White Orchid Melody

So our oh-so-fun and highly impractical Miata sold tonight.  It was purchased by a single guy who will get much more use out of it than we would have–a good deal for both of us.  It is nice to have some cash as a bit of a nest egg.  Now we just need to get the vacant townhouse rented and we can really start saving money.  Meanwhile, we are officially a one-vehicle househould.  I’ve been biking to my job at the gym on Tuesdays and Thursdays, which has been interesting.  I really dread getting on the bike, but once I’m on it, I feel pretty good.  Fresh air, sunshine, exercise–all good things!  Unlike Brian, I’m not in love with my bicycle, so it takes some mental willpower (well, it’s better than walking).  I have been blessed with nice weather so far, which helps.  Fall is a pretty good time to commute by bike.  It is about a 20 minute ride to the gym.  It is a hilly 20 minutes, but that’s good for me too, I guess.  I have the vehicle on Mondays and Wednesdays since I teach.  Brian carpools, so on those days his buddy drives.  So, I’ve been running my errands after school.  It’s not ideal, but it is better than the expense of two cars.  I’m relieved to have the car sold.  I was concerned that it wouldn’t sell (which is silly), and that was making me feel pressured to buy another car so we could just trade it in.  I’m really glad we are actually going to have a chance to experiment with having just one vehicle.  It will be especially nice this winter since we only have a one car garage; much less ice scraping! 

I wrote before about living life on a smaller scale.  This morning I saw an article on msn.com about how builders were seeing a shift in demand toward smaller homes. You can read the article here.

What I found interesting about this is how market forces are driving people smaller. One of the builders in the article claimed that it wasn’t an issue of money, that now people were just intimidated by big homes. Yeah, right. I think what they fear is that they won’t be able to sell the home in the future for anywhere near what they paid for it. Why? Because the glory days of super low interest rates and inflated appraisals are over. There are people in some areas that bought homes during the height of the housing boom, thinking they were making an investment*, and now they are going to have to live in the house for 20 years just to see any return on their dollar.

(*a house you live in is not an investment; it is an expense!)

Today’s buyers don’t want to make that mistake. And contrary to what that builder had to say, it is a money issue. People simply cannot afford as much home in today’s market. Say you can afford $1000 per month in principle and interest (not including taxes and insurance). At 5.25% you could afford a $185,000 loan; but raise the interest to 7.5% and you can only afford about $145,000. A 2.5% interest rate increase creates nearly a 10% drop in the value of a home. No wonder the housing market is declining.

I’m not complaining though. As I said, an interesting side effect of all of this is a shift toward smaller homes. That’s great news. Smaller is more efficient and ecological. It also allows people to spend time on more important things than dealing with a house. There is more time for family and friends and productive work (which is not necessarily the same thing as your job). The “good things” in life tend to distract us from what is really great about being alive–our relationships and experiences.

I thought it might be fun to post a recipe each thursday.

So today, we have Oat Bran Muffins.  I mentioned earlier in the week that I was going to try these.  I linked the Simple Living book where I found the recipe to that post.  It isn’t a recipe book, rather a bunch of ideas for simplifying.  The recipe was an idea for a simple and healthy breakfast.  Let me warn you that these are not the cake-like bakery goods one envisions when you hear “muffins.”  The texture is more like cornbread and they aren’t very sweet.  I made them with blueberries, but I think they’d be better with more nuts and maybe some cinnamon.  They might even be nice as a savory muffin with carrots, zucchini, and cheese…mmm I might try that next time!

2 1/4 cups uncooked oat bran
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/4 c maple syrup
1/4 c almonds, chopped
1 1/4 c milk (or soymilk)
1 egg
2 large bananas

*I’d recommend adding a teaspoon of cinnamon and increasing the almonds to 1/2 cup chopped.  

Combine dry ingredients in a mixing bowl.  Blend all other ingredients into a puree and mix thoroughly with the dry ingredients.  Fill muffin tins and bake at 450 until tops are brown.  Flip one over to check that the bottom is done as well.

After a siesta in Minnesota, we are back home. Yesterday was all catching up with our lives after being gone for a few days. Brian is still sore from the 4 days of roofing. That was, after all, the point of our visit–for Brian to help his dad put on a new roof. After watching them toil, I’d say that roofing is something worth paying someone else to do! Just the simple time factor justifies the additional expense. What took 3 amateurs four days would take a full roofing crew four hours. Not to mention the aches and pains that followed! But it is good to know how to do it, just the same. Who knows when you might be in a pinch and really need to repair your own roof. It was interesting to watch the process. While they were roofing, I was alternately sitting outside enjoying the nice weather and taking lots of naps. I can never take naps at home because I feel guilty knowing there are more productive things I could be doing, or at least less obviously non-productive. So I took advantage of the opportunity to get way too much sleep. I’ve read articles that claim sleeping less is the key to a happy and productive life, and I just don’t ever think I will buy into that!

Anyway, I came home fairly well rested and so got quite a bit done yesterday. I had to teach in the afternoon, but went to the grocery store afterwards. I hate doing errands at 4pm, but with only having the vehicle on the days I work, I don’t really have a choice. I guess I got spoiled being able to go in the morning when everyone else was at work! I headed out with the objective of getting organic when available, so I went to Wild Oats, which is now owned by Whole Foods. The jury is still out on whether that is a good thing or a bad thing. I’m a bit skeptical, simply because Wild Oats always had pretty reasonable prices compared to Whole Foods, where you hear jokes of people spending their “Whole Paycheck.” I didn’t get much there, stuck to the outer ring (it’s those inner aisles that drain the pockets). I was hoping to find organic boca or morningstar soy products, but they didn’t have what I was looking for. The burgers were organic, but for some reason the soy crumbles (which cook like ground beef) weren’t. Nor were the chic’n patties. Seems like they would carry all organic soy there. I may have to try TVP (textured vegetable protein). I don’t know how different that is from the packaged soy crumble. I did find organic mozzarella cheese though. Also, I got some organic tortillas to make freezer burritos. I bought both white and whole wheat to see which I like better. The whole wheat tend to be a bit stiff, so we’ll see. I’m also going to try a muffin recipe from this book, so I picked up some oat bran in the bulk aisle.  For everything else, I headed to Trader Joe’s where the organic food is as cheap as conventional items at a normal grocery store.  I bought organic dairy, fruits, and vegetables.  Some items I couldn’t find in organic, such as flour, baking powder, and olive oil, but I got the most natural options available.  My total for the day was about $130.  So, well see after a month how that compares to what I was spending when buying fewer organic foods. 

One of the biggest boosts to consumerism is what I’d call Life Milestones.  I am referring to those points in life where you make a big change.  Graduating from high school and then college, getting your first real job, getting married, buying a house, having kids, etc.  These are all opportunities for personal growth, both too often all that grows is our stash of stuff and our credit card tab.  Most of the information available just facilitates that behavior.  You finally have your own place?  Great!  Buy a bunch of stuff!  You got a promotion?  Great!  How about that nice car you’ve always wanted?  You’re getting married?  Really Great!  You should buy everything you’ll ever possibly need for a home! 

Eeek!

All of those things are fine in moderation.  You probably do need to buy some things when moving out on your own for the first time.  But do you need to go find a huge one bedroom apartment, just to have to pay to fill it up?  Or would a studio apartment work okay?  Really want that new car with that promotion?  How about maintaining your standard of living and putting all of your raise into a savings account until you can pay cash for the car? 

Everything really gets out of hand when you start planning a wedding.  The ubiquitous wedding planner is “free” with your engagement photos.  So you proceed to read it only to find out that you need to register for pages and pages of stuff.  Yes, you need a service for 12 for all those dinner parties you and your wonderful new husband will be hosting!  It sounds so romantic, but is it realistic?  I for one, did not register for china, opting instead for a paint-your-own pottery experience.  It wasn’t any cheaper, really, but Brian and I got the experience of being creative together.  Plus, we use those dishes everyday, not once a year.  And I think I have used the full service for eight (not 12!) once, when both of our parents and siblings were visiting for a holiday.  Perhaps if your family lives nearby and you will be having the lot of them over frequently, it is worth it.  But for most people I doubt it.  Most people I know that registered for china never even took it out of the box! 

As a true aesthete, I can appreciate having lots of lovely things about.  But I also understand that creating your home is not about one-stop shopping and trying to pick everything out at once.  Particularly when you are merging your life with someone else’s, your style will evolve.  If I had it to do all over again, I’d start out much more simply.  Stuff tends to be a burden on the soul, particularly if it is stuff you have because you thought you were supposed to have it, not because you actually wanted it.  This is one of the biggest challenges to simple living: avoiding that social input that says you need X, Y, and Z. 

You have to define what you “need” based on what you value.  If you have your values clearly outlined, then you will recognize what truly aligns with those values.  Marketing is a clever art.  Companies spend billions to get your dime.  Much research has gone into what makes people want things.  They know how to evoke that emotional response that says “buy!”  But if you really look into the glossy advertising, you will see that it is rarely the product they are selling.  More often it is a lifestyle or an attitude or a personal value they are selling you on and convincing you that the product is the way to get that value.  Think of ads for various home improvement items; those are often ads for safety and security.  If only you get these new porch lamps you’ll feel safe and secure in your home.  What you must remember is that safety is not something that comes from material things.  And so it is with all values.  So, once you understand your values, you can also figure out that they come from inside you.  All the clothes and make-up in the world won’t make you beautiful if you don’t feel beautiful inside.

So I challenge you to reflect upon your core values and write them down.  Then next time you feel compelled to spend your hard-earned money (which is your life energy), you can evaluate whether or not that aligns with your values.  And if, like me, you have a consumer milestone approaching, you will have some defense against the overwhelming surge of marketing directed your way.  I will be trying to resist the notion that you need thousands of dollars of goods for a newborn baby! 

“Now if you are going to win any battle you have to do one thing.  You have to make the mind run the body.  Never let the body tell the mind what to do.  The body will always give up.  It is always tired in the morning, noon, and night.  But the body is never tired if the mind is not tired.”

     - George S. Patton, U.S. Army General, 1912 Olympian

One of the biggest problems facing America today is obesity.  Much of the problem can be contributed to our diets, but modern conveniences also play a part.  We drive everywhere, take the elevator or escalator, sit at a desk all day.  It is no wonder our bodies can’t process all the food we eat!  Doctors recommend at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week.  This could mean a gym membership; but in the quest for simple living, how about simple exercise?  What is easier than putting on shoes and going outside?  No fancy equipment necessary.  Your outside enjoyment could come from walking the dog or kids around the neighborhood.  But for those looking to get more of a cardio workout or even lose fat, jogging is a better option.

“I only run if someone is chasing me!”

That used to be my motto, and I’ve heard it from plenty of other people.  Jogging or running can seem very painful and out of your range of possibility.  But I’m here to tell you, it can be done!  As with any other quest for personal development, it is best to take baby steps. 

I’d always been intrigued by the idea of running, and after reaching my all time high weight back in 2004, I figured it was a good time to give it a shot!  I found an article in Prevention Magazine that outlined how to go from a couch potato to a 5K in a few months.  Basically, the system was this:

Level 1: 3x week, walk to warm up for 5 minutes, then walk 4 minutes, jog 1 minute, repeat 4 times, cool down for 5 minutes (total workout 30 minutes)

Level 2: 3x week, walk to warm up for 5 minutes, then walk 3 minutes, jog 2 minutes, repeat 4 times, cool down for 5 minutes (total workout 30 minutes)

Level 3: 3x week, walk to warm up for 5 minutes, then walk 2 minutes, jog 3 minutes, repeat 4 times, cool down for 5 minutes (total workout 30 minutes)

Level 4: 3x week, walk to warm up for 5 minutes, then walk 1 minute, jog 4 minutes, repeat 4 times, cool down for 5 minutes (total workout 30 minutes)

Level 5: 3x week, walk to warm up for 5 minutes, then walk 1 minute, jog 9 minutes, repeat 3 times, cool down for 5 minutes (total workout 40 minutes)

So the idea is that after acclimating to level 5, you could run a 5K, which is about 3 miles. 

The amount of time you spend at each level is up to you.  You have to listen to your body so as not to get hurt, but push yourself at the same time (see quote at top).  I would say a couple weeks at each level should be sufficient.  If you want to progress more gently, increase the number of days a week you do each run before progressing to the next level.  For example:

Week 1: Level 1, 3x week
Week 2: Level 1, 5x week
Week 3: Level 2, 3x week

….and so on.  I found that I had to take it slower in the beginning, but once I got up to 1 minute of walking with 4 minutes of jogging, moving to 9 minutes of jogging wasn’t much of a leap.  And then I progressed to being able to run around my local park without stopping (1.5 mi or 15 minutes).  Then, one day, I felt energetic and did two laps for a total of 3 miles.  Much of it was working through mental, not physical barriers.  The body will acclimate to anything you throw at it, given time.  I found this out last year when I decided to train for a marathon, but that’s a whole other can of worms.  (Couch Potato to Marathon Training Plan, coming soon!)  You have to be a bit masochistic to go there! 

I challenge you to give jogging a try, and autumn is a great time for it.  What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.  And you might even find that you enjoy it!  A morning jog around the park is a great way for me to clear my mind.  When I had a corporate job, it was an essential part of my day.  Those days I didn’t jog in the mornings, I could tell a huge difference in my outlook and attitude.  I was much more irritable.

If you find it difficult to get out the door, find a time in your day that you can commit to your exercise.  I found the best time was morning.  If I waited until later in the day, I’d be too busy, or too tired, or would have eaten something weird and just not feel like it…all sorts of excuses!  But if I just got up a half hour early, the reward lasted all day.  So, if morning is your time, set out your clothes and shoes the night before, so that everything is ready to go when the alarm goes off.  Put the alarm across the room, and put the clothes next to it.  That way, you get up, turn off the alarm, and get ready.  No thinking required (and no opportunity for excuses).  If you aren’t jogging everyday, get up early anyway, just to establish the habit. 

If you are still lacking in motivation, find a buddy to jog with you.  This is fairly easy if you are both new to jogging.  Start the plan together, and enjoy the moral support!  It is much easier to get up and get out of the house if you know someone is waiting on you.  If you go it alone for the training plan and then want someone to jog with on a regular basis, check out local running clubs or running websites.  They usually have buddy lists set up for people looking to partner up.  The listings are based on speed (min/mi), so you can find someone close to your pace. 

Speaking of pace, don’t even worry about how fast you are going when learning to jog.  It doesn’t matter.  You get the benefit of 3 miles no matter your pace, so just do it!  I’m incredibly slow, but found out that I can go for a really long time at that pace.  You only have yourself to compete with (unless you just want to race).  If you get to a certain distance and don’t want to increase further, then you could work on picking up speed.  It is good to keep challenging yourself.  And if you are trying to lose weight, it is essential to change up the routine so as not to plateau.  But remember, baby steps!  Don’t try to run really fast and really far right from the start.  It won’t be fun and you won’t get very far, literally.

Today was my first day as a bike commuter.  Brian had the car, so I was reliant upon the bike to get to my job at the gym.  I guess I’m setting a good example for the members!  I was so tired on the way there, I didn’t think I was going to make it up all the hills!  But I made it, and I daresay the fresh air was good for me.  We’ll have to see how it goes as my belly grows!  My knees were already hitting it!  I think I might have to switch over to one of those beach cruiser types with the low seat and high handlebars!

Meanwhile someone came by this afternoon to look at the Miata.  He was playing up everything he didn’t like about it, prepping me for a low offer.  Yet I was still shocked when his offer was about $2500 less than the asking price.  I could get more than he offered trading it in to a dealer!  Craziness.  So, maybe someone else will come along before the ad runs out.  If not, I’m not sure what we’ll do.  We talked about possibly trading it in for a used Honda Civic Hybrid, but that’s not really the simple one-car thing we were trying to do.  Of course, we aren’t sure that will work out.  As I mentioned, the bike and the belly aren’t going to be compatible for long, but we’d like to at least give it a shot.  Probably the thing to do would be to trade in the Miata and the Element for a hybrid and save lots of money on gas!  But the Element has been really nice with the rehabbing and general hauling around of things.  Hard to say what we should do.  Ideally someone needs to fall in love with the Miata and make a realistic offer.  It is rather frustrating.  The last car we sold was a Toyota Corolla and it sold in two days!  I guess that spoiled me. 

and I awoke to the sound of sneezes at 2:45am!  Brian’s allergies were going crazy despite having medicated himself before bed.  He was up suffering for all of 15 minutes.  I, on the other hand, couldn’t get back to sleep for hours.  About 5am, when I felt like I might be able to go back to sleep, it was time for Brian to get up for work, so I just got up with him.  This was good, I don’t usually see him in the mornings.  Not that I’m going to make a habit of it.  I am just not an early riser.  This despite all the articles I have read touting the benefits of such habits.  Early mornings make me queasy!  But my date with dawn was rewarded this morning as I got to open a birthday present at 5am, how fun!  Brian got me a box of macaroni and cheese (might not seem like much, but it pretty much rocked my world; its the only thing I’ve been craving); a bag of extra dark chocolates; and a onesie for the babe that says “tax deduction”, pretty funny.  It’s the little things in life that make you smile!  Brian has an innate sense of that, whereas it has taken me years to appreciate his simple and thoughtful gifts.  It is such a blessing when the people in your life help you grow. 

That 5am thing wasn’t going to do me for very long however, so about 6am, I crashed again.  It is so nice to nap in the cool morning air.  I was sleeping quite well, but awoke to the sound of sirens.  Not sirens going by, but sirens close by.  So, I had to get up and see what all the drama was about.  They were stopped on my street several houses down.  An older lady and her husband live there.  He has been having some health problems, I believe.  The medics were there quite a long time.  They eventually brought him out and he seemed to be alert (and alive).  But it made me think about death and old age, which I suppose are appropriate musings for one’s birthday. 

I hope to be at peace when that time comes, and I hope that all those around me are as well.  That is the harder part to ensure I suppose, as people get attached to the living, breathing parts of ourselves.  As for being at peace with one’s own physical finity, it is at least within one’s control.  To me, that means living to the utmost of my talents and abilities and never taking a lesson unlearned.  Those two things are probably hard to balance, as I think the former has to do with motivation and self-evaluation, who you are to yourself.  The latter, to me, is about who you are to the world, learning from your mistakes to be a better person with each new day.  I think if you get too caught up in one, it is easy to neglect the other.  And at the same time the balance is vital.  Happiness comes from feeling good about your world inside and out.  The quest for happiness is what I see as the meaning of life.  What more do we all have to do than be as happy as possible each day?  That filters through to everything we touch in our lives.  If things aren’t right, we won’t feel happy about them, so we will strive to make it better.  It is living life with the Midas touch. 

We all came equipped with amazing emotional sensors.  No one really needs to be told what is “right” or “wrong.”  Ultimately that is an internal definition based on what makes you happy.  It could be argued that people have to do things they don’t want to do and those things don’t make them happy.  I would say that they need to either change their situation or change their outlook.  If it is a job you hate, for example, you really should ask yourself why you are there.  Is it the money?  Is it the status?  Do you feel like you worked so hard to get there that you’d be stupid to quit?  Once you figure out why you are there, figure out what exactly is making you miserable.  If the reason you are there is more important than whatever is causing you grief, then you need to change the way you look at your job.  You have to focus on those positive aspects, and let that shine through in all of your work.  If your misery outweighs your gratification, then a change is in order.  Life is too short to waste in a miserable situation.  I believe that everything is a learning opportunity, preparing us for what lies ahead.  But you can’t ignore your internal sense of what works or doesn’t work for you.  “I’ll be happy someday” is a myth.  There is no someday.  There is only today.  It is your responsibility as a vessel of life to make the most of today. 

After a nice long weekend, I’m back to my blog.  The weather finally broke, and yesterday was the most beautiful day!  Days like that make me really like living in St. Louis.  And the good news is that it is supposed to be wonderful all through the weekend.  There is nothing like a sunny clear blue sky and a cool breeze to soothe the psyche. 

As you may have read in another entry,we are trying to sell the Miata.  The check-engine light had been on before and I’d taken it to the Mazda dealer, who charged me $100 or so just to run the diagnostic (grrr), and then proceeded to tell me that they “might” be able to fix the problem by taking some things apart and cleaning them for $300+!  What?  If I give you $300 you just “might” be able to fix it?  Whatever.  So on my grandfather’s advice, we just didn’t worry about it.  He’s a car dealer, and his theory was that sometimes the lights just come on, and if you aren’t having any other problems, don’t sweat it.  But now with trying to sell the car, we figured we should take care of it, as we don’t want a red flag for potential buyers.  So, I took it down the street to a local shop where the guy is super nice.  Last year when I was trying to get my safety inspection to get my tags, no one would even talk to me because it was the last day of the month.  This guy was SO NICE and checked it out right away.  Naturally, I remembered that and have been back to him for the inspection of the other vehicle and now for this check engine light thing.  Good call on my part.  He took the time to run the code and look everything over, went ahead and took the “problem” area apart and cleaned it, and charged us all of $85.  Wow.  He said that may or may not fix the problem long term.  The electronic control panel may need to be replaced at some point, but that could be years.  So, that’s good.   Not a big issue for us.  Although I don’t think we’ll ever buy a Mazda (or any other Ford product) again.  We’ve been spoiled by the Honda and Toyotas that we’ve had.  Hopefully it will sell soon, and we’ll be further along our simplification journey.  It will be nice to only have to keep track of maintenance and such for one vehicle.  And I’ll be happy to cancel the insurance on the Miata, that will cut our bill in half!

In the past 50 years, our definition of “enough” has changed greatly.  The average size family home has doubled since the 1950s.  The current square footage for the average American home is approaching 2500.   Keep in mind that average includes all the smaller homes that were built in the early 20th century.  New homes today start with a bare minimum of 2500 sq ft and just get bigger from there.  Everyone gets their own bedroom and bathroom.  The family room is separate from the living room.  The kitchens would make some small restaurants envious. 

Compare this to homes built in the first half of the 20th century.  Rarely did a home have more than one bathroom.  My neighborhood is comprised of homes built between 1920 and 1940.  With one and a half baths original to its design, my house is an anomoly.  Of course many people have come in and updated their bungalows with extra bathrooms, but that is a modern day “neccessity.” 

Some of the older folks around here tell me about growing up in St. Louis and how they lived in a 3 room shotgun style apartment with their parents and 2 siblings.  I wonder how much of that generation’s character was built from growing up closely connected to their family, being forced to share one bathroom.  (Oh, the horror!)  It seems like today, each person in the family has to have their own space so as to avoid interaction with anyone else.  Home and family magazines run articles about the novelty of family dinners.  Kids are eating in their rooms in front of their own TV’s.   

So, what then is the benefit of a small home in a society that craves independence and individuality?  Social values aren’t always reflective of individual values.  Some of that is just a keeping up with the Joneses mentality.  You think you must have certain things because of all the social input you receive from media and advertising.  Those things don’t neccessarily make you happy once you have them.  The more stuff you have the more stuff you have to do to pay for and maintain all of it.  It has been said that people crave isolation because of their hectic daily lives.  That is sacrificing your family relationships for distractions that don’t really matter in the long run.  Perhaps if we didn’t spend so much time surrounded by people we don’t want to be around (at work, for example), we wouldn’t crave that isolation.  And simplifiying your surroundings could go a long way toward making your daily life less-hectic.   I think a lot of people actually like their family and would like to spend more quality time with them.  

Moving our home office from the 2nd floor down to the first floor has made it much easier for my husband and I to spend time together.  We also added a comfy chair to the office, so if I’m here working on the computer, he can spend some time there working on the laptop or relaxing.  If I’m in the kitchen cooking, and he’s in office working, we can still hear each other, which offers a sense of connection.  Previously, if I was working in the office when he got home from work, he wouldn’t know where I was, or if I was even home.  Now when he comes in and puts his things down, he can see right into the office.  It may not seem like much, but even a few extra moments a day of feeling connected can go a long way towards nurturing your relationships.

Another benefit of a smaller home is that it is easier to clean and maintain.  This also increases the time you can spend with family or on leisure activities.  With a husband, two cats, and a dog, 1400 sq ft is the most I can manage.  As it is, I don’t exactly stay on top of everything.  I can’t imagine having twice that space!  Furthermore, the less parts involved, the less things you may have to repair.  Replacing the roof over an 800 sq ft footprint is much cheaper than once twice that size.  And speaking of cheaper, the utilities are far less on a smaller home.  Why pay to heat and cool spaces you aren’t even using?  How much space can one human being occupy at a time? 

The environmental effect of small spaces is much lower as well.  You use less building materials to start with, and then have fewer repairs.  A small home requires less energy to build, maintain, and occupy.  The whole concept of “green-building” has come into fashion recently, offering alternative building materials and on site energy generation.  But what good does all of that do on a massive, sprawling home?  Not much, some would say.  I read of a green designer who refused to work with people requesting homes over 2000 sq ft.  His philosophy was that no one needed that much space and that a conventionally built 2000 sq ft home was more ecologically friendly than a “green” 4000 sq ft home.  People have to realize that a lifestyle change is in order. 

There is a paradigm shift occuring.  A well designed small space is, in fact, much more comfortable than a sprawling expanse.  Building homes is expensive, and often buyers exchange design and details for square footage.  How many new homes today have the charm of a 1920s Craftsman Bungalow?  But, recent polls suggest that increasingly buyers would rather upgrade features than increase space.  When remodeling, people are reconfiguring the space they have, rather than investing in an addition.  This suggests that it is design is becoming more important than square footage. 

I think mentally, it is still difficult to get around the idea that bigger is better.  It is so ingrained in our society, from big box superstores to 7 seater SUVs.  But when you really look at it, smaller is easier.  The older I get, the less stuff I want around me and the less work I want to do.  Taking care of a small house is easier and saves time and money.  It is absurd to pay a premium for real estate to store a bunch of stuff I rarely use.  When I look at what I really need, my house is more than enough space.  Our starter house won’t just be the first step in a lifetime of upgrades.  In fact, I think if we ever build, we might go smaller.