I have a passion for small spaces. I believe it began as a child, riding around in my family's RV. My parents owned a little truck and camper, then a travel trailer, and finally a moderate sized motor home. The square footage seemed to increase as my brother and I grew, but I always enjoyed the tiny space that we took with us each summer for our yearly vacations into the wild.
My goal is to have a small space one day. I know that now is not the time in my life, but I can spend hours looking at gypsy wagons and vintage trailers online. Staying in a yurt, a wigwam, and an Airstream is on my bucket list, and luckily places exist where I can do that. Having a little art studio in my backyard would be a dream come true and may also be more practical.
I had first heard about Dee Williams and her tiny house on Yahoo. She had written a book about her experience and I knew I had to read it. My library had a copy of the book on order, so I reserved a spot in line.
My first impression of this book led me to believe it would detail most of the journey as Dee built her little home. However, it was much more than that. It is the story of a certain time in her life. A time when her life was changed forever by fate, ambition, and dedication. Dee is an amazing and talented woman.
She is also a very humorous woman. I laughed throughout most of the book. And while I am not an overly sappy person, I cried as well.
On one page Dee lists all of her possessions. She owns two spoons. This blew me away! I think it's the coolest thing in the world! When I packed the trunk of my car and set out to move across the counrty, I was very picky about which items came on the journey. The back seat was full, as I had two pet rabbits who I felt needed to be very comfortable to reduce their stress levels. I remember thinking to myself, "Wow. This is it. This is all I need." My furry children, my car, my sewing machine, and some boxes of "important stuff".
What I didn't realize was that while I had downsized from a decent sized three bedroom home, I still had things in storage, and I had not simplified completely. Anything that did not need to go in the trunk of my car, but that I felt I still needed, was stored in my brothers basement. Boxes of sentimental Christmas decorations, photo albums, select furniture pieces, and childhood toys. That is not exactly like owning two spoons. This book really opened my eyes to the simplicity life can have. I really love that.
According to the internet, the Tiny House Movement is still soaring in popularity. My library now shows this book has three times as many holds, and two more copies on order. It is a quick read, and something I really couldn't put down. I definitely recommend this book!
