5 Ways My Tiny Home Has Made Me More Adventurous
Suddenly, my backyard feels a whole lot bigger.
If you would have stopped me on the street a few years ago and asked me if I ever would live in a tiny house, I probably would have said, “heck no!” I had the misperception that people who lived in small spaces were doing it as a last resort—those people couldn’t possible choose to live that way.
But a little over a year ago, my boyfriend Greg, our dog Blaize and I decided to ditch our 1,000-square-foot apartment and bought a 140-square-foot camper trailer. Instead of always talking about how we wanted to better the environment, I wanted to take action and actually make a difference. I chose to reduce the material items I owned and conserve the resources I use on a daily basis.
Living small brings you closer to nature and helps you appreciate the areas around you. These five things will make you think about downsizing and trading your big home for a life filled with adventure.
1. When your indoor space is small, your outdoor space gets bigger.
I think we can all recall times where we came home from work to sit on our couch and veg out the rest of the night. In a tiny home, there isn’t room for distractions. When I get home, I want to be outside because I am not attached to the items keeping me inside. Suddenly, my backyard feels a whole lot bigger.
2. Living small makes backpacking and camping easier.
Sleeping in a tent at night can feel quite cozy when you’re not used to living small. Also, it can be hard to know what to pack for a few nights under the stars. Living in a camper feels a lot like camping. In my tiny home, I am limited on water, electricity and Wi-Fi. Therefore, I am more prepared to go off the grid at any moment.
3. The tiny house community brings you closer to others.
Those of us who live in camper trailers, vans or Airstreams can all relate on what it’s like to live small. Oh, you have to shower at the gym sometimes? Me too. But besides recognizing the challenges, we can all agree that we love the freedom that comes from spending less money on things and more on experiences with others.
4. You can bring your house with you wherever you go.
The saying, “home is where you park it,” couldn’t be truer when you live in a mobile home. You can easily take your house with you to the ocean, mountains or someone else’s backyard. You are not stuck in one location, and that is a liberating feeling.
5. On the flip side, you will always be ready to leave your home behind.
Oftentimes, we will use excuses not to go on adventures because we want to stay in the comfort of our homes. But when you live small, you already know that you can live with few items. I have a bag that’s always packed for adventures, so I just grab it whenever I want to go somewhere.
We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
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