« Bad Samaritan CD exchange – untitled | Main | You're happy cause you're cozy and the rain comes rattling in »
Living Small
by adam at 10:52 PM on February 20, 2005
I've always thought that small was beautiful. For 3 years my only computer was about the size of a small hardcover book. I've replaced cellphones, PDAs, and even cars because I was attracted to things small. Now my girlfriend has gotten into the act with this purchase. Well, since seeing this post on MeFi, I've been captivated by the idea of small-footprint living. You see, we're moving to the Bay Area in July, and we'll be out there for at least five years. We need a place to live, but five years of rent will be quite a hefty chunk of change. I looked at my current apartment, which I share, and asked myself if I could live in a 500 square-foot house, about the same size as my current digs. The answer, I believe, is "yes," and now we're thinking about buying one of these little things as an alternative to either paying rent, which we don't want, or an expensive 1500 square-foot house which we, strictly speaking, don't need.
Common sense tells me that: first, you can't have a small house; second, you should never buy property if you're not sure you'll be able to sell it. But if we spend the money that we'd otherwise spend on five years of rent buying our little B-52 Bungalo, who cares if we never sell it? We could rent it, use it as a vacation house, or whatever, and still be ahead because the money that would otherwise go to a faceless property management company or an absentee landlord would still be ours. This isn't a big act of rebellion, and I'm not even sure if the Public Planning people will let us build one of these, but if they do we'll be able to have our own place, pay off our debts, and start saving before we ever thought we could. And that, I think, is a pretty good thing.
comments (14)
Those are totally cool! If only I could fit in one.
I like technology being small too. That's why I just splurged on a 12 inch PowerBook. Small and pretty. Plus, I get to avoid WindowsXP. Although, bigger is still better when it comes to displays. I couldn't accept anything less than the 20 inch Cinema Display to go with it. Yeah, Apple has me brainwashed, but I think I'd rather be in the Matrix.
by MrBlank at February 21, 2005 12:35 AM
Hah. When I read the second sentence of your post, I thought it said,'For three years, my daughter was the size of a small hardcover book.
by LOCKHEED at February 21, 2005 3:10 AM
I read that Metafilter post, too. Living small is very cool. Blank, I have an iBook for very similar reasons.
You know what I've been looking into lately? Traditional Japanese furniture-- it's extremely minimal, and evolved to fit into the very small living spaces in Japan. This site had some good info. I stayed at a traditional (Japanese-style) inn one night while I was traveling in Japan, and it was really interesting how a room with just a low table and barely enough space for a bunch of futons could seem so spacious. Later I stayed in a Western-style hotel room that was about the same size, and there was barely enough space for people to edge around the bed and get into and out of the room. I was convinced. I want a futon and kotatsu really bad!
by jean at February 21, 2005 4:13 AM
Getting small used to be a term that meant tripping on hallucinogens. How times have changed.
by anna at February 21, 2005 7:51 AM
I'll BET your girlfriend is used to "small" things! HAHA.
by Eviltom at February 21, 2005 8:39 AM
Wahoo!! Go MrBlank! Although since I didn't have the money for a cinema display plus notebook, I got the 17-inch. But compared to, well, any other notebook, this is still the slimmest, lightest modern lappytop of its class. Anything the Wintel boys offer is larger and clunkier and heavier.
Don't you love OSX?
by snaggle at February 21, 2005 1:58 PM
Although small does often equate to portable and essentially more convenient, it does create one rather large problem. Losing everything.
I can't seem to keep track of anything smaller than a solid 12 square inches. Canada is all about making our currency into coins, I have heard we will have a $5 one soon enough to add with teh twoonie and loonie. I can't even begin to think how much of my already limited funds will fall out of my pocket. It is okay when I think that somebody will pick it up, possibly making their day. But frankly i wont be happy about all this change until I can claim all that dropped coinage as giving to charity on my tax return.
by dominathan at February 21, 2005 2:28 PM
lol... Must be interesting when you need to pee pee Dom.
by Ex Crimson Guard NCO at February 21, 2005 2:42 PM
Oh, at least then it's attached. And how do we know he's not a solid 12 square inches? Though if that were the case I'd be very sorry for you, as I think no one has an orifice capable of handling a solid 12 square inches. :D
by snaggle at February 21, 2005 4:29 PM
I do.
by anna at February 21, 2005 6:00 PM
Snaggle, I DO love OSX. It doesn't constantly nag me like WinXP does. I've been working in OSX at work for years and I'm glad it's finally at home too.
About the display: the 12 inch PowerBook costs a lot less than the 17 inch. Enough less that you'd have enough cash left over to get the Cinema Display and still have a huge chunk of change left over to buy iPods, wireless keyboards and stuff.
by MrBlank at February 21, 2005 11:01 PM
This is from my wishlist, but I haven't gotten around to buying it yet: The Not So Big House: A Blueprint for the Way We Really Live. Might be helpful reading material for anyone thinking of living small.
by mg at February 22, 2005 7:23 AM
Getting back to the penis discussion: An Anchorage woman was charged with tampering with evidence after she lopped off her BF's member and flushed it down the toilet. Utility workers fished it from the muck and docs reattached it. Tampering with evidence?
by anna at February 22, 2005 7:41 AM
MG, I've read that book and I liked it a lot. I recommend it too.
by MrBlank at February 22, 2005 12:25 PM