Last Sunday, we wrote about the anticipation of waiting for our tiny house to be ready. We thought we were describing the hardest part of our journey so far.

We had no idea what was about to happen.

Labor Day miracle

Monday morning started like every other day of the past 76 days. We made coffee, took the dogs for a walk, and ran into other morning walkers, runners, and dog walkers. We love stopping to chat when community members ask about the status of our house and when we think we'll get to move in - it's the reason we joke about going out for a 30-minute walk and coming back two hours later.

When visiting with one neighbor on his porch, we saw the construction company work truck pull into the community. One of the workers, who recognized Bryan, gave us a thumbs up as they drove by. It took a few seconds for that to register before we looked at each other and said, "Wait... are they going to OUR lot?"

Turns out two crews showed up and knocked out both sets of stairs in one day. We couldn't believe it - it was Labor Day. We didn't expect anyone to be working.

We have a saying we've been trying to live by during this "downshift" in the pace of our lives..."Expect nothing, accept everything". Sometimes, it's harder than it sounds.

The utility sprint

Tuesday brought the electric company, right on schedule. When we had to reschedule the meter install, the customer service person made it sound like there was a possibility that the work order would be put in but that they had 7-10 days to complete the work. We were relieved that they were able to get it done on the date requested without additional delays.

Later that day, propane was connected and the tankless hot water heater lit and lines flushed. Wednesday brought internet installation. After weeks of "maybe it will happen this week," suddenly everything was falling into place.

We even celebrated, after our trip to Lowe's, with lunch at Snuffer's - the restaurant where we first met in January 1992. Different location, but it felt right to mark this moment where our story began 32 years ago.

But Thursday was the hardest day. We knew utilities had been tested, but we still didn't know the answer to the only question that mattered: Would Friday actually be orientation day? Would we finally get our keys? Could this be the final week in the rental, using three TV trays as a desk?

We wouldn't know the answer until Friday morning when the office called to ask if 1 PM would work. Orientation was going to happen.

76 days later

Friday morning felt like the longest morning of our lives. We'd been in the tiny rental for 76 days, and every minute until 1 PM felt like an hour.

And then... we had keys. Actual keys to our actual house. Not to a model, not to a tiny rental, but to a house that is paid for and that we own.

Our first look inside

Walking into our living room for the first time as owners was emotional. Our reason for choosing this model, the Parkview, was for its openness in the living room and kitchen. The model usually has the loft over the kitchen and bathroom, in the center of the house. We wanted an open and airy feel, so we pushed the loft to the back of the house, over the bedroom and just the bathroom, instead. This allowed the open feeling of the living room to continue into the kitchen - which we love.

The kitchen is compact but has everything we need: a full-sized fridge, combo microwave/air fryer/convection oven instead of a traditional oven, gas cooktop, farmhouse sink, and even a pantry. No dishwasher, which actually adds more storage space. We also chose to add a rolling island for even more workspace and storage.

Our vision for the living room and the porch off the living room was to create an indoor/outdoor space. We chose French doors, a fireplace, and screened in the porch so I don't have to drench myself in bug spray before heading out there. We look forward to the cooler months, opening those French doors and enjoying a fire.

But here's the reality check: Remember that 3-inch dilemma I told newsletter subscribers about? The washer and dryer space. This is the one area where we struggled to go tiny. We're going to squeeze in a regular-sized washer and dryer that will overflow its designated space - rather than spend time at the laundromat and have a perfect fit.

This is exactly the kind of real-world decision you won't see in polished tiny house content.

First evening as owners

After orientation, we went back to the tiny rental to grab a few essentials: toilet paper, hand soap, chairs - the basic things you need to actually spend time in a space.

And then came this moment: driving into our community as residents for the first time. After 76 days of being visitors, we officially belonged here.

We spent some time sitting on our screened porch, looking in through our French doors at our new space. The waiting was worth it. It's just as we imagined it would be - it's finally here! This downsizing represents a 72% reduction in our housing costs and the freedom to redesign our lives - again.

What we learned

This week taught us that tiny house timelines operate on their own logic. Sometimes everything happens at once. Sometimes you wait weeks for a single task to be completed. The key is staying flexible and trusting, but verifying, the process.

So many neighbors have stopped by to check out the house, ask if we need anything, and to genuinely celebrate our big day. We're not just buying into a tiny house - we're joining a community that genuinely cares about each other's success.

If you want to see the full visual story of this week - from the Labor Day stairs surprise to our actual walkthrough of every room - watch our YouTube video. Subscribe to our channel to follow along as we document the reality of tiny house living.

What's next

Now comes the real adventure: actually moving our downsized life into 399 square feet. (Did we downsize enough?!) We'll start bringing things over this week and begin the process of unpacking, finding places for the things we chose to keep and figuring out living in a space smaller than most garages.

We'll document the process of moving in and setting up - the successes, the "where does this go?" moments, and probably some problem-solving in real time. Because this is tiny house reality, not the Instagram version.

Thanks for being on this journey with us. If you want the behind-the-scenes details that don't make it into these posts, our Tuesday newsletter gives subscribers the insider scoop first.

What would you prioritize moving in first? We're about to find out what we forgot we needed.

Writing this from the tiny rental one last time,

-Kathy & Bryan