I am cautiously optimistic that we are close to settled. The fact that I am writing this from my bed with a hot cup of coffee cements my faith in this statement. Hubs went last night and got our good mattress and we are no longer sleeping on the crummy temporary one we had, and this is life changing, as is the installation of a washer and dryer and refrigerator last week. Dozer and I made a huge run to IKEA, where we learned how to use tie down straps and properly load a truck, and we now have lots of storage furniture and her room is finished. Everything is pretty much in its place, and the old house went on the market Monday, and is generating lots of interest already. Dozer is excited start her new high school today (this is the same school she would have attended if we hadn’t moved previously, and she grew up with all the kids), and Stinky adores his online school and the format.

Long story short, things are good. I do miss things like not having our home office in our bedroom and a bathtub that is actually made for soaking. I miss having floors that are level and not having to use a pile of shims to get stuff to sit flat in this 80 year old house. I miss the dog door and my garden (although I do plan to have a small raised bed or grow some things in pots), my gas cooktop and having a garage, fresh eggs from the chickens and counter space. And having a coat closet. And thats about it for the negatives. Maybe my stack of complaints will grow, but for now, they are few.

There are just so many things to love about this new life, a total and complete change from the one we had before, but also different from any way we’ve ever lived, which had always been in your typical suburban neighborhood before we moved to our last place. Hubs and I walk the kids to dinner, and when they are finished they leave and head home, stopping for an ice cream on the way, leaving my husband and I to finish a cocktail or dessert and really have time to connect. There is nothing to maintain, nothing to repair, and the family is together all the time because we have one TV and so few rooms. The boys and I take the dogs and go for a walk each night before dinner. I have time to sit on the porch swing and read a book because there’s so little to keep clean, and I’ve kept my housekeeper (she’s been with us for 12 years and is worth every penny and my lazy ass is not letting her get away). My clothing choices are ones I REALLY love and are good quality, and I feel good each time I get dressed since I weeded out everything that doesn’t make me happy when I wear it, cutting down my entire clothing stock to one small IKEA wardrobe. Sugar Biscuit plays with his toys since he doesn’t have a glut of them and they stay well-organized. Everyone picks up after themselves because you just have to in small spaces. The electric bill is projected to be about $80 this month, which is good since the coconut pie place is so close and I need extra pie money. So. Many. Positives.

We’ve worked feverishly to get this house set to rights and the old one on the market so we have time to just be together, and now we do. Last night’s run for our bed was it, the last trip that we needed to make before this house could be our home. We can sit now and be still and enjoy our new space. We have our first weekend ahead of us with no plans except to be with each other and find something fun to do. No lawn to mow, chicken coop to clean, donkey poo to shovel. We may want a large piece of land again, but for right now, this is a good place to be, and we intend to enjoy it. We are actually discussing buying a lot or a home that needs renovation and building something small right here, and also buying land out of town. We will see. We have a year lease and a lot of time to think through our choices. For now, I think we are right where we need to be, and I can’t wait to bloom where we are planted.

*Note: I’ve received some backlash about calling where we live a tiny house, or a downsize. We moved from 4500 square feet on over two acres including a guest house into 1400 square feet on a small lot, so it is a huge change for us and has required a complete change of mindset as to how the things we own affect our spiritual and physical lives. My goal in writing about this is not to join the “tiny house movement”. My goal is not to chastise or preach, but to inspire others to look into their own lives and see if their relationships, material goods, spiritual service, and work are reflective of the lives they truly, at their core, want to live, and be willing to make changes, if needed. By changing ourselves, by radical honesty and living authentically, we can change the world, and I hope that I am able to do my small part by opening my life and my heart to my readers. 

-Sarah