Should we as SDAs downsize?

[Gerr]

Before this thread fades into oblivion, I want to say one more thing. What that young man said about his reason for choosing the way he likes is the same way I feel. I long for a simpler, uncluttered life, free from the need for so much money just to keep going

Amen to that!!! Life has become too complicated!!!

Quote:

But the way it would work for me is different than what works for him.

For me, it would be manifested in self-sufficiency: growing most of my own food, installing renewable energy & getting off the grid, making my own clothing, spending time enjoying nature, and teaching my grandchildren to love it too. I would need room for processing and storing my own produce, for my sewing and knitting equipment, my gardening tools, etc. There are also a few non-essentials I wouldn't part with, like the heirlooms that will pass to me, as the oldest daughter of an oldest daughter, for however many generations they have been passed down. My mother doesn't know, and neither did her mother. That is my heritage, to pass down to my own daughter and her oldest daughter after her.

So I would need more room that that young man has, but the ultimate effect in my life would be the same as his choices yield in his life.

If you did ALL those things yourself, where are you going to find the time to spend with your family or do the leisurely things that would make life more enjoyable?

[GreatLakesGramma]

Gerry, I would not be working for an employer. Those things would be IT. And that would be only if I were widowed. It will never happen so long as I live in the same house with my husband. He's too good at making extra work for me.

Besides, I love gardening, sewing, and knitting - and cooking and baking too. That's the very reason that would be the kind of lifestyle I would choose. And my granddaughters love to do those kinds of things with me. No visit to Grandma's house is complete without making a big batch of baked chicken tofu together (their absolute favorite), and having Grandma's banana-berry smoothies for supper.

There are ways to make gardening low-maintenance. A friend of ours from church tills his garden every week in the spring until no more weeds grow. Only then does he plant. Another friend from church mulches heavily with leaves in the fall. Neither one of them does much weeding. I do square foot gardening with small plants, and black plastic with mulch for larger ones. But I also eat edible weeds, so even weeding is productive for me.

[Amelia]

Just a comment. Unless you park this tiny home on your own land, you will have to park yourself on a rented lot or beg yourself space in a friend/relatives backyard. These people brag about how "green" they are but don't tell you about all the "free" use of others utilities and property. If you go to the website and read the testimonies, one lady talks about living in her friends yard and using her shower. Though she does have a composting toilet. I looked into these homes yrs ago when I first was separated. They are cute but not very practical unless you want to be a hermit. Can you imagine that guy inviting a date home? LOL

[GreatLakesGramma]

I assumed he owns his own land. He said he pays for utilities, and he has a bathroom, such as it is. He's not going money-free, just minimizing his expenses.