I saw where the DCHS Construction Technology (building trades) program will start building “Tiny Houses” soon. This is something I’ve always thought of for myself as an alternative-living arrangement I would like. Trouble is, my wife Charlotte and I are like Venus and Mars on this issue.
Believe me, I’ve made the pitch but it always draws a knee-jerk criticism.
“I’m not living in a … fill in the blank,” she always says.
The problem lies in the fact I’m a minimalist. I don’t need a lot to be happy and would rather have quality than quantity, and function over form, which is a good thing as I enjoy writing for a living but it’s not the highest paying field unless you’re Stephen King.
My wife is a teacher’s aide, but her tastes run more to the comfortable and not the minimalistic. My favorite car would be the Volkswagen Beetle while she’s a mini-van or SUV/sedan person all the way.
Quoting a phrase from a now classic oldie film – which are many of my favorites now just like my music – in Fast Times at Ridgemont High the character played by Sean Penn as Jeff Spicoli kind of sums up my attitude towards life.
Brad Hamilton (Judge Reinhold): Why don’t you get a job Spicoli?
Jeff Spicoli (Sean Penn): What for?
Brad Hamilton: You need money.
Jeff Spicoli: All I need are some tasty waves, a cool buzz, and I’m fine.
My wife and I bought a car a couple years ago, and it was a 2013 Fiat POP which I guess reflects more of my taste than hers. She had a mini-van at the time but due to some child-related circumstances we’re looking for a new vehicle she says will be “hers” now.
I feel like I compromised on the Fiat as it is a small, economic little car but I was looking at an even smaller one in the Smart Car which is a tiny-tiny car. The fact she now denies any role in buying the Fiat is surprising as she now drives it more than I do.
Now, when we discuss getting another car, it’s her way or the highway … no pun intended.
Kind of like when I make suggestions on retirement housing.
Our children are grown and it’s not like we need a bunch of room. For what, more stuff we can’t afford?
A couple of the pitches I’ve laid out there include a Yurt, a classic Airstream camper, the aforementioned tiny house, a teepee (although I prefer the Yurt), both sold by ColoradoYurt.com, and even a houseboat or sailboat.
I’ve been a fan of the Epicurean philosophy for some time. Epicureanism is a system of philosophy based on the teachings of Epicurus, founded around 307 B.C. It teaches that the greatest good is to seek modest pleasures in order to attain a state of tranquillity, freedom from fear (“ataraxia”) and absence from bodily pain (“aponia”).
Mars is still trying to convince Venus this a good approach.
Contact Steve Warner at news@smithvillereview.com