When I was in Arcata, a year — or maybe a lifetime? — ago, Suzanne’s stepson, J, was living in her backyard, in a building known as the Tiniest House. It is — was? — maybe the former garage, sorta remodeled for habitability. I say “maybe” because it doesn’t really look like a garage to me. If there was a garage door, it’s long-gone, replaced by a wall, and the ceiling is sloped, with skylights.
But I say “sorta” because while it has a bathroom, it didn’t (apparently) have hot water. While it has nice laminate flooring, they mistakenly installed the flooring without putting a moisture guard between it and the ground, so the floor needs to be redone. While there is a tiny kitchen area, they’d stopped construction midway through the job, so the countertop is unfinished and the cabinets have no doors, with the plumbing open to the room. There was no heat and the electricity was unchanged since maybe the 1950s?
Although J was managing fine, and had been for years, he was also talking about moving out. I claimed first dibs, if and when he did. It was theoretical. Maybe a plan for when I got tired of traveling, a few years in the future. Maybe a plan for when Suzanne retired, several years in the future. Maybe a plan for when one of us or both of us had enough money to really fix up the place as it needed.
Or, you know, maybe a plan for when the world is having a major pandemic and I’m trying to live in a street. That could be the right time, too.
So, yeah, plans for fixing up the Tiniest House have been occupying much of my attention and internet time recently. We started with the electricity: it’s now been inspected and confirmed safe by an actual electrician and an electrical wall heater has been installed. In the quest to figure out what exactly was wrong with the plumbing in order to talk to a plumber about it, we discovered that the plumbing is fine, hot water included. On our every-other-week CostCo run, I discovered that CostCo had mattresses on sale, so started my home-spending by buying a mattress.
And now I’m painting, because I am pretty sure I can live in a space that’s 108 square feet. But I am pretty sure I cannot live in a space that’s bright orange and green.
Good luck with the next chapter of your adventure. I really hope this goes well for you. Life on the road is probably a lot more enjoyable when we’re not in the middle of a lock-down of unknown length. Good luck.
Thank you! And yeah, I wasn’t ready to give up traveling, but the universe has spoken loud and clear. Now is not a time to be on the road. I feel very fortunate to have this option open to me. With not only running water, but warm running water!
I was going to say that this was very… vibrant. And hey, 108 SF has got to be more room than inside Serenity, yeah?
Yep! By a fair amount. But Serenity is arranged for maximum use of space — overhead compartments, under bed storage, shelves above seats — and this is going to be trickier. It’s going to work out, though. Plus, running water! A toilet that doesn’t have to be dumped by hand. What more does anyone need?
Wow. Not how you thought this adventure would end.
You’ve always got space here…in my backyard and in my community.
I love your community! Does your condo really have a backyard, though? You do have an amazing view! And I hope to still visit. The pandemic has to end someday, right?
Wow — an actual house, and you have your writing studio in your T.
And she can become an adventure mobile. There are still lots of places I want to visit. Just maybe not for the moment.
I’m so happy for you ! I worried for you but now not so much!
It’s going to be very cozy! Plus, chickens!
Whoo hoo!!! Awesome! Just big enough, I’d say! And if it has the two primary ingredients, electricity and water, you’re in business! Electricity means you can have heat and a/c (YES!), and can cook (YES!), and water means you can take care of your personal necessities and wash dishes! All the right stuff! Oh, and fresh eggs for breakfast right outside the door? Gotcha! LOL You’ll have to plant a couple of blueberry bushes, yes/no? 😉
No AC, but Arcata is not really a climate that demands AC very often. Heat is far more important up here! But yes, electricity for all of its many useful purposes, plus running water. And I’ll have to post a picture of Suzanne’s rows of blueberry bushes. After I was here last year, she bought some. It’ll still be a while before they get serious berries, but I think she’s got 8 of them!
p.s. Oh, and electricity also means you can charge your phone, use your laptop and do all sorts of other fun stuff that requires ‘juice.’
Haha, all those buckets!
Useful things, buckets!
I love that you are open and able to embrace this new space / life that came to you! I love tiny homes. Can’t wait to see the end result of yours.
I feel really fortunate and blessed. I’d be reluctant to move in if I thought J was going to be needing his house back, but he’s doing well where he is, so it’s a great opportunity for me. And I’m looking forward to making it comfy!
What an adorable tiny house! Have you thought about ordering a small kitchen cabinet set-up from IKEA? They’re really pretty nice for low cost. And it’s easy to have someone install them. I’ve had a full kitchen done on a house once and loved it. If lockdown is lifted soon, you could even take a trip down to the IKEA store in Sac, take your measurements with you and put in your order there.
The kitchen area is definitely low on my list of things to take care of, but adding cabinets is a nice idea. Maybe someday!
So the journey ends, at least for a while, and perhaps not on the wrong coast. (Did I mention it’s supposed to snow here in Maine tonight?)
Brr! But I’m sure I’ll be back on the east coast for visits — all my family is there!
Can I have Serenity now?
A joke… of course. But I like the tiny house, especially the plants outside.
🙂 I am definitely keeping Serenity! I still have places to go, lots of them! I was supposed to be exploring New Mexico this year…
Well, the nice thing is that you can still sleep and cook in Serenity while you add some finishing touches to the tiniest house! It’s going to be a cosy bolthole — indoor plumbing and electricity, hurray! — for the pandemic, plus you’ve got a good friend to hang out with, what could be better?
I’m looking forward to hearing about the reno!
Yep, still sleeping in Serenity! Cooking mostly in Suzanne’s house, though, because I’ve got to carry water to the van in jugs and there’s no easy place to dump the tanks when they get full. It’ll be very nice to have running water for a while!