What does it mean to live on wheels? The cliché
seems obvious: like a rolling stone, ready to roll, commitment-phobia, just
can’t make up her blasted mind. So maybe that’s me in my mid-sixties. I like to
think of it as ‘ready for anything’, ‘prepared for what the universe has to
offer’, continuing in the theme of ‘untethered’.
Once I finished my walk-about in December of 2016, after 6
months on the road in my Prius, all over the U.S., there was still no settling
down for me. I needed something to bite into that would be a great challenge
with a usable product at the end: something to keep the adventure going with
lots of room for new developments.
I joined the movement of the enthralled: Tiny House Mania.
There is almost nothing I’ve found that perks up peoples’ interest so much as
the words ‘Tiny House’. We have to wonder what it is that makes us so
fascinated with living small. Some yearning to make more sense in this crazy
world, to simplify down to the bare necessities? Or the vicarious curiosity
that arises watching someone else do it? Or the disbelief that 120 square feet
could possibly be enough?
For me it was the prospect of putting all of my building
experience to work in one manageable effort, and testing that experience to see
what I actually knew, all by myself. Yes, I’d done a lot of building, but, as with
everything in my life with Ben, I relied on his wisdom and experience, coupled
with my own, to figure things out. Now I would figure things out under my own
steam: a ‘great challenge’.
But let me be truthful, I also want the ability to easily
move near my two girls. They are my magnets at this point, more compelling than
friends or beautiful location. My brother has the luxury of having two
daughters who very purposefully located near him and his wife. The three
families are immersed in each other’s lives. My sister has a family compound
where son and grandchildren are but steps away. Since Ben died that sense of
family has been harder to feel, so I have gone looking for it. My Tiny House
keeps me flexible and able to find the right location on an orbit around Ariel.
I have to be patient until Kiva comes back from Australia so that I can find
the sweet spot that puts me near both.
And then there’s just the unknown wonder that is inherent in
the Tiny Home phenomenon: what’ll it be like, will I go stir crazy, can I have
a smaller footprint? Having lived in a 10 x 10 foot cabin back in the 70’s with
Ben, no running water, electricity or bathroom, a Tiny House almost seems
luxurious. And the 6 months in my Prius set me up well for smallness,
efficiency and careful storage. But day after day of winter rain could stretch
the limits of my tolerance.
I have Gemini to thank for siting my build in Canterbury. “Mel,
if you build it in Canterbury, I’ll help and I’ll drive it out to California.”
Of course Canterbury was the perfect place to build it, surrounded by old
friends, capable friends, with the spot to place it next to the shop Ben and I
had built 40 years earlier. Russel was the perfect host to welcome me and make
me feel completely wanted for 6 months, there in the middle of his front yard.
And
Jill and Tim were the perfect home to join in, my friends
of 45 years.
The decision to take on this enterprise was the easiest one
to make. And it has been the most fun project I’ve ever taken part in. Despite
sweat, and mistakes and frustrations (there will be cursing!), I loved every
minute of it. There’s more to tell.
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