A interesting video

[ben2go]

Just thought I'd share this with the forum.I thought it was interesting.

http://vitality.yahoo.com/video-second-act-jay-shafer-20910192

[glenn kangiser]

Cool, Ben.  I have seen the Tumbleweeds for a while but not the video. 

Interesting how much "stuff" is not really essential.

[ben2go]

I agree.I have been considering a minimalist lifestyle as of late.

[yankeeredneck]

It is funny. I use to do A/V work for some of the most wealthiest people who build in my area. And most of the time, it is a single person or a older couple who have no kids at home and want the 15,000 sqt ft house worth 25 million to build. When people actually lay out the necessiteies, the cost and size come down trasticly.

[Solar Burrito]

It's good to put a face with the name. Those tiny houses of all varieties are really getting alot of buzz on the internet lately. There are 3 blog sites dedicated to them.

Tinyhouseblog.com

http://www.tinyhousedesign.com/

And another one I forget....

[glenn kangiser]

I think John's sizes are more practical although the little house can get right down there with the small ones.

I still prefer my bigger rustic hillbilly house though....

[ben2go]

I still prefer my bigger rustic hillbilly house though....

Me too... 

[phalynx]

Oddly enough, Jay agrees with you too.  He no longer lives in his 96 sq. ft. home.  He built a 500 sq. ft. house next to it.  He got married and had a kid.

[John Raabe]

One of the unmentioned characteristics of most micro houses is that they are basically hermitages - with room for only one person. Even Thoreau gave up on that when he missed the company of other warm bodies.

Tiny tiny houses are great for a starter project and for long-term use as a guest space, office or retreat. But they will never work as the family home where we gather with loved ones for Thanksgiving.

[Sassy]

Having lived in the RV section of our horse trailer while building the 1st part of the underground cabin, I know how claustrophobic that can be!  It had all the comforts of home but barely room to turn around in.  We did most of our living outside. 

I, too, like the room we have in the underground cabin - we are still figuring out good ways to work in the storage areas w/out covering up the architectural features of the logs. 

[ben2go]

One of the unmentioned characteristics of most micro houses is that they are basically hermitages - with room for only one person. Even Thoreau gave up on that when he missed the company of other warm bodies.

Tiny tiny houses are great for a starter project and for long-term use as a guest space, office or retreat. But they will never work as the family home where we gather with loved ones for Thanksgiving.

I can understand that.When we would have family days, we would request a reception cabin at a local public park.Here it's doesn't get that cold,and most of our time is spent outside.I have a family of six and we live in a 900 sq ft house.It does have it's moments.I would prefer 2000 sq ft,but it's paid for and we can take care of the kids without going totally broke.

[ScottA]

We had 8 people to dinner in my 400sf house last month with no real problems. If it's laid out right it works. The tiny houses Jay sells are best suited to one person though as was already mentioned.

[Jeff922]

I've seen this guy's book.  I picked it up and looked at it in a green living store and I read a few pages.  If I recall correctly, he got the idea to build on the flatbed trailer as a way to beat code enforcement.  I can't remember if they wouldn't let him build so small or what.  So technically they had to treat his house as a travel trailer.  In my neck of the woods, the Land Use Regulation Commission will not allow long term RV parking.  You can't just park an Airstream with no well or septic longterm.  Anyway, I really dig this guy because he is actively fighting our consumption-obsessed culture.  Very cool!