Is smaller better? My wife says no.

A while back I heard of something that was described as a phenomenon, but I wouldn’t call it one.  If true, then ten-year-old Nick was prophetic!  (Yes, that’s P”roph”EITC not P”ath”ETIC, which may apply to thirty-something Nick.  Ten-year-old Nick was a pretty cool and smart guy. 

It all started a little over two decades ago…. I remember it like it was yesterday.

First, my Boston Red Sox were doing terrible when some guy named Joe Morgan took over around the all-star break.  Yada-yada-yada the Sox went from fourth place to the ALCS, where they were swept by the Oakland A’s. 

Second, on October 10 of that year, a mere two weeks after my tenth birthday I got a phone call that got me giddy.  It was my friend Matt and he asked if I wanted to meet my idol – Wade Boggs.  Better yet, he asked if I wanted to meet Wade Boggs – at Wade’s house!!!!  Wade Boggs was my favorite player at the time!  As it turned out, Wade’s father was an army buddy of Matt’s grandfather.  So Matt’s father became friends with Wade.  (another) Yada-yada-yada I’m at his house.  I still have a picture of me and Wade Boggs in what appears now to be boxer shorts, but I’m pretty sure were perfectly-acceptable shorts and a tee-shirt.  And Wade signed it for me months later.  Maybe I’ll post a pic of the picture at some point.

And third, my parents built a shed in the back yard and (this is where I became prophetic) I begged them to let me live in the shed.  I thought it was the coolest thing in the world.  It had two rooms and attic space.  All it needed was running water and insulation and it was the perfect pad.  They never let me live in the shed – I was only 10, of course.  But I always wanted to move in.  I asked over and over again until I moved out for college.

It turns out I was about 20 years before the trend according to the Boston Globe, which describes “Anti-McMansions” – one example measuring only 89 square feet – as a “small but growing corner of the American housing market.”  Wow.  That’s small! 

My first three reactions:

1. It reminds me of my first apartment in New York City (which happened to be over four times the size of that place – 400 square feet).
2. I would pay to see these folks live in one of these for one year.  Best.  Reality show.  Ever.
3. To put it gently (because this is a family-friendly blog) let’s just say the ”bedroom nook” seems a bit too tight to…. ahem… “not sleep.”
4. While writing this I decided to send the link to my wife, saying “Let me know what you think of this house.  If you want it it’s yours, but make sure you click through the picture.” 

Her exact reaction (I typed it as she talked):

Tiny houses Nick?!?  Yeah, I don’t want it.  89 square feet?!?  I don’t care what trend it is.  I don’t want it and I don’t like it.  Oh my gosh, no way!  You can keep this house, Angel.  Do I need to keep looking ’cause I don’t like it?  Oh my gosh it’s claustrophobic.  I’m not looking.

God I love her.  I don’t blame her.  I could probably live in one.  But I’m a little nuts.

What do you think?  Would you live in one?  What about for the price?!?!  Could your spouse?  If you want a fun time, send the link to your spouse like I did.  Simply say “if you want this house it’s yours.”  My wife wouldn’t take it for free.  Let me know what your husband or wife says. 

Until next time, put your credit card down and slowly step away from the mall!