Living Small

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » 02 May 2011, 23:25

Here's a nice little video, from the other side of the pond, about how we'd have a lower impact if we lived in smaller houses (or in my case, bigger

)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znvW11O6 ... e=youtu.be

Kentucky Fried Panda · Post by **Kentucky Fried Panda** » 04 May 2011, 00:20

Where was the shitter?

I've been in small houses where the toilet is too close to the kitchen, bowel movements and meal times have to be carefully coordinated.

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » 04 May 2011, 08:06

Doomsday wrote:Where was the shitter?

I've been in small houses where the toilet is too close to the kitchen, bowel movements and meal times have to be carefully coordinated.

In most US style tiny houses, it's under the sleeping loft.

I find that bowel movements are best avoided at meal times. My shitter is so small that it's difficult to sit on it, and eat at the same time

. The door of mine is exactly opposite the kitchen sink, but not quite close enough that I could cook at the same time.

energy-village · Post by **energy-village** » 04 May 2011, 11:06

Doomsday wrote:Where was the shitter?

I've been in small houses where the toilet is too close to the kitchen, bowel movements and meal times have to be carefully coordinated.

I usually leave the coordination of such things to nature. Works for me, anyway.

the_lyniezian · Post by **the_lyniezian** » 04 May 2011, 15:11

Doomsday wrote:Where was the shitter?

I've been in small houses where the toilet is too close to the kitchen, bowel movements and meal times have to be carefully coordinated.

I live in a medium-sized house where the bathroom is next to the kitchen. Granted the loo is on the far side.

I don't see how it matters that much, as long as you ventilate well and wash your hands.

Layla · Post by **Layla** » 04 May 2011, 15:21

We moved to a smaller (1970's) house from a big 3 storey victorian house and I have never regretted giving up all that space - there is now less cleaning, less heating, less storage space so less clutter and it's just generally easier.

Although I can't imagine living in a micro house (how would we cope here in the UK when it rains for weeks on end?) I love to watch what Derek "Deek" Diedricksen gets up to - he has made some amazing little houses.

http://relaxshacks.blogspot.com/ and
http://www.tiny-house-living.com/tiny-yellow-house.html

the_lyniezian · Post by **the_lyniezian** » 04 May 2011, 15:53

Another thought- could we not have smaller houses, but an outside loo? They had them way back when... (granted it might get freezing in winter...)

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » 04 May 2011, 20:04

the_lyniezian wrote:Another thought- could we not have smaller houses, but an outside loo? They had them way back when... (granted it might get freezing in winter...)

Why? There's no need for it. On a nice day you can pee outside, or use a tree bog, but when it's cold and wet an indoor loo is far more useful than most of the other modern facilities in a house.

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » 04 May 2011, 20:08

Layla wrote:Although I can't imagine living in a micro house (how would we cope here in the UK when it rains for weeks on end?)

I've lived in my van for 3.75 years, even though it's been parked outside my house for the last 16 months. It doesn't leak, and I have everything I need to hand, so rain is no problem. With a home designed as a house, rather than one that is also a vehicle, rain would be even less of a problem.

Snail · Post by **Snail** » 04 May 2011, 21:12

Living in a van myself has really made me appreciate the advantages of small dwelling spaces. In my travels I often see new, so called 'affordable', housing being built. But these houses are always way too big and expensive. There's no reason why starter homes can't be built far smaller, maybe just two rooms with a garden. This would make first time buyer homes cheap to own and run, and be truly affordable.

the mad cyclist · Post by **the mad cyclist** » 04 May 2011, 21:17

After watching the video, two words come to mind, cabin and fever. That house was just a garden shed. I must be a big sinner here, cos I like a bit of room around me, in fact my ideal house, is one that I have to search through to see if anyone else is at home.

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » 04 May 2011, 21:29

the mad cyclist wrote:After watching the video, two words come to mind, cabin and fever. That house was just a garden shed. I must be a big sinner here, cos I like a bit of room around me, in fact my ideal house, is one that I have to search through to see if anyone else is at home.

I hope you can afford to heat and maintain it when TSHTF

.

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 04 May 2011, 21:30

I don't think people get cabin fever if there's just one in a place.

To appreciate real, full-blown cabin fever, you have to have company, preferably under the age of 16.

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » 04 May 2011, 21:33

RenewableCandy wrote:I don't think people get cabin fever if there's just one in a place.

To appreciate real, full-blown cabin fever, you have to have company, preferably under the age of 16.

Two cabins. One for adults and one for kids. When the kids leave home it can be occupied by homeless adults, moved to another site, or kept by the kids who don't want to leave.

the mad cyclist · Post by **the mad cyclist** » 05 May 2011, 08:07

JohnB wrote:
the mad cyclist wrote:After watching the video, two words come to mind, cabin and fever. That house was just a garden shed. I must be a big sinner here, cos I like a bit of room around me, in fact my ideal house, is one that I have to search through to see if anyone else is at home.
I hope you can afford to heat and maintain it when TSHTF .

John, our house is being built with auto repair systems, similar to those of the Liberator in Blake’s 7.

If heating fuel gets too expensive, we’ll spend the winter in one room, like they used to do in olden times.