I have a new goal. In the midst of losing the over-valued and under-utilized house we called home for the last few years, I want to create something that will be our own – I want us to build a house together. I am not talking about browsing the Real Estate book to find some decent little starter house and finding all sorts of goodies to stuff inside, I mean, really build a house from scratch. I have been tinkering with this idea for awhile now, and have always known I did not want to go the traditional route with regards to making a home, which is why I think a Tumbleweed Tiny House is the perfect option for both our lifestyle and future. In case you are not familiar with this style of home, I will direct you to the Tumbleweed Tiny House website so you can become more familiar with their designs –
Tumbleweed Tiny House Company, Enesti Model.
Back? Ok, good. I can already hear what you are thinking – 681 square feet?! How are you ever going to fit all your “stuff” in there?? It is simple, really. After moving the contents of a 5 bedroom house to a small bedroom and office space, and living for a month at my parent’s house with nothing more than what we fit in the van, I know for sure it is possible to live without the masses of useless things that make us think we need to live in an elegant Tudor on a secluded cul-de-sac. Every day is the same for me. I sit at my desk, which is approximately 2′ x 2′, with my laptop and do my work; Butterfinger sits next to me at the same sized desk. The dogs lounge in the office with me on their doggy bed, which is about the size of a regular twin/full sized futon mattress.
I do not want all the “stuff”. I want to be able to pay attention to and absorb all of the wonderful things that are going on around me at any given moment in time. I think this house would really force us to practice what we preach and let go of all those things which are so highly valued in society, giving us a chance to focus on what really matters. I also think this house is a great opportunity for financial freedom, and thus, intellectual, spiritual and employment freedom as well. Maybe I am putting too much stock into a pile of wood in the middle of the woods somewhere, but I just feel as though this is the next step for us.
More thinking needs to be done on this matter, and while Butterfinger has already said he is on board, there is a lot of planning that would need to be done before embarking on such an undertaking. We will see what happens. All I know is sometimes you have to go with your gut, and right now my gut is telling me to go for it.
We need to all buy a good hunk of land and build a Tumbleweed community
I’ve been following Tumbleweed for the past few years and just love the designs. We’re seriously thinking about building the enesti, or the new “b53″ design which you can find in the portfolio section of the site.
We currently live in a 1500 square foot Victorian with our 4 children, and find it far too big. Getting rid of “stuff” is pretty easy for me, especially when I think about the freedom that awaits. It’s hard to convince the kids of this, but the less toys they have the happier they actually are, because they’re actually able to find/use everything.
Good luck!
Does anyone have a photograph of a Tumbleweed house that has been built, other than the ones available on the Tumbleweed site? I am wanting to build a B53, but would really like pictures of it or an Enesti or similar Tumbleweed home for perspective, etc. Anyone? Thanks
Chadyo, I think so too. There’s no point waiting around. Don’t wait for someone else to make the community you want to live in, go and build it yourself.
Look at the alternative housing movements from the 1960s. The alternative energy projects of the 70s, 80s, etc. Where are they now? They’re mostly tiny little cultish email lists.
People need housing now, they need a LIFE now, not way down the road, after peace in the Middle East and universal health care.
Live now.