bills come in. A poor economy has people thinking a little more of how little they can live with and smaller is more reasonable to maintain and own. “This is a bad thing”, I don’t think so. The economy just may be force retiring people younger. Ahh, terminologies, great things to play with, change of attitudes and realizing living life is why we are here; to enjoy today and love the person we are with in every way possible. Retirement is a commerce thing industries play with when there is an abundance of employees and it’s extended in the work force when there isn’t.

    Your words, “That’s not to say that all tiny homes are practical for someone who’s, let’s say, planning on going into their 70s, 80s, 90s and 100s in one”.

    Hey you, in the immortal words of Rodney Dangerfield, I resemble that. I am getting closer to the 70s than the 60s and think this is a great place to be heading. Better than the trinket box my X stores the ashes of her last husband in. No way do I want to share that little thing. “Come to think of it, she had a collection of those little boxes”.

    • Nila
      July 27, 2013, 12:13 am

      Ralph,
      I am so glad you wrote your story. I really enjoyed reading it. You have me beat by a few years but we came from the same work ethic backgrounds. I married Corporate America! When it was sold out from under me three different times, I kept picking myself up and doing it again. My whole life was work and I saved for retirement. I semi-retired eight years ago and made a horrible mistake of buying a townhome in a “so-called” maintenance-provided community with an HOA. Long story short but I’ve lost every I ever worked for because of these Nazi idiots that are on the board and their high-priced phony property manager! I’m not the only one in America with this story but it still doesn’t take the sting out of it or make my future any brighter.

      I’m glad you shared your story for the younger folks that read these awesome blogs. I hope they will take your words of “all work and no play” isn’t a good way to live…I second that, of course. And I hope they will take my words of “NEVER BUY A HOUSE IN AN HOA…that includes CONDOS, too!” If they follow our guidance I think we’ve done our best to improve the lives of those that come up behind us. I can add a bit of advice in a book, “Neighbors At War!” by Ward Lucas and his website of http://www.neighborsatwar.com

      I know our parents told us to work hard and live well in retirement. I’m now a believer in live smaller and debt-free every day after you graduate from school and never worry about what any of your fraternity brothers or sorority sisters have. Your personal level of happiness is FAR MORE IMPORTANT!

      Ralph, keep your sense of humor and I’ll bet it keeps you a long way from the ashes!

      • Ralph Sly
        July 27, 2013, 4:27 pm

        Nila, I probably get a little too carried away with stories on these forums but if a little bit of my example got through to someone then it was worth it (I am trying, of late to keep it to a dull roar). I am fast to acknowledge when someone has taught me something, related in a way that got me thinking, or outright made some sense in a venue I didn’t think about, either through actions or words. I now know how they must have received my acknowledgment, thank you.

        I will check out that book as this is the second time I heard about it today. Every time I have had a kick in the assets, fallen down and got back up, I stood tall and straight, with self respect and the dignity in knowing I did everything I could to the best of my god given ability. I always found my eyes were pointing ahead, not behind into the past but strait into the future. My pudgy but extremely cute parts have to follow. What the hay, we can’t do anything about the past other than clean that slate and move on.

        I am presently into a very deep hole and a friend remarked the other day as to how happy he was to see me at rock bottom, I of course acknowledged with “Thanks Lou, I love you too”. (Hell with friends the likes him, and I love him like a brother, who needs enemies) He laughed and reminded me of the times my back has really been against the wall, were the times I built my most success. Hey, it’s easy to build something prominent fast if you toss a million dollars at it, but being in debt not knowing where the next dollar is coming from and throwing a screw into everything and turning events around with attitude, then the game is won. I want to inject here that any demise I have ever suffered was of my own doing, either through poor judgment or trusting wrongfully, not to eliminate stupidity (which I suppose covers all of it).

        Lou can hardly wait to see what is about to happen! They are used to the entrepreneurial Ralph, but this new much older Ralph wants to build something again, much more precious, and yes, I am working on a mild revenue provider but not to make it a monster, No, to make a life where there is time to put a fishing rod over the side of a boat and listen for the fish farts. I got into a conversation with a guy yesterday who wants to travel a path I have been down and my little enterprise is much like the one he is having problems with, I listened to him and damn, I was about to make many of the same mistakes, he contradicted everything I said, (I had overwhelming success with mine) well, so much for that. It is his road, to follow and I have some re-evaluating to do, thank god I stopped to listen to this guy, it encouraged me to stop and talk to a couple of others making his same mistakes, so, it’s back to the basics for me and back to what did succeed with and if I want to expand later, then I may. If I have 10% of the success I had then that is good enough. GOOD ENOUGH, which is something I am pounding into my own head, knowing when I have it made and things, are GOOD ENOUGH. That’s a hard thing to recognize when you are making money, young and full of energetic enthusiasm.

        I always thought I behaved with good ethics and one day a cohort came into my office, I was about 25 years old, had 5 discount service stations, trucks and a few other ventures underway and Jack began telling me how large my company was growing and how fast. I, of course was sucking in the flattery then he explained how he noticed how cocky I had become and how some contracts were won and one poignant comment taught me a good lesson. Jack said I should consider that all the folks who cross my path and may be stepped over on the way up the ladder could be where they are if I was ever to come down the ladder. Well my friend that is advice I am happy I listened to, I did some re-thinking at that time, changed a few things in attitude, made some amends and guess what, he was right, some overstretching of cocky investments started to see cards falling out of the deck and those people were in their same station but instead of having resentment, they assisted in holding me together.

        If people own what went wrong in the past and take another kick at things, what the hell, there are times you can only move ahead and upwards. I really only know two things, (1) any fool can make large money with time, persistence and effort (2), it takes a genius to hold on to it.

        Good communicating but again, I went on and on, damn I have to stop that. Good luck with your future, I am dying to know what fish fart smells like.

        • Nila
          July 27, 2013, 6:08 pm

          Ralph,

          Please please please never stop sharing your stories! I love reading them.

          I will tell you this much. I think you are missing the point. YOUR SUCCESS falls on the fact YOU NEVER GIVE UP! That is success in itself.

          I do some “life-coaching” with medical students from time to time when they are at their most stressful point in their education…taking the final tests. The damn things are all day long and well….let’s just say, I’m glad I’m not the one going through it. But, I’ve lived and learned and I always remind them….Walt Disney was fired from the Kansas City Star for not being creative enough. Ray Kroc had several businesses fail before he made McDonald’s successful but he was smart enough to know to place those on valuable land so if they failed he still had prime real estate to sell. I could go on with this list but YOU are like these guys. You have the right attitude and you use your humor to get through the tough times. Never lose either one.

          All of this applies to the Tiny House Movement. There will be challenges (as I’m sure the trail blazers in this movement will attest to) and there will be bumps in the road, but gosh darn-it, they are working hard to make an impact and educate people about a different way of life. It’s not a life for 100% of the population, of course. But for those that it can and does work for…HOORAY for them! Anybody that lives small and enjoys life gets my applause. If it means they laugh and love more, I give them more applause. And if it means they are able to live their lives FREE OF A HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, I will stand on top of a mountain and scream for joy!

          Fish farts….I can’t describe for you. Cooking salmon in the dishwasher….awwwweeee….not that is some good eatin’! And a story for another day! 🙂

          P.S. Did you see the story today about the woman that put her husband’s ashes in a bottle with two dollars and dropped him in the ocean?

        • Ralph Sly
          July 27, 2013, 9:13 pm

          You’re a bugger, how to expose a guy’s personality and vulnerability, I just read Gordon (Skinny) and Beverly’s story and you have to know I do have a sense of humor and look for the funny side of everything, however, I am an irresistible romantic, this brought a warm feeling in my heart and a pleasant tier to my eyes, what a relationship they must have had with each other, too bad they couldn’t have enjoyed a retirement together but their lord blessed them a good life in their union, that is easy to surmise, laughter and fun together after death, what a rush. I have friends that would do this but to have a best friend and lover that would carry on with this is indeed heaven sent. My parents had that in their lives. Mother is still alive and only remembers Dad but thats ok, we could hear about him anytime. He was her Greek God and he cherished her for 63 years.

          In the bit with my ex wife, It was his wish to be put in the Pacific Ocean but there he was, years later, hanging around on top of the hutch (but only when I would dig him out from under some obscure place where she tucked him) I once said, (as a joke) I was going to have a chat with him and make a deal where he had better start working on a winning lotto ticket from the other side or I would spoon feed him down the toilet one failed win at a time and he could find his own way to the Ocean. (I should have, it may be the only way he will get there) When she laughed and agreed, I though, you’re not being the one I am depending on to discard of my ashes lady.

          My most loving and loved daughter, when I relayed the story to her, assured me she would steel me if she had to and send me off, I want to go into the Great Lakes and its OK if she goldfishes me through the porcelain microphone, the journey may be fun and it would be better than hanging around with the X’es Gang. I do want one foot of ashes, thickness doesn’t matter tucked in under the sod with Mother and Dad who I am named after so they can scribe on the stone “And Jr. has one foot in this grave”.

          Yes, you must enlighten the salmon in the dishwasher.

        • Nila
          July 27, 2013, 9:45 pm

          Oh Ralph! You have me laughing out loud!

          That dishwasher salmon recipe is on http://www.neighborsatwar.com type in Salmon and it should come right up. Ward Lucas tells the story about condo dwellers being fined for the smell of their cooking. Then he gives his recipe and instructions. I tried it and was amazed. I believe “Friends Don’t Let Friends Eat Farmed Fish” so wild Alaskan salmon cooked in the dishwasher is the best there is! Enjoy!

          Thank you for the laughter!

        • Chel
          May 24, 2014, 9:38 am

          Ralph, you should write these stories in a book, or a blog. Good fun to read. Educational too.
          I don’t have anything new to add from myself – get up and do it is what I’ve always done. So in the spirit of Nila’s fish and your enjoyment of current times I’d like to introduce you to the late Ivor Cutler. I’ve had to listen to this and write it out as I can’t find it on youtube, but a link at the bottom lets you know what he’s like.

          Halfway Through from Privilege album, 1984.
          “Brrr” whispered the salmon as it squeezed itself out the cold tap into the sink, “I’m frozen.”
          I popped it into a pot of tepid Scotch Broth,
          head first. He polished it off.
          “Ye haven’t a drop of the hard stuff?”
          I poured him a generous glass of Islay Malt and held his balancers as he gulped.
          “Great stuff, Jimmy. Thanks a lot. Got to go. Got a date with some eggs, ye ken.”
          And leapt up the hot tap.
          I could hear him making his way through the geyser and the faint cry of:
          “Christ, how do I get out of here?”
          I collected him later from the cistern, halfway through the ballcock valve.
          And ate him for tea.
          First time I ever got tiddly on a fish. I.C.

          I like the way your best birthday suit just hangs off its frame now, and I’ve no idea what fish farts sound like either. But thanks for the laughs. Chel
          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTuDq91EZTc

  • Erik M
    June 29, 2013, 6:21 pm

    An RV isn’t a Tiny house. It may be a home, but it isn’t a Tiny house.
    There are appropriate blogs for full-timers.

    An 800 sq. ft. house isn’t tiny either. It is interesting that 800 sq. ft. is the typical minimum sq. ftg of most illegal size related building codes. hmm.

    The name of this blog is Tinyhousetalk.com that mean HOUSES that are under 400 s.f.

    • SonjeB
      June 29, 2013, 7:20 pm

      Hey Erik, lighten up, my friend. One of the reasons I follow this blog (and I’m sure others do as well) is the diversity exhibited by those who are chucking it all and deciding to live small. Yes, it may be called Tiny House Talk, but the movement is much bigger than only those who opt for the tiny houses. This blog is nicely set up so that one may easily skip over the subjects that don’t interest them.

    • Ralph Sly
      June 29, 2013, 7:25 pm

      Is there a code of ethics, zoning issues I haven’t seen regulating what size a home has to be in order to be a tinny house and if so then who wrote it and where do I find it. I had a home in Calgary and one in Kelowna BC and we called the one in Kelowna our Tinny house. I believe it was over 800 sq’ but the layout and massive windows made you feel like you were in at least 2000. It was great. I am not trying to be ignorant Erik but if my plans here turn out that I have to use the whole building I will put in a small commercial office and then I exceed 400 sq’ for living and that effects taxes. Is there something I do not know and you do? There seems to be quirks around every corner and I am learning more every day. Fixed locations have to be viewed different than the trailer, skid shack or whatever. And if I am in violation of some said code of ethics does that mean I am not welcome on these blogs.

      • Erik M
        June 29, 2013, 8:00 pm

        Why are you so interested in using the Tiny House name?

        There is a whole website here, plus the web, to review past posts discussing these distinctions.

        • Ralph Sly
          June 29, 2013, 10:54 pm

          Oh, many will agree that I am probably on a fool’s errand. But what the hell, I have been there before and there is no fool like an old fool.

          Erik, I have built what I consider to be Tiny Houses before, not in the description you are probably trying to have me interpret “on a trailer” but on a few vehicles and skids. The ones on skids have been placed on trailers to relocate, thus my interest in the terminology “Tiny House”, be it a name or description. I am confused as to your definition. Is it the shape of the outside? If so, do you must not consider a converted cargo or transport trailer a small home or Tiny House? I have been involved in a couple of those.

          My home is my house if it is on a trailer, truck, skid or yes, a small portion of a building which my present and hopefully last residence is going to be. Am I going to build possibly a guest cabin on skids, do a dig in as a hobbit house, I don’t know, I hope I live long enough to do many more things but now I am at the stage where I want to be in one spot and this is very suitable for me. I use any, Tiny House idea I can to utilize floor, cabinet, storage or whatever space I require.

          I find Tiny House and anything related to scaling down ones lifestyle, anyone wanting to reduce their foot print to be a source of information on this lifestyle I have chosen. This site is not coining Tiny House; they are coining Tiny House Talk – Small Space More Freedom, the web master could not be more clearly specified on the subjects he expects to be discussed. I ask you one direct question because, yes I am on this computer many hours reading many articles because I do have time on my hands and many floor sizes have been bantered around but haven’t read anyone say ok gang, let’s make a standard for Tiny Houses to be a maximum of 400’ and who is anyone to say. If you are in 400’ and me in 64, dam I would think you are living large. If you were in a 5000’ house and scaled down to 7 or 800 then you would probably figure that was your level of acceptance for a small house.

          I for one cannot do anything under 250’ that will suit my present self. At one time 64’ would have been enough and believe it or not, feel I could build that and live in it. Do I want to, no I do not. An 8×8 Tiny House can host an elevating bed, toilet; kit and fold down shower very nicely but would drive me insane. We have van dwellers on here and they live in 4 x 8 and that is their Tiny House. I respect that.

          Your question to me is rhetorical; I didn’t ask anyone to use the Tiny House name, I was enquiring if there was a by law or something of the nature anywhere that I didn’t know about. And you chose instead of answering to tell me that if I want to know to spend hours reading old articles. Thanks, my request was for a direct direction if you knew of one. I’ve read many articles. But I thank you in being very polite and not pointing out that I refer to them a TiNNy Houses. I bet I have made that spelling error a lot. But until the web master or Alex or whoever owns this site tells me I am not entitled to comment or read articles, I will.

          I have read a few of your comments unless there are a few Erik’s and not that anything sticks out at this moment possibly thought, now, that’s something I didn’t think about. There are some I thought differently of but yours don’t ring a bell as to something I wouldn’t learn from.

        • Erik M
          June 30, 2013, 10:43 am

          please, tell us more about why you want to us the name tiny house?

          Any pics, vids, site?

        • Christina
          June 30, 2013, 10:41 am

          Erik M, I was going to post about plans to retire and build a tiny-ish house (340 sq ft). I wanted to discuss the relative merits of having a cellar in a tiny-ish house. I was going to ask about intentional tiny/small living communities for boomers. But, my friend, I’m not feeling the love here. I’m afraid I will make some kind of posting mistake and get in trouble.

          I hope today will be a friendlier, more open minded day here on the Tiny House Talk blog. Just sayin’.

          Peace

        • Ralph Sly
          July 1, 2013, 12:43 pm

          Ohhhh Christina, there is lots of love here, you just brought some. Thank God for opinions and the fact we are so diverse is what makes these subjects interesting. Please don’t let anyone’s method of communicating stifle your interest. You said in 4 sentences which I being somewhat yappy require far too many words to get across. I do try however and lately excessively lean toward respect that it was another living breathing thinking human being making their point with just maybe, more knowledge and experience than I have. If Erik is who I think he is, he is pretty knowledgeable on some subjects, passionate as a matter of fact (in my humble opinion) passion is a good thing, doctorial or condescending is another, outright bulling, well, you would see and hear an entirely different version of me.

          Your subjects on both basements and communities for boomers are of great interest to me. I for one sat here yesterday on a scorcher of a day and enjoyed coolness close to almost putting on an overhead heater on in this little building. It is very old and I have no idea how I am so fortunate. I would like to have a cellar, basement, dug out under this place but dare I disturb what nature is providing or is nature providing some form of contaminates i.e. in moisture for mold, gasses, whatever could be harmful to me and others, things I have only considered but am totally ignorant to understand. I believe the Erik I think he is would have some very valid and contributing opinions on that subject but again, I am not sure.

          It is a little strange that it is this excessively cold in here. On the convenient side, there is a liquor store on the corner and some of its customers, curious with what I am doing here, with the unique little building that has been boarded up for years, stop by with their cold beer and they are generous. I am not a big drinker by any stretch but two cool ones yesterday were a pleasant benefit, how could I refuse, that would not have been polite or neighborly, would it? (I might just get used to this LOL)

          (if you have time another little story) Funny thing about sharing knowledge, I have a skill many think is difficult because the tricks of the trade are generally held by us who acquired them. I was fortunate, the absolute best taught me and am vain enough to think he is the only one better than I. A young man came in here the other day, we had an exchange and it wasn’t long before he expressed a great desire to learn the skill. I hadn’t even brought it up, that’s in my history (nothing fabulous I assure you, a patient ape could learn it) but he couldn’t find anyone who would give him the time. Oh, I have time, can’t do anymore, but sure can teach it and now; my painting and decorating problems around here are taken care of because he has talents I am more than happy to trade off for and keep my pudgy parts off the ladders.

          HAVE A GOOD DAY.

        • Christina
          July 1, 2013, 1:05 pm

          Thanks, Ralph. I look forward to discussing all with everyone. I think the particular question posed in this blog post regarding retirement is bound to inspire many people to talk about slightly larger options. For instance, the loft bed may be impractical for nightly use for some but is still good for overnight visitors.

          By the by, Ralph, I am a fellow Canuck – Happy Canada Day :0)

    • Dougie
      June 29, 2013, 11:39 pm

      Erik,

      I have to agree with Ralph on this one. I don’t believe there is a minimum size to a tiny house. I read a lot about the tiny houses on these websites and dream about living in one. I view the tiny houses on trailers because I like the design ideas but I don’t ever see myself living in one. For me, a house needs to be a permanent structure with 3/4 bathroom, full plumbing, a washer/dryer, a kitchen with a minimum 10 cubic foot frig and stove/oven (full size not required), some storage space, and a bedroom on the first floor or a loft accessible by real stairs, not a ladder. I would also like it to be green and sustainable. This can be either a stand alone residence or an apartment. I could easily do this in 400 sq. feet if I was single and didn’t participate in the activities I enjoy such as skiing, kayaking, bicycling, and motorcycling. But the truth is I am married and I enjoy some equipment intensive activities, so I don’t think I could live in under 600 sq. ft. and be happy and married.

      So it seems to me, that this 400 sq. ft. rule is something you came up with because it makes you feel good. Its may be true that 600 is only a small house and it is not a tiny house, but I think the tiny or small house movement is about learning to live with less and reducing our carbon footprint on the world. A side benefit is that most small home dwellers save money.

      So basically, you can get off your high horse and skip the holier than thou attitude.

    • Princess Mom
      May 23, 2014, 1:40 pm

      I guess I’m on the wrong site, then, since I want a house in the 400-800 square foot range. What are those called?

      • Brian
        May 23, 2014, 4:40 pm

        Hi Princess Mom. These are called Small houses. I have one myself and it is just under 600 sq ft and I find it a size that fits me and my requirements. However I often refer to it as a tiny house although the locals refer to it as the “Dolls House”. This is all a matter of perception. I also have an RV for getting away for the odd overnight stay somewhere, but coming home to my “Small House” is always comforting especially when the RA starts flaring up and I am in some pain. I hope you get your house Princess without delay.

      • Brian pps
        May 23, 2014, 4:51 pm

        You are definitely not on the wrong site Princess Mom.

    • Becky Little Magee
      May 23, 2014, 1:48 pm

      Erik, one reason we’re posting on here (even though we don’t meet the “requirements” of a tiny home) is because in the last part of the article it distinctly states: “How would you like to retire? In a small cabin? Modern? Rustic? How small? Cottage style? Or in a tiny house, cabin, or cottage? Or is it on a sailboat or an RV??”

  • Ralph Sly
    June 30, 2013, 11:43 am

    LOL, you have a good day also Erik

  • Rebecca
    June 30, 2013, 2:43 pm

    I would love a tiny house but, do not want to have to worry about not being able to get up and down ladders or even stairs if I would no longer be able to just to sleep. That is my only draw back on the whole retire in a tiny house.

    • Ralph Sly
      June 30, 2013, 7:26 pm

      Hi Rebecca, Safari RV has been using an elevating bed for years and I was involved with a project where we built our adaptation of one, on the cheap with dc winch and cables, housed in properly it worked well. The winch is noisy but you only hear that coming up and down. I have been playing with possible doing one in my little (not sure what to call it now,) “suite” just to have more usable floor spaced during the day time but I like to snatch a snooze during the day so will probably only use it just to show off. A snooze can come on anytime and I just like to fall on a bed and nap, LOL these are not an engineering marvel when you look at the space you want to install it in and build accordingly (my way of saying anyone could build this). Na, it didn’t take long to raise or lower it. Now problem solved, go get yourself into a Tiny House.

  • Ralph Sly
    July 1, 2013, 2:00 pm

    Good point on the loft bed Christina. My son dropped by the other day on his way to Vancouver and I booked a motel for him but it was a short visit and not required. The age matured retirement generation has company to consider in kids grand kids and curious relatives and friends who may want to stay around for a bit. You’re generous, taking that into consideration before you get started.
    I am quite pleased with the amount of Canadians involved here. We do have a different climate to consider than those in the deep southern States.
    Back at ya. Happy Canada Day :0)

  • Sunraya
    July 26, 2013, 7:36 pm

    I love the idea of a tiny home. I would love a log cabin next to a stream but money is. a problem. Next week l move into a one bedroom flat. Excellent use of space inside and a small yard that is perfect for me.

  • Jeneal
    September 7, 2013, 6:19 pm

    I am 57 years old, and I would agree about retiring in a tiny, or small, house. What I would really like is a tiny house on a big piece of land. (Ok, the words “tiny” and “big” are subjective, I guess. Right now I’m trying to sell a bigger house, and trying to figure out just what I want to have in my new house. However much space that takes, that’s what it takes. I am thinking probably somewhere around 500-700 sq ft. Could be wrong though. I don’t have it all figured out yet.

    I want the land to be mostly wooded, with just a tiny yard space, and some kind of water. My preference would be a creek, or some kind of running water.

    I’m looking for something easy to take care of, inexpensive to run, and comfortable. I will want it to be handicap friendly, so I can stay in it as long as possible.

    Oh, and I want it to be as green built as is practical to suit my needs.

    I’m planning to buy the land (I’m hoping for 20-40 acres) and probably design and build the house. That is, unless something that’s just right, or that can be easily made just right, pops up.

    • Kruger
      October 25, 2013, 7:11 pm

      I have 40 acres in Alaska, and a smaller few of neighboring/touching acreages in Oregon 🙂

      Good luck with your pursuit sir!

  • gus gregerson
    September 8, 2013, 9:57 am

    Wonderful subject, actually could be its own blog spot for the “plus-60” set…if they have time to check it now and then. My partner and best friend of 40 years are in the planning stages of moving from our 750sq ft 1 1/2 levels home to move into a THonWheels for 18-24 months while we build our shop/home universal access home in a warmer climate. Please continue this conversation and ask readers to add their beliefs, thoughts, and adventures in “retirement” living in Tiny Houses. Many thanks, happy building! gg

  • Doc
    September 9, 2013, 3:44 pm

    we plan to retire in a th on wheels. ours will have the added twist of being a fifth wheel, something we do not see too much of on these pages. on wheels because we would like to travel more. fifth wheel platform for space (like 320 ft2) and just a few steps to bed, no ladders for wife! we will be housing the two of us and our four cats, two of which are physically special needs. this thow will be of my own design, as i mentioned, not many out there to look at, buy plans for in the fifth wheel platform. a few steps to get wife to bed and separate enough sleeping if one of us (her) can’t sleep. 🙂 the other can be up reading, on the computer or watching a video. we will also have most modern conveniences. a flush high rise toilet, a 3×4 shower (as mentioned above, for our pudgie parts!) AC for hot summer days, a small range that could even be an RV unit (you can only microwave so much), 11 cu ft fridge for more freezer space, dish washer as neither back can handle doing dishes in sink (haven’t yet trained cats to wash/dry/put away dishes. oh, they can wash/dry good enough for us, just not good enough for company! 😛 ) we will also create space for stack-able mini washer dryer. would use an all in one but the more i read i am surprised that any would with the moisture problems already inherent to a tiny house and it uses roughly same footprint. i would vent dryer to outside.
    we will have windows designed to optimize natural light and strategically placed for the entertainment of said cats! we will have a screened in porch large enough to hold a table and chairs cause we like the outdoors just not the rain and michigans state bird, i mean, mosquitoes! when traveling, the porch will hold a two seat quad wife can use to get around campgrounds.
    i think retiring tiny is just up to the people involved. it it not age dependent on age. just look at how many full time RVers are out there well over 60. that life ain’t for sissies! those people work hard to put up and take down camp when they move on. but maybe it’s easy if you have a flush toilet…

    as a foot note to eric m, i too missed the memo and this is not personal: an 800 sq ft home IS tiny if you are coming from a 3500 or 4000 sq ft home. it’s all relative. just like beauty is in the eye of the beholder you will find tiny is in the eye of the community that follows these pages. we won’t judge you, even if you are in a 850 or 875 sq ft home. 🙂 just sit down. relax. enjoy the ride. it’s over way too soon anyway.

    • bobhenry
      October 25, 2013, 11:07 am

      I stumbled on this thread today and read every entry. I to, at 63 fell on rough times. The loss of a wife and reduced suddenly to one income left me without enough disposable income to maintain the home and decided that since the bank didn’t care enough to work with me on a more creative financial arrangement that they could simply have it. I was done begging. I diverted the house payments into the creation of a tiny house on wheels yes I said it Tiny house on wheels. My 120 sq ft caboose is almost complete ( It is livable right now) I went to place it on a surplace state property of .43 acres that I had purchased in cash for $1700.00. Fighting with the zoning folks I went to plan B and created a small home in a 50 x 60 pole barn I am renting. My “small house is 20 x 30 and seems huge compared to the caboose. Building inside a building has great advantages. No roof leaks , no snow loads, no wind loads. and with a flat roof I still have storage above since the building has 17 foot ceilings.
      So I stand looking at retirement without a safety net of any kind other than my $1500 a month check. The projects were funded with what cash I had at hand so no loans and no credit cards to repay. I have $200.00 a month rent on the building and that’s that. I am trying to position myself for off grid living and will soon have 2 homes a tiny house (caboose) the zoning people tells me I can’t live in. I also now have a 500 sq ft small house that is also illegal because it does not contain the 750 sq ft minimum that the county requires of all single family residences. I can live in stealth mode inside the building so I am fairly confident it will work. I still want the caboose on the other property as it is within walking distance of my current job while the building is 15 miles away. When I finally make that jump into social security I will have greatly reduced my cost of living to the bare bones. I have the solar cells purchased and pumps and holding tanks for rain water harvesting. Other solar projects such as solar furnace and solar evaporation of waste grey water and solar hot water generation are well underway as well. I want to be well positioned for the collapse or continued degradation of our life style and the continued rise in the cost of living that seem to have no end. For seniors on fixed income this will make living in their own home an impossibility unless they have positioned themselves well and have alternate pensions and other income streams in place.

  • Kruger
    October 25, 2013, 7:08 pm

    Honestly, I’ve been everywhere in the world already. Peru, to the Philippines, Iceland to the Sudan. I’ve lived with so much less then what folks really need. Enough to only fit in my bag and toss over my back.

    For those who do what “we” do, and return home, America really is a nice place, despite all the bad things we see going on in our cities, across the nation. Violence here, is nothing like the brutalities around the world, in places where civilized law, mean really next to nothing.

    Honestly, for me? I like being close to water, ocean or other wise. I like being able to fish, and eat what I catch, I also like to hunt, with a rifle or a bow, and again, eat what I hunt. Give meat to friends and random people who need it. I’ve done so, Alaska, Montana, etc. I like being able to grow my own plants, herbs and small veggies for food, larger squash to various fruit trees.

    I’ve lived off grid, and while it is doable, and there is a beauty in the lighter of a left behind foot print. I don’t mind civilities and comforts. I’ve grown to miss them. When serving abroad, I always missed an unhealthy burger. Or just a hot dog. Or a glass of wine. Or being able to flip a switch and have instant gratification in terms of air conditioning, or even just an electric fan. Having stacks and stacks of books takes lots of room. As does having unending supplies for art. I have learned to consolidate. Instead of having space taking books, I get digital. Instead of drawing, painting, and etc with traditional mediums? I use a graphics tablet and the computer. While somethings have to be considered, I still use small notebooks and journals to keep my thoughts down, to draw in, to log. I still on occasion do normal use material “art”. I usually give that stuff away, or sell, and donate the money towards food, and other goods for the local homeless.

    So like I said, I’d like to be near water. I’d also like 2-4 tanks, that can hold anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand gallons of water. I don’t mind harvesting snow in the winter. I would like a roof top of solar panels, maybe a few on sun tracking mounts, wind turbines and so on.

    I’ve been observing Tiny Homes and the culture that has sprung up, have so for a few years.

    I personally want a smaller living space, easier to maintain and clean, easier to heat, and cool. All that is just common sense. However, I’d love a larger steel kit building, insulated, heated floor slabs, which can be done relatively efficiently. I’d like to be able to do wood work, forge general use tools, bladed tools, do glasswork, make and maintain my own stuff. Work on a few muscle cars, keep a few rigs, have a small boat, stock general food supplies and other equipment like medical and homestead. I’d like to build a green house or two.

    For me, my home would be small in relative size, the front door would have a space between it and a window, the other side of the window a small nook to read or write, with a desk for a laptop that folds away. That space between the window and door, a safe, all I need is a hunting rifle, a shotgun, a few pistols, and to keep a few things like some nice watches, rings, pins, and medals. I’d like a few shelves to house my most prized books, and various bibles I’ve collected. I’d like to also have posters of such like Bullitt, The Pianist, Man of Steel, Pans Labyrinth, and etc mounted, maybe lining the ceiling so you look up to look at them. I’d like a few decorative yet functional jars holding various candy viewable from entry of front door. A nice wood burning stove to heat the place, as well cook on. Maybe a small single electric stove in the kitchen or those small ones with an oven, I do bake after all.

    A 68 Mustang Fastback in the garage, a 68 Camaro there too, a 35 ford pickup, a 94 Mazda Rx7 with a 20B, an old porsche would be the last on my working car projects I’d have on stands. A harley or two, an indian, an R1 and maybe something else italian. New or Old.

    Another newer pickup outside. If I lived near coast, I’d love to be near a town or small city. I’ve passed through many in my life time. I’d like a Lab and a Sheppard, I haven’t had either in a long time, but have trained many of them.

    Would love to also be near enough to work at and help at homeless shelters, soup kitchens, or etc. I miss that small town small home property build what you drive and ride, hunt and fish for what you eat, and make what you use and put to work kind of feel. While I have lived off grid, I’d love comforts. Only a few more months of saving, and I’ll be able to put all that together. Already have the cars 🙂 tools machinery, and a few other things on hand.

    While I like the idea of moving a th on wheels around, the kit I built was lovely, and it was nice, but I prefer an airstream for just living out of and traveling around in. For a home, I like/want to settle down and have a house on the ground. Soon, Alaska, and Oregon, will both be home 🙂

    I’ve served enough, worked and saved enough, I think its about time I retire. Not old by most folks standards, but the service, and work I’ve done? Makes me feel rather old. Weathered.

    I hope everyone gets their slice of simple and pleasureful living, everyone deserves it.

    What I’ve noticed, are huge homes that never really get paid off, banks getting richer, and redundant and stupid laws existing or being implemented to stop, limit, and or hinder people from living simply, smaller, and efficiently. I did not fight for the rich and established to oppress and limit the rights to pursue happiness, nor for cities to cash in on taxes, and hindering tiny home owners because they want to force folks into housing they can set standards for and tax and poke at for as much money as they can get.

    Hope everyone has an enjoyable weekend, God Bless~

    • Rebecca
      May 24, 2014, 7:16 pm

      I hear us about the forces pushing us toward too big homes. Pass!

  • Annette
    May 23, 2014, 2:10 pm

    I would move into a small cottage with stairs to top if it had a top. I am retired, I waited too long to do this and lost my nest egg on a condo, and HOA Distatorship and dues for everything and rules to prevent you from selling your excess at garage sales. I’m physically unable to work on a small building or house and could not afford it either. But I would live in a small cottage for sure.

    • Nila Ridings
      May 25, 2014, 12:29 am

      Far too many of us have learned the fastest way to lose our retirement savings is to buy in an HOA or condo associations! It’s more risky they gambling on the craps table in Vegas.

      Nobody tells us we are signing away our US Constitutional Rights, becoming business partners will all of our neighbors in a non-profit corporation and our bank accounts will be wiped out when the HOA decides to start accessing people for anything the want…lawsuits, settlements, liabilities, construction defects and disaster rebuilds…and any other thing they can think of. And very few people have ever heard of the CAI! OMG! The corruption and insanity is beyond words. Ward Lucas wrote his book; Neighbors At War a few years after I made this mistake. Reading his website is a fast education on HOAs and condos for sure http://www.neighborsatwar.com There is also a radio show that is very good….she has podcasts so the shows can be listened to anytime. http://www.onthecommons.net

      So sorry to know yet another victim has had their life destroyed by a condo association!

  • CathyAnn
    May 23, 2014, 2:17 pm

    I’ll turn 70 next January, so no stairs for me although I am still strong and agile. Not taking chances.

    My dream is to buy some land (I live in Montana), anywhere from 1 to 10 acres, and live in a small house (if one is already on the land), put a tiny house or a small mobile home on it. I am currently debt free and will keep it that way. I pay cash for everything. There must be room for a vegetable garden, fruit trees, some timber, and whatever else I decide I need.

    I will never buy any land where there is a homeowner’s association or covenants. I value my freedom and independence too much. That means I will be living in a very rural setting. Suits me fine – with a couple of large guardian dogs.

    Travel? With a small travel trailer, I plan on taking off to travel this country, visit friends on both coasts, moving as the spirit moves me.

    Ahhhhhhh…… That’s the life!

    • Nila Ridings
      May 24, 2014, 2:22 am

      CathyAnn,

      So happy to hear you will never buy where there is a homeowners association. So many of us have made the mistake and paid dearly for it with massive financial loss and health problems due to stress. Never ever again for me. I will live in a campground first.

      The attraction to a maintenance-provided community looks good on paper. In real life it’s a living hell. Nobody realizes when they make the purchase they are signing away their US Constitutional Rights, becoming business partners in a non-profit corporation with all of their new neighbors (even the ignorant and idiot ones) and most of all since the HOA can assess you for debts you are liable for all loans, lawsuits, liabilities (which increase with swimming pools and clubhouses), settlements, construction defects and disaster rebuilds. If the HOA is not FHA approved there is never an option of a reverse mortgage. If it’s located in a storm area (hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes) FEMA looks at it as a business (non-profit corp that it is) and will loan money for a re-build but that is it. All the common properties have to be paid for with loans. I learned all of this the hard way. I did find a book called Neighbors At War by Ward Lucas. Everybody in America should read that book….homeowners, potential buyers, city administrators, legislators, and real estate and contract attorneys. Condos are even more of a nightmare and on his website there is plenty of information about the risks of owning one of those. http://www.neighborsatwar.com

      I love Montana. Darby. Hamilton. Livingston. Gardiner. Flathead Lake. Missoula. I hope you’ll find the perfect HOA-FREE spot and breathe that fresh air and marvel at the Big Sky! You are truly living the good life! I’m jealous!

  • C Clark
    May 23, 2014, 4:09 pm

    We plan to retire to a small home. My late father had a few acres of land and a small house that was converted from an oil-field office into a 1-bedroom cottage (a hobby farm, really). It’s about 750 sq ft which is more than enough for my wife and I. He added on a porch and closed in a couple of rooms adding more functional space. The land is not pretty but it’s close enough to a sizable city in southern Texas and I can be on the beach in an hour, which is the real draw. Plus with land, I have a variety of options. I want to build little homes or park used camping trailers for guests. Why pay to heat and cool a house for all your kids and grandkids when they only see you once in awhile? Anyhow, the house is pretty run down but I bought the place for the value of the land only so we got it for a song. Retirement isn’t for quite some time but we have a cheap, small place ready to be transformed.

  • susan
    May 23, 2014, 4:35 pm

    The other part of the Tiny House movement is the dismal economy. Seniors and juniors do not have the job opportunities that existed in, say the 70’s. Generally, most Americans are making less in buying power. So what are our options? Go into debt forever, or downsize whether we like it or not. I do not want to live in a tiny house. I think they are cute. I want one, but do not want to inhabit one year in, year out. I think tiny homes are an survival technique we clever humans have come up with to have a life of freedom, not a life of debt. That is clever, but it also makes me sad that the country has had such dismal economic leadership for thirty years. So a tiny house must be a choice that brings joy, not a survival technique that makes one’s life smaller.

  • Ginger
    May 24, 2014, 1:20 am

    Wow! Some really chatty people on here! First, a comment about ‘tiny’….Erik M. Is correct that in most blogs, articles, etc about tiny homes, it is generally agreed that tiny means 400 sq ft or less. small generally is between 400 and 800. But who cares? Alex clearly invited people to discuss their dream…regardless of size.
    I wanted to live small and cheap, but not with a loft. And not alone out on a property somewhere away from a town. And I didn’t have much money. I followed blogs, read articles and generally searched the Internet for almost two years. I also took a couple of trips to places I thought I might like to live. I found my spot in February 2014. I bought a 2007 Laurel Creek park model in a small mobile home park in Marana, AZ. I moved in April. When I got here,the first thing I did was paint the whole interior, then replace the carpet and linoleum with plank vinyl wood look flooring throughout. I have a few other incomplete tasks, such as pressure washing the exterior. But basically..,I’m here in my new, clean, fresh little park model. About 396 sq ft. I am in a park that is small and informal. Not a bunch of uptight rules. Park is very clean. I’m 10 miles from Tucson and big city amenities, but I’m surrounded by farmland and mountain views.

    I have 5 steps at my front door…that’s it. Since I am having a knee replaced next month, stairs and lofts were out for me.

    I think park model homes are a really good option for retirement. I have enough room for me and my dog, and even a guest…but no extra. My utilities are super cheap. And my park rent is very reasonable. I think I’m pretty well set. I do have another dream though. I hope to save enough for a small travel trailer, so I can take off in summers and travel for 3 or 4 months a year.

    Oh…and my park model cost only $10500.00. My park rent is $300, and my utilities are around $60 per month. My insurance is about $40, so my overhead per month is about $400. Thats pretty good…a nice place to live with pool,spa, clubhouse, laundry facilities for a little over $13 a day. I did spend about $1500 more on new paint, flooring and labor.

  • Jacki Frederick
    May 24, 2014, 11:08 am

    First – thank for this great site, love it. Okay for my part most of the suggestions for places to retire are kewl with me except city apartment and modern. I have already gotten into the downsizing habit when several years ago after separation from then husband, no job and then a job making have of what I had before caused me to sell my dream home. Going from 2000+ house to a single bedroom and the rest our belongs in a friends garage and storage unit with 1 daughter, 2 dogs and a cat is great incentive. By-the-by that is one bedroom in a friend’s house not a one bedroom place. Within 2 months I was down to a 650 sf place and no storage unit with fairly few frills. I will admit it was hard at first but now I am in the habit. Trying to convince the daughter though is another story. heheheh. I have always liked living small or tiny. Being portable is also a good thing for those of us with “gypsy feet”. Having or living in something small is a good idea for a multiplicity of reasons of which everyone has their own. Personally I need a place with a special kind of space – I am a costumer and medievalist. Yep there you have it – I need space for the fabric, the sewing machine and the resulting clothing; also the accompanying books of history that go along with that. Oh and I have books, lots of books, and even though I trim is down yearly I still have lots of books. Kindle and Nook are our friends until you run out of battery, which paper books do not. And then there are the cook books of which I am down to one large-ish book case. Well there are others on my research wall ’cause I love research. This is how I would spend my retirement – researching and sewing and cooking. So it goes, the result is somethings are still very hard for me to let go of. But I am working on it.

    I am very glad that some of the tiny house manufacturers are now making plans that are all on one level and with bathrooms not bath cubbies. Outdoor bathrooms/showers are not so great in the great land of Alaska. My idea, borrowing from my Whovian daughters, is to have a tiny house that is much like the tardis, without the time travel. Then again . . .

  • Rebecca
    May 24, 2014, 7:01 pm

    Already bought my dream for retirement! 5 acres of mountain forest. Split cabin bed/bath one side and liv/kit on other. 480 sf. Living with Greenhouse in the middle. Stone cabin and greenhouse macimize passive solar heat. Separate root cellar for garden storage. Yay, I am on my way

  • Comet
    May 25, 2014, 12:13 am

    I live in what I would call a “small” house–your basic shoe box shape with two OK sized bedrooms and a tiny-width of a single bed!-other room. The former owners put this on a full basement altho it was not designed to do that so we have some awkward space issues.

    However—I am hoping that some one else want’s to either start out in a smaller house or retire here. We live in the mountains and it is gorgeous but those winters—for a handicapped person this is NOT a great climate.

    We are looking into buying and renovating an RV and looking for a place to live for winters; might come back to this area for summer visits. Our kids are either grown and gone –and live in even COLDER places!–or also want to move South.

    Our main goal is to locate some warmer place we like where we can ride motorcycles for as long as possible climate wise. If we decide that we like a place enough to move to –out of the RV!—we would look for a small place to rehab or some sort of park model type place.

    We have two houses to sell that are both paid off so we would use that for supplemental retirement and home/RV purchase–we are NOT going to go buy a showroom fresh $$250k RV—well not unless we win the Lottery! We are NOT high maintenance so not looking for luxury just comfort.

    And certainly NEVER ever an HOA!!!!! Even a permanent base RV or park model place has me wondering if I really WANT to live that close to people—I am spoiled after 35 years in the deep country! So maybe a small piece of land with a small dwelling on it. We are not the types who can stand being told the grass can only be “x” inches high and your roof shingles must match the neighbors and you can’t hang your clothes outside and the rain must never fall til after sundown. Well maybe that last part!

    Who thought up those sorts of places anyways??? And NO we are not going to live somewhere “age restricted” either!

    Good thing no one was here to tell our settlers that THEY had to build some minimum square footage or judging by the few places still intact from the very early years around here—places so small I thought one of them was a SHED and one here is now part of the INSIDE of a barn—would never have been able to be built muchless heated. I wonder if there is legal precedent in this sort of structure–not “Grandfathered” in places but new built? I know around here some “permit” departments are getting beyond greedy and demanding “snow load” measurements that are far far beyond even what we get in a BAD Upstate NY winter; to the point where architects have backed out of buildings. And one of these was not even a HOUSE! And of course you are paying for those permits—

    Well I ramble but—

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