The Semi Truck That Made Us Question Our Downsizing | Week 25 Post-layoff

TL;DR: We went from questioning our downsizing decisions to barely noticing we live in 399 square feet—and discovered that home isn't about the size of your space, it's about making space for who you're becoming.

Picture this: a semi truck pulls up to the property to deliver moving boxes to a tiny home. Meanwhile, your own rented 399 square feet is complete chaos and you're questioning every downsizing decision you've made.

There we were on Day 2, surrounded by our own disorganized boxes, feeling overwhelmed by everything that needed organizing, when we noticed this massive delivery arrive. Bryan and I looked at each other and burst out laughing. "And we thought WE didn't downsize enough!" we said, watching the semi paused at the community gate.

Turns out, we're all just figuring this out as we go.

This Week's Reality Check:

• ✓ Survived our first thunderstorm on a metal roof
• ✓ Set up the "closet office" instead of the corner office
• ✓ Became Walmart regulars overnight (four trips in five days!)
• ✓ Realized by week's end we barely notice living in 399 square feet

What We're Actually Doing:

Day 1: The Walmart Marathon Begins

Let me paint you a picture of our grocery shopping reality: four trips in five days after probably not visiting four times in the last decade combined.

Trip one: ant traps and a dog gate (because apparently tiny living means getting up close and personal with nature's smallest residents).

Trip two: food essentials we'd let run dangerously low by day two.

Trip three: a dish drain board because, surprise! Not included with the rental.

Trip four: toilet paper, paper towels, coffee, and all the other basics the rental company assumed we'd magically have.

By trip four, we figured out online ordering because this is a HUGE Walmart Supercenter and it takes a while to find things!

Finding Our Spaces (Even in Tiny Ones)

The loft has become our saving grace—wonderful, needed storage space that the cat has claimed as her personal kingdom. Getting things up those very steep stairs was like a puzzle game, but we're getting the hang of it. The dogs? They checked it out once and decided the main level suits them just fine, thank you very much.

Meanwhile, I've set up my office in the walk-in closet. From corner office to closet office—now that's a downsizing story! But honestly? It works. I've got my space, my setup, everything I need. Who knew a closet could be the perfect office solution?

Our First Real Weather

Wednesday brought our first thunderstorm in a tiny home. The sound of rain on metal roof? Pure magic. We sat there listening, and it brought back memories of sitting on our deck under the metal roof pergola during rainstorms—that same rhythmic peace washing over us, melting away the stress.

The dogs seemed to agree, both of them sacked out in their beds afterward like they'd had the most relaxing spa day.

Community Life Begins

We got approved for the community Facebook page this week (yes, there's a screening process—we made the cut!). During our dog walks, we'd been noticing one house putting up a new deck, pet fencing, and artificial turf. Today the owner waved and introduced himself, and his wife came out to chat too. They've been living in the community for about four months and are loving tiny home life. When Bryan asked about the artificial turf, they immediately handed us their vendor's business card. "Call if you decide you're interested in having them lay down artificial turf for you," they said. It's exactly the kind of neighbor support you hope for when you're starting something new.

Our first farmer's market visit yielded beautiful produce and the kind of community connection you can't get at big box stores. There's something about buying tomatoes from the person who grew them that feels like stepping into a different pace of life. We're looking forward to the meals we'll create with all this locally grown goodness and we look forward to visiting again next week.

The Biggest Adjustment

You want to know what we notice most about the space? It's not the kitchen size or the storage challenges. It's sleeping five beings (us, two dogs, and a cat) in a queen bed when we used to have a king. Now that's an adjustment that requires some creative choreography!

But here's what surprised us: by the end of the week, we barely notice the size of the tiny home anymore and the smaller bed is giving us fuel to brainstorm and problem-solve what we want for our own house. The place is organized, everything has its spot (thanks to that loft!), and it genuinely feels like home.

At the beginning of the week, we were overwhelmed with everything that needed to be done—old house duties still hanging over us, client work to catch up on, boxes to unpack and organize. But by week's end, with systems in place and routines forming, we actually said out loud: "We're doing this!"

The Space Between Who We Were and Who We're Becoming

I saw something online this week that stuck with me: "Your home shouldn't be a storage unit for your past. If you're holding on to an old version of you, it's time to make space for who you're becoming."

That's exactly what this feels like. Home isn't a museum for who we used to be—it's a launching pad for who we're becoming. And sometimes that launching pad is 399 square feet, complete with a closet office, steep loft stairs, and the sweetest sound of rain on a metal roof you've ever heard.

Let's Talk:

• What would you miss most about your current living situation if you downsized dramatically?
• Have you ever had a space that seemed impossibly small at first but grew to feel just right?

Here's to discovering that home isn't measured in square feet, -Kathy & Bryan

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