Beating a Dead Horse, continued...

     I just wanted to finish up some trains of thought from my last post. I'll be brief and hopefully the next post that I am working on at present will be a bit longer and a bit more in depth, answering a number of questions relating to my theories of living in a house on wheels or leaving a smaller footprint in the world in which we live.
     Do I like how I am presently living? Did I make the right decision to down size and live in an RV? For the most part. Only time will tell if I did in fact make the right choice. At the time I needed to make a decision rather quickly and my choice's were living with room mates or looking for an apartment. I felt I needed a brake from living with others for a while and there was no way I could afford an apartment of my own. Now I have privacy at an affordable price living in the forest with deer walking by my door within a fairly close commute to the city.
     Would I like to move and will I go nuts if I don't? Hmmm... well, I think I'm about as sane as anybody else for what that's worth. I will say I do go a bit stir crazy when I've been cooped up out of the rain for days or weeks on end. But I think that would probably happen in an apartment or house just as easily. When that happens I go forth and look for something out side of my little world to occupy my self with. Maybe I should break down and buy a TV... I'll have to think on that one. I think if I am able to build a tiny house custom made to my specifications I would like living where I am a whole lot more than I do. If I can figure out a way to increase my income I would like where I am a whole lot more. So it's not necessarily where I am but my particular circumstances that may need to change. If I were to move I would probably get rid of the trailer and look for a cap/canopy for my pickup truck and embark on a mega road trip to see more of this great big country of ours. This does appeal to me quite a lot. I do get the urge to go a wandering from time to time. Where would I go and what would I do when I get there? Don't know. It would certainly be a whole lot easier if I could make it work right where I am, but as I said before... Only time will tell.

Beating a dead horse?

     That's right. I am back at it, writing this tiny house blog (the aforementioned dead horse). Should I keep on keeping on or just let it simply vanish into obscurity? Hell, I've got nothing better to do. I think the focus will have to shift until I am able to build an actual tiny house. I suppose I could switch to writing fiction, however there are times this blog/ my life seems like fiction and poorly written pulp at that. But damn it I just can't let it go... so, here goes.
     I think future posts will be on the subject of living smaller. I am living in an RV after all. I obviously didn't build it but it is definitely small and for better or worse is my home. Do I like it? Did I make the right decision? Do I want to move? Do I think I'll go all Ted Kaczynsky (ahem...you know, crazy living in a small space)? What will I do if I do move? Where would I go? What would I do? These are the questions I will attempt to answer in up coming posts. I believe this has the potential to help others out there that are trying to answer the same questions for them selves as they try to make the mortgage payment, pay their taxes, keep sane in a positively crazy and kooky world. Anybody out there that would like to chime in in the process, well have at it. Lets all try to be productive adults and make this wacky world a better place.
     Until the next time, Peace Out.

Tiny Travels: the continuing story or yup, still here...

Well then, long time no see. It's almost Thanksgiving and I am sitting here in the latest incarnation of the Itty Bitty House listening to Scarlet Begonias (alas not the Grateful Dead version) wondering just what it is that I am doing. Anticipating a looming eviction and still wanting to preserve my independence, I hurriedly snatched up a 19 ft. travel trailer on the cheap. Perhaps not cheap enough after spending a few months repairing its various ailments. But what's done is done. Let me first say that I do believe this may be my last post to Tiny Travels. There really isn't anything else I can add to the topic of living small. At least not for  quite some time. My original tiny house in the extreme is parked next to my RV. It served me well for over a year and although not habitable at the moment it is not sitting in vain. I has become my own private storage locker for all the junk I have yet to purge from my life. I do hope to whittle down the lifetime of accumulation that fills its innards by Spring and then maybe sell or give away the tiny house. It still has a good solid frame if anybody has the gumption to want to brake it down. As far as the RV goes, I will most likely attempt to sell it as well. At least once I can find some place else I can afford to rent. And so what did I get out of this wild and wacky experiment other than cheap accommodations and perhaps exposure to toxic mold? I learned I can make do with less, much less. All those treasures and trinkets that we know without a shadow of a doubt that we must have to not only be happy but to survive are not the end all be all to living a happy productive life. I know I don't need to live in a mc-mansion to be happy nor would I want to. The question is, what will make me happy? Could I make do in say a brand new state of the art Airstream? Well duh! of course. But do I want or have that kind of cash? Hell No. But yes, I now know that I could do it. My present 19' trailer is maybe just a little too small. It's fine for a weekend get away but for full timing? No. But thats just my opinion, someone else might find it just dandy. I do however believe that something along the lines of a "Tumbleweed Tiny House" would work out just fine, with it's quality craftsmanship and a well thought out design. Utilizing every square inch to its utmost. I do believe the only thing in question would be where to park it. Do I continue to rent space or buy some land and then deal with all the subsequent zoning issues? Then there is always the option of simply buying or building a permanent structure that is still small but meets all building codes. I think as long as it is under 500 sq. ft. I would be satisfied. But as I said, that will take time. Quite a lot of it. For now, I do believe I am done being, as some have told me to my face, "Trailer Trash", (for now). At least I'm not "living in a van down by the river"  :)
     And so for now, Peace Out. Maybe I'll be back in a few years with news of a new Tiny House or perhaps a new blog altogether. Happy Thanksgiving y'all!

NEW & EXCITING IN THE LAND OF TINY TRAVELS...

So, here we are in the dog days of summer. Although for July its not that bad. Not a lot going on here in the great north west, but I wanted to give a brief update as to what Ive been up to. I recently traded in my tiny truck in favor of a larger one that would be more capable of towing a somewhat larger trailer. Its not huge, just a 1500 series chevy. Not new either, I got a pretty good deal and should get it paid off in the forseable future. Now I am searching for a lightly used smallish travel trailer. I hope to make this my new home until I can pay off a few bills and save up for a piece of land on which to build a proper "tiny house". In the mean time, I will be selling the current tiny house as soon as I find its replacement. And considering its condition, I just might give it away ( the camper part, the trailer is in good shape, so I will want a bit of cash for that). That is about all I have to say for the moment. I'll post some pictures as soon as I have something to post. Until then, have a great Summer, and enjoy the sun while we have it!

Memorial Day... and it's still raining!

Well here we are. Made it to Memorial Day. Let me first say a very big thank you to all the Troops, both past and present. And I'm still living in my tiny little house. I can honestly say now that spring is here and summer is just around the corner, I am more than ready to live just a little bit larger. This itty bitty house has  been my saving grace. It got me across the country, from the Green Mountains of Vermont, up and over the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, to the Cascade & Olympic Mountains of Washington and the mighty Pacific Ocean. I made it through one of the wettest and (at least for w.wa.) coldest winters on record. And nothing has changed as of yet, but I thought I should get at least one entry for the month of May. With the mostly wet weather I have not had a good opportunity to work on the trailer, and funding has been slow to say the least. I've been working (finally) over the winter and this is what I would like to do.
     I am actively looking for a good older full size pick up truck to replace my aging little Nissan. I have also decided I would like to up grade to a larger fully self contained travel trailer, such as a fixer upper Airstream. And then perhaps travel around both the state and the country in search of a cheap piece of land where I can build a tiny house. This would seem a formidable task what with my finances of the moment and the price tag, however tackled one piece at a time I see it as doable in the not so distant future.
     And in closing, I have thought if I am unable to accomplish the above and everything went to hell all at once, I would do this to the present tiny house. I will, once dry, clean up the mold inside. and build a bed across the back wall. In addition to adding some sort of siding, (on my friend Jeffs advice) replace the roof. My idea is to add a cupola like on a train caboose to add some hight to the ceiling. This is all just idol thought for the time being as I would much rather find a larger trailer and sell the tiny. Its a great little camper, can be towed by almost anything and anywhere, but is a bit small for living unless absolutely necessary. Well, I've rambled enough for one holiday, so until the next time, Peace Out! P.

Miscellaneous Ramblings...

     My previous posts have pretty much brought my story up to date. New posts will be at the mercy of current events as they unfold. Nothing much will happen until I make up my mind just what it is that I want to happen. And so in the mean time I will attempt to jot down whatever comes to mind so as to pass the time you might say. I do know not much will happen until the weather dries up a bit. And so for now this will have to do.
     So. What's been on my mind? After writing at some length regarding my trailer, said mind tends to wander. It wanders to far off places such as where do I want to live and how do I intend to make a living? On occasion it will stop off at such topics as do I really want to build a trailer or would I simply be better off buying an RV, or wouldn't I be better off scrapping the whole crazy notion and looking for an apartment? Hmmm... It would appear that I have a lot of work to do.

Living In The Present, and Where Do I Go From Here?!

     I have now been living in my little trailer for almost nine months. Eight of those months have been parked next to my friends house in Washington State. With an extension chord running from the garage it is essentially like a detached bedroom. I have power for my space heater which came in handy this winter when it got down to about 10 degrees. I also keep my laptop charged and am able to recieve a wifi signal from the house. Lighting is handled by battery powered lcd lights. They do a pretty good job but are not quite bright enough to read by. As I may have mentioned previously, I have a small fold down table, a decent sized closet/cabinet, and my bookcase full of books. All in all, quite cozy.
     As far as the not so stellar aspects of tiny trailer living. It can seem a bit cramped at times. Much of my possessions are stored in my friends garage. I did purge a lot of my stuff before this adventure began, however I still have a lot of work to do. It does fit into ( and on top of) my truck but isn't very accessible. My trailer is pretty easy to get into almost any camp site and I'd like to keep it that way, so I am leaning against a bigger rig. Which means I will need to get rid of even more of my treasures!
     During the summer while staying in Ohio it got down right nasty. It was hot & humid with almost daily torrential downpours and thunderstorms with high winds. I don't think there were very many days without at least one tornado warning. I wasn't able to keep the roof vent open very much or it might have ended up blown half way across Kansas. I had my dog Charlie to keep me company (yes Steinbeck fans, travels w/ charlie) and he didn't like the heat any more than I did. AC would have been nice, but we made due with my little fan. I had to find Charlie a good home once I hit the coast. Another victim of the recession, but he's better off.
     And now for perhaps the worst aspect of living small, at least in my case. Mold! My little trailer was not meant to be a permanent dwelling. It's primary goal was to get me across the country without having to rely on motels, with the odd bit of exploring thrown in. and to this end it did quite admirably. It has been a fairly warm, dry and snug little home. However, after one of the wettest winters and now spring, in the already moist pacific northwest, the lower un-painted portion of the interior has got a bad case of mold. With the poor ventilation, the mold has run rampant. I still don't know yet if it extends up the walls behind the panelling. If the weather ever drys out, I plan to gut the interior to asses the damage.
     One possible option would be to use a liberal dose of bleach to try to kill off the worst of the mold and then when dry, sand down to bare wood and properly seal and insulate. But I would still need to deal with the lack of ventilation in order to keep the condensation under control. There's not a lot of room for a dehumidifier.
     There is also the fact that the outer walls & roof are simply painted plywood. It has held up fairly well, but as stated before was not meant to last forever. I could add siding and a metal roof but that brings up another point. I only have about five feet of clearance inside and it would be nice to stand up straight, and so this got me to thinking I might want to replace the flat roof with a peaked one or bowed like a vardo/gypsey trailer in order to gain the additional head room.
     And so with all the added work & costs involved, I am debating whether or not I would be better off starting from scratch. I've seem some very nicely done trailers while searching the internet and I do believe I could now design a much more livable teeny tiny house on wheels. Aint hindsight great!
     My biggest concerns are much the same as when I started this whole journey back in Vermont. The costs need to stay low, as does the weight. I would probably want to keep my trailer as the base. I would like to make tiny house 2 as livable as possible within the small confines I have before me. Beyond that I will give it some more thought and post in future blog entries.

     My closing question is, what do I do with the 1st tiny house? The options I see if I don't keep it are burn it, take it to the dump, sell it, or incorporate the framework into the new design. Since it is painted, I'd rather not burn it, and I'd rather not add needlessly to the local landfill. Recycling it into the new design might be more trouble than it's worth. Which leaves selling it. I don't know if any one would want to take on the hassle of cleaning out all the mold, even if I gave it away. And so as usual, I have some tough decisions to make. Until next time, Peace Out.