Do small spaces comfort you?

[SoulRaven]

I realized the other day that small spaces have always been a way I naturally seek comfort in times of high stress, from a very young age. I was always one to do things like camp out under the bed, or squeeze into a closet, even curl up inside an empty chest! Anyplace tiny, confining, and dark helped me feel all safe and cozy, like my world had shrunk enough to be manageable again.

I'm finding this "opposite of claustrophobia" is a significant factor in car living working out for me, and I'm curious to hear whether others here share similar tendencies.

 

[wagoneer]

I am claustrophobic but get in the fetal position in bed often, just feels good. Gotta go to my feel good place once in a while

 

[66788]

Gotta stretch out in wide open spaces. We're all different.

 

[wagoneer]

Just spent a night in Medicine Bow WYOMING, TAKABOUT WIDE OPEN and high 8700ft, Very cold and very cool that was a 3 wool blanket night. And yes thank you we are all different. i robot has not yet happened?? Star filled sky.20 degree.....

 

[sephson]

I'm indifferent. I deal equally well with wide open spaces, confined spaces and everything in between. One quirk I've got though, I sleep much better when I can feel the weight of blankets on me. Because of this, I generally don't sleep as well in the warmer, summer months.

 

[jeanontheroad]

No. I never wanted a huge house or a huge boat, but I don't like feeling like I am confined, either. I also like to have my own space. Since we are still moving around a lot, 32 ft is pretty good. But if we had been planning on full timing when we bought, I would want something bigger. When we decided to sell the house, this is what we had and it's not at all bad. But I like my own company and enjoy a certain amount of alone time. I would like a space where I can leave my sewing machine up and my fabric mess out for however many days I am working on a project without getting in DH'S way. I would like a space he can spread his messy projects out and I can shut a door on it. Up to now, I have been finding open spaces where dog and I can go hiking by ourselves for an hour or two every day. Don't know if that's going to work here in Tucson. There's county land right across from the park, but dog refuses to go. Too many burrs in his feet. Got to see if I can find him some boots he can't chew off.

 

[Reducto]

I've actually been thinking about this a lot myself lately and have even been using that phrase "opposite of claustrophobia" - I've always liked small spaces. A couple of times when I was a kid I set up a little fort inside my bedroom and decided that was all the space I really needed. I'd sleep in there for weeks instead of my bed. Now I'm in a minivan and like having only enough room to sit or lay down. I haven't really figured out how to explain this to people who try to talk me into moving up to a full size van or RV. I simply wouldn't be comfortable with that much space! I spend a lot of time parked in big wide open spaces, but mostly just stay inside the van.

 

[Iggy]

I like the openness of nature but prefer tight spaces for living in. I've lived in several small travel trailers, a 10x12 cabin, a VW Bug, and my current full sized van. This van suits me best right now because I have visitors often. Otherwise a minivan would probably serve my needs.
I like darkness too. Caves, basements, and crawl spaces under houses feel comfortable to me. Men in white, take me away!

 

[akrvbob]

I don't think I could live in a car, that's too small, but a van or my 6x8 trailer is just right!! I lived in a 6x7 camper for 2 years and loved it even more.

On the other hand I hate living in houses. I don't ever intend to live in one again! So much wasted space. The 4 walls and roof close in one me and make me feel trapped. Yuck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bob

 

[mockturtle]

While my 'womb with a view' comforts me, I like to be parked in spacious areas.

 

[Queen]

While my 'womb with a view' comforts me, I like to be parked in spacious areas.

This.

I enjoy a cozy sleeping space but cannot abide being places where I can't see the horizon. Had to go to a conference once in Buckhannon WV, about lost my mind before I got out of there! It's a small town in a tight valley. *shudder*

 

[Reno]

Yes. Yes, they do.

 

[oceanside7]

When I was little I would play Lost In Space in my dad's work van. I would lookup at the moon and that I was escaping there to be free in my own little private escape pod. The spaceship would comfort me and take care of all my needs. I have always hated the modern world, trying to change me into something I'm not. I would always rebel against society. Many times I feel like I've been programed to think like this because I don't feel like it's normal to be living in a van. Most of all what really freaks me out is that I've had been planning an escape pod since I was little and not even knowing it. Totally ignoring the idea of a normal life. I was even married to a nice looking lady yet still gave it all up.

At that same time when I was little only once in my whole entire life I actually fell asleep sitting at the edge of my bed with my eyes open staring at the floor. Only to awake the next morning with my eyes open and wondering what the hell just happened. Could this have anything to do with the way I turned out? Was I programed or hypnotized? Am I just being silly to think this. Maybe it was just something I ate. Sorry I'm telling all this to people I don't know, I just wonder why I picked such a strange lifestyle or was it me, am I normal for wanting this. What do you all think?

 

[akrvbob]

For millions of years humans and pre-humans were nomads and as such they either lived under the stars or in caves and other tiny places they could throw together.

Vandwellers are the normal ones, anyone who wants to live in a giant home that can't move is the abnormal one.
Bob

 

[jeanontheroad]

Good grief, Bob. If you go back far enough, we would all be sleeping in very unmovable trees.

 

[SoulRaven]

I don't if it applies to anyone else, but my VA shrink says that the fact I like small sleeping areas and small cabins or such, is one of the symptoms of PTSD, which I have so maybe she's right. I'm sure that's not the reason for everyone but it sort of fits for me.

Best I ever slept was when I was a truck driver and slept in my sleeper, completely dark. And small.

 

[jeanontheroad]

I sort of envy you people that can happily cocoon. No way for us. DH needs space for woodwork projects. DH Iikes to cook and has a lot of cookware. I need space for my sewing and lapidary stuff. Now, I am learning silverwork, and that takes space, too.

We could probably sleep and keep our personal stuff in a van. But we have a lot of interests and hobbies that are hard to do without a lot of space.

 

[akrvbob]

The need for a giant space comes entirely from your training as a “civilized” person and is totally against human nature. Since the first Hominid stood upright, virtually all humans and pre-humans were nomads. We've lived in houses for less than 10,000 years as opposed to nomadic for 2 million. Tiny places are the norm for the human animal.

Human Being Versus Human Doing.

The problem is we are no longer Human Beings and have become Humans Doing. If you can get rid of all the Doing, then your need for space disappears. But the civilized man can't stop doing because he would be face-to-face with himself, and that would be unbearable. Why do so many people die soon after retirement? They can't stand to be alone with themselves without constant activity.

Civilization is such a violation of the environment we adapted in and in such profound disagreement with our basic human nature, that the only way we can endure it is by self-medication. Everyone does that in a different way, but the most socially acceptable ways are to consume more stuff, and keep yourself constantly busy and distracted. The hallmark of all civilizations is they all find a way to distract their citizens.

Two books I very highly recommend to learn more about this idea are:

"The Sane Society" by Erich Fromm
"Brave New World Revisited" by Alduous Huxley

Both books written in the 50s by intellectual giants. Both are still available over 50 years later on the Kindle.
Bob

Bob

 

[jeanontheroad]

Well, that's the problem for some of us, isn't it? We are out in nature, busily "being," and we happen to see a beautiful piece of jasper or amethyst or an interesting piece of agate or turquoise at our feet. We pick it up without thinking about it and turn it around appreciatively in our fingers. Next thing you know, it's in our pocket and we are headed back home where we will want to be "doing" something with it.

 

[Theadyn]

I prefer small spaces, especially when I need to get away from people. Have been like that my whole life. As a kid, I would be quite happy playing in a closet by myself, pretty sure I had sleeping arrangements in there a time or two, lol. Ten years ago or so I was really dreaming of getting a backyard retreat so I could escape to be alone in my small space. I use my small RV for that now. But that even feels too big at 28' long. I've outfitted my car to be car camper and just keeping my eyes open for a few more things to complete it, I think I could be quite cozy sleeping in it, but not in it all the time. Obviously, the better choice would be a van, but this is what I have right now. Am keeping it in mind for the future.

Is it bad to admit that even right now I'm trying to contemplate how to have my own little 'space' this coming weekend? We are leaving on a 3 day camping trip (woohooo!! yes!) and meeting some family there. It is a little comforting to know that the back bedroom has a door on it that I can close and be alone in my little space if I need to recharge. Heaven help me if they decide to stay and sleep in our RV, ugh!! Too many people are claustrophobic for me. Give me small space over too many people ANY DAY!!