Going small fundamentally change you?

[VanLifeCrisis]

I lived in a very small cabin for about 5 years.&nbsp; I never even used the loft space.&nbsp; I would live there and work, and i would live in the minivan on the weekends.&nbsp; Now the cabin had other issues i have mentioned here before and im glad to be gone from there now.&nbsp; I got an nice apartment, which is about 100-140 more out of pocket, but i have internet now.<br /><br />Anyway, you'd think id be happy, but I'm not.&nbsp; I know its only been 2 months, but the novelty of the big kitchen, living/dining room has faded.&nbsp; Just seems so much more lonely than before (tho same amount of people...me) and depressing.&nbsp; I mostly stay in my bedroom, my desk is also in here.&nbsp; If i could stick the stove and fridge in here i would.&nbsp; <br /><br />This seems abnormal and i am shocked to find myself this affected by it emotionally.&nbsp; I usually dont let anything get to me.&nbsp; Anyone else experience this?<br /><br />It wasn't my plan but i think when the lease is up i will start full timing while working and saving.

 

[Johnnomads]

<strong>I've been living in roughly 90 sq ft for the last 28 yrs, and loving it, but on occasion rented or lived with a person who had a standard home. Like you the newness wore off pretty quickly, and the extra space actually became a burden, more to clean, heat, cool</strong>, <strong>etc. Most of the time i felt that the extra space was a colossal waste of money and space. I think the Tiny House folks are starting to get the idea, although they haven't tumbled to the idea of living in what you drive, yet!</strong><br />

<br />...Anyway, you'd think id be happy, but I'm not.&nbsp; I know its only been 2 months, but the novelty of the big kitchen, living/dining room has faded.&nbsp; Just seems so much more lonely than before (tho same amount of people...me) and depressing.&nbsp; I mostly stay in my bedroom, my desk is also in here.&nbsp; If i could stick the stove and fridge in here i would.&nbsp; <br />This seems abnormal and i am shocked to find myself this affected by it emotionally.&nbsp; I usually dont let anything get to me.&nbsp; Anyone else experience this?<br /><br />

 

[sl1966]

Yes <br /><br />

 

[josephusminimus]

I lived in a very small cabin for about 5 years.&nbsp; I never even used the loft space.&nbsp; I would live there and work, and i would live in the minivan on the weekends.&nbsp; Now the cabin had other issues i have mentioned here before and im glad to be gone from there now.&nbsp; I got an nice apartment, which is about 100-140 more out of pocket, but i have internet now.<br /><br />Anyway, you'd think id be happy, but I'm not.&nbsp; I know its only been 2 months, but the novelty of the big kitchen, living/dining room has faded.&nbsp; Just seems so much more lonely than before (tho same amount of people...me) and depressing.&nbsp; I mostly stay in my bedroom, my desk is also in here.&nbsp; If i could stick the stove and fridge in here i would.&nbsp; <br /><br />This seems abnormal and i am shocked to find myself this affected by it emotionally.&nbsp; I usually dont let anything get to me.&nbsp; Anyone else experience this?<br /><br />It wasn't my plan but i think when the lease is up i will start full timing while working and saving.

I believe it do.

 

[Where~the~wind~blows]

I hear you, and your not alone, although the lifestyle is not considered "normal" thousands of people like us exist, hence this forum!<br /><br />I love small spaces and prefer them, like Johnnynomad said to me is feels like a burden, and a waste of space. I can do without the hassle of being grounded, surely somebody (recently for me my brother) wants your to grow roots. and I have learned my lesson I'm a singleton and I like it that way. Don't get me wrong I love company and friends but not to share my live in the same space.&nbsp;<br /><br />The cabin sounds lovely and I am saving to build one on property I do have, as I have plans to rent the house as income. So chin up and read up, and welcome home!<br /><br /><br />

 

[Pikachu711]

I'm certain that going "small" will change me to some degree. Although the change will be for the better.<br /><br />I'm not a person who enjoys having a great deal of "stuff" but I have duplicates of some things I only occasionally use. Now I'm beginning to rethink the way I look at my possessions.<br /><br />Every time I use something I ask myself when the last time I used that item. Lately I'm noticing I have quite a few things that I rarely if ever use. Now I'm beginning to realize that I need to find homes for some of these items. The only reason I bought these items was "just in case" my primary item stopped working or just wore out.<br /><br />Now I'm starting to put these discovered "dupes" into an area of my apartment as I find them and realize I don't need them. This storage bin is filling up rather quickly!<br /><br />It's amazing how you buy things you think you "need" and suddenly you wonder why did I even buy that in the first place?

 

[user 2252]

I feel the same way Daz, I thought I was the only one! There's something about being surrounded by an enclosure that for some reason invokes security more so than a big, multi-room house. I'm not sure if it's the simplicity of it or the inexpensive way to live within your means, but I prefer it. Chin up!

 

[karl]

Add me to the list of folks preferring&nbsp; small living spaces.&nbsp; I have a stick/brick with rooms I rarely go in- mainly kitchen, bath, office...even when "home" working, I sleep in my van most nights.

 

[twokniveskatie]

My family is taking bets on when I will quit "camping" in the van and move into the farmhouse for the winter. It is nice to have the shower to use, but I rarely even cook in the farmhouse now. Hoping ill be out of here before it gets too cold.

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

Are you allowed to bet too katie?&nbsp; I say double down on yourself and rake it in <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" />&nbsp; <br /><br />Glad I'm not the only one who feels weird in this situation.&nbsp; I told my family im thinking about rolling out after my lease for full timing in the van, and they look at me like im nuts.&nbsp; "What if you don't like it?!"&nbsp; <br /><br />Like it was getting a bad drunk tattoo or something (the one you dont know how it got there).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; If i don't like it i go back to what ive done before <img src="/images/boards/smilies/rofl.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" />

 

[twokniveskatie]

"Bad drunk tattoo". Now that's funny!

 

[cyndi]

I don't think living small, fundamentally, changes anyone. I think human were born to live small and all the added trappings are mutations/evolutionary changes.

 

[Sunny1]

I once read an article where a woman described her little 13' Casita (10' interior) as a perfectly "human scaled dwelling." <br /><br />That's how I feel about my 17' (14' actual interior space) Casita for my husband and me.&nbsp; And when we put out the awning, we add another wide open room and it feels like a mini mansion to us.<br /><br />When we go home, I am always appalled at the vast, wasted space that we pay for the privilege of heating, cooling and maintaining.

 

[Sunny1]

I would like to add that what fundamentally changed my thinking about living space was backpacking.&nbsp; When I realized I could carry my bedroom and kitchen in a 25 pound pack, I never again could justify the unbelievable waste of a big house.<br /><br />I do live in a big place because that's what hubby wanted.&nbsp; But that's a concession I made for him.&nbsp; I am happiest in tiny spaces.&nbsp; Love my camper and would love to have a little house.

 

[VanGirl]

Back on topic.<br />Going small did not really change who I was but how I utilized the space around me. I went from a 2200 sq foot home (which I still own) to living in my sprinter van. There was some stuff I just could not do without. Most of which was a mound of paperwork I needed for taxes, real estate, family pictures ect... I solved that issue by scanning all paper things that were dear to me and putting them on a computer drive. The next thing was clothes and shoes. I now have that under control by only keeping what I need for work. Going small did not change the things I love and enjoy. I still have lots of useless stuff in the house back there but I have been without that stuff for two years now and realize that I did not need it in the first place. I have plans to spend time back at the house next summer to clear it out and sell it. By now some of you are asking why I left it all in the first place. Well that is a story for another time.<br /><br />VanGirl

 

[WanderingRain]

Yes it did. I occasionally think about getting an apartment... but quickly, that idea fades away when I think about other possibilities like getting a bigger rig, etc... I think that's a better goal for me now.&nbsp;