Who Knew Freedom Could Come in Such a Small Package? | Week 18 Post-layoff

"We live in a large house in [a neighboring town] and are looking to downsize—and this house has a pool."

Our jaws dropped when Bryan played back the Ring camera footage. After two weeks without a single showing, we finally had potential buyers—and they were downsizing, just like us! The universe's timing couldn't have been more perfect: they visited our home literally one day after we ordered our tiny house.

This Week's Reality Check:

• ✓ WE ORDERED THE TINY HOME!! (399 sq ft)
• ✓ Had our first showing in two weeks (literally the day after ordering)
• ✓ Potential buyers loved our house but weren't ready to downsize their "stuff"
• ✓ Prepared a proposal for a potential new bookkeeping client who found us through networking
• ✓ Made progress moving things out of the camper storage unit to the climate-controlled storage so we can get our camper out soon

What We're Actually Doing:

The Irony of Downsizing

Tuesday started like any other day—walking our dogs through the neighborhood and wondering when our house might sell. We'd just finished a conversation with our agent about the timing of potential, future price reductions when the showing request came through.

We did our now-familiar dance—making the house look like no one lives here, loading up the pets, which always includes running the cat out from under the bed with the vacuum, and heading out. Later, when Bryan replayed the Ring footage, we couldn't believe what we heard. The agent asked what drew them to our house, and they said they were looking to downsize from their larger home in a neighboring town.

It felt like destiny. After all, we'd been trying to define our "ideal buyer" earlier that very day, and I told Bryan: "It will probably be an older person or couple who is downsizing because, let's face it, 1,488 sq ft IS downsizing here in Texas!"

When Wednesday's showing feedback arrived, we couldn't help but laugh: "While they thought the house was beautiful and well-kept, it wouldn't accommodate their downsize. The closets were too small."

They liked the idea of a smaller house—but they weren't ready to downsize their "stuff."

It perfectly illustrated what Bryan had seen on LinkedIn just days before. A trauma surgeon's post had caught his attention:

"What if I told you there's one thing that could lower your blood pressure, reduce your stress, and improve your sleep—would you do it? We just sold our dream home. Our sanctuary. We were working sunup to sundown. We had everything—or so it looked. Now we're downsizing. Buying half the square footage for a quarter of the cost. We'll be completely debt free and, for the first time as an adult, we'll taste real freedom. Because, here's the truth no one wants to say out loud. Anyone can be rich—you just have to want less."

These potential buyers wanted the benefits of downsizing without actually reducing their possessions—a struggle many face on this journey, and exactly what we've been working through ourselves.

Taking the Leap

Sunday was our big day—we finally ordered our tiny home! After months of research, planning, and second-guessing, we clicked "submit" on our dream: the Parkview model from Recreational Resort Cottages.

Instead of struggling to describe it, here's what we're getting:

• 399 square feet (about 1/4 to 1/3 of our current home)
• Exterior in "UFO" (a blue-ish gray) with white trim and charcoal metal roof
• Screened porches on both ends (not shown below) with a fireplace on the living room porch
• White kitchen cabinets and extra storage instead of a conventional oven
• A location in a serene tiny home community with walking trails, pond, and dog park

It almost felt like ordering at a restaurant—checking boxes for what we wanted, skipping what we didn't need. No, it won't cost $30k like the DIY YouTube versions. No, we won't be towing it across the country. But yes, it will give us the freedom base we've been dreaming about.

When I worried aloud during our Tuesday dog walk that "maybe we're trying to force it because we ordered before selling." Our plan was to sell the current house, THEN order. My sister's take: "The universe recognized your confidence in moving forward and everything working out." The showing request that arrived hours later seemed to confirm her perspective.

Progress in Motion

Thursday brought confirmation that our order and tiny house deposit had been received. Friday morning, another showing! Two in one week - four total in the four weeks we've been on the market! Saturday we made two trips to move items from non-climate controlled storage to climate-controlled storage so we could easily get the camper and gear out when the opportunity presents itself.

While waiting for our house to sell, we're not standing still. Each box packed, each decision made moves us closer to our goal. And honestly? Every extra day we stay in this house while the tiny home is being built saves us money, since we don't have to rent a temporary housing space, and makes the transition easier.

The Freedom Equation

The lesson from this week crystallized around the irony of the downsizing couple and that trauma surgeon's post. As Mr. Money Mustache (whose blog we follow) often says, the path to financial freedom isn't about earning more—it's about needing less and finding happiness in simplicity. It's the same principle we discovered in "Your Money or Your Life" book that we mentioned a few posts back.

Our equation is simple:

Less House + Less Stuff = More Freedom + More Life

Unlike those potential buyers, we're ready to let go of the stuff. We're choosing to be "rich" by wanting less—less square footage, less maintenance, less debt. In return, we gain more time, more flexibility, and more joy in living intentionally.

The tiny home won't be ready for about three months. But something feels different now. We've committed. We've made the decision. We've taken the leap.

Sometimes the universe just needs to see you taking that first step before it helps clear the path ahead.

Let's Talk:

• Have you ever downsized or considered it? What was your experience?
• What's one thing you could let go of to gain more freedom in your life?
• Do you agree with the surgeon's quote that "anyone can be rich—you just have to want less"?

Here's to finding richness in simplicity,

-Kathy & Bryan

Note: This post is part of our weekly "Reinventing Midlifehood" series, chronicling our journey of working toward intentional living and rediscovering what matters after a midlife career transition. If this post was shared with you, we hope you'll join us as we explore the freedom that comes from choosing your own path rather than following conventional paths.