apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

We couldn't manage in a place so small (four kids, hubby, and me), but I could imagine us using one of these for our "someday" cabin in the woods.

I felt a bit put off by the video. The woman's hyper intellectualization of her living situation bordered on narcissism. Many people live in small spaces, or spaces that are shared by many people because they can't afford more. The only reason middle class people can feel self congratulatory about living in a small space is because we don't have to. The fact that we have choices points more to our privilege than to our upstanding morals.

Change a few words from SFGail's post and you get:

Many people live in small spaces, or spaces that are shared by many people because they don't need more. The only reason middle class people can feel self loathing about living in a large space is because we don't have to. The fact that we have choices points more to our privilege than to our upstanding morals.

I think living small is commendable. Living in a well designed small space feels bigger than living in a 5000 sqft McMansion.

I'm completely enamored of Dee's house. Of course, I'm a little biased: my place is pictured in the Oregonian blog post, too. As a person who has given living small a lot of thought (in fact, I write about that very subject at my eponymous blog, Living Small), I'm glad to see that there are others who are not only downing their footprint, but doing me one better: I live in 509 square feet. That's a mansion compared to Dee's place.

Thanks, Wally, for your comments. Well said.

Well Wally, glad to see you're jumping on the self congratulation bandwagon. Of course, living in a smaller space is greener (and can be more pleasant) than living in a mcmansion, but the fact is that you can live in a small space and still be living an extremely privileged life at the expense of others who have less privilege.

Living in SF, I see many people driving around in hybrids, using "green" materials to build with and toting reusable shopping bags to buy their very expensive local organic produce with. But their privilege is still well in place, and the bottom line is that that privilege, and feeling of entitlement to the privilege, is what got us into this mess in the first place.

The green movement has nothing to gain from going into subdivisions, making fun of residents, and alienating 90% of the population. Our little movement isn't going to change a thing unless we approach it with humility and openness to others.

Most people cannot afford a cute little hand-made house on wheels. Those McMansions that have been built are here to stay. Many people are stuck in them because of the housing slump. The way things are going many of those subdivisions will become corporate owned slums.

I think a video about suburbanites who decide to divide one of those houses and live with others in a building that's already here would be more thought provoking. Or suburbanites that are turning their yards into collective farms. While that little house is cute and fun, I think it's still pretty self indulgent, and does not really solve the huge problem that we collectively face.

So you have a problem with privilege Gail, I get it. But why so hostile toward people with local organic produce in reusable totes driving hybrids? Isn't it presumptive to think this is due to privilege? Maybe it is due to planning and saving and wanting to be part of the solution.

Or are planning, saving and solving problems privileges too?

20 years ago, my friend's family started organic farming. They were judged by the most people in our small mid-west town to be eccentric hippies, but certainly not privileged. Now they teach those who judged her about organic farming.

We (Americans) are finally learning the big isn't aways better. But I guess learning is a privilege too.

(snap!)(snap!) Wally, please try to pay attention to what SFGail is saying. She makes a valid point and I'm gonna break it down for you.

Hybrids, green materials, local produce and reusuable shopping bags are are good. Holier-than-thou attitudes, not so good.

Being critical and judgemental, maybe PRIVILEGED just isn't going to get the job done.

The woman in the video talks enthusiastically about getting to know one's neighbors, having time and money to offer other people due to her small footprint and also expresses her sense of sadness at not being able to turn to the emotional stability that a larger, more typical home offers. She also notes how she finds it cool to witness the intersection of her dream for housing and the more standard dream of those in subdivisions. SFGail: you have ignored the content of the video and filtered it through your anger. I would love to have this woman as my neighbor: she has dared to follow her dream and is smiling while doing so. I have been in love with these houses for years and am thrilled to see one put to such great use.

Wow, guys... how about a sedative?

I understand this is a public forum, but c'mon...

(Hmmmm... it would also be nice if I read that this was a year-old post!) hahahaha...