Put Your Life on a Diet: Living the Simple Life

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When they're not enjoying a meal at the fold-away dining table, Gregory and Makur use it as office space.
When they're not enjoying a meal at the fold-away dining table, Gregory and Makur use it as office space.
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Gregory and Makur both volunteer for the Small House Society, the Small Car Society and their local United Nations Association.
Gregory and Makur both volunteer for the Small House Society, the Small Car Society and their local United Nations Association.
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Gregory Paul Johnson, with fiancee Makur Jain, lives in a tiny house.
Gregory Paul Johnson, with fiancee Makur Jain, lives in a tiny house.
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When he's not using it, Gregory can tuck away his gas-powered Coleman camping stove, allowing his cooking space to double as the dining area.
When he's not using it, Gregory can tuck away his gas-powered Coleman camping stove, allowing his cooking space to double as the dining area.

I live in a home of 140 square feet. It doesn’t have a furnace, air conditioner, refrigerator, dishwasher, clothes washer/dryer, vacuum cleaner, blender, disposal or other common home appliances. For most of my commuting, I walk or rely on a bicycle. My small home is completely off the electrical and water grids. Most people would say this is an impossible way to live, but the truth is, my transition to a simpler life has made me happier and healthier than I have ever been.

In 2001, I read about Jay Shafer, who at the time was living in a 10-by-14-foot home he built on a trailer. Shafer constructed the home using residential-grade materials and insulation for economical year-round habitation–something most RVs and camper trailers lack. This fusion of camper and house intrigued me.

In 2003, I needed a change. It didn’t make sense to rent a small apartment, never putting money toward owning a home. I imagined myself 30 years down the road, having spent thousands of dollars on rent with nothing to show for it. Once I stopped and thought about where my money was going, I began looking at my options for purchasing a small house or condo.

I discovered that, while efficiency apartments exist, efficiency condos are not as readily available. Local housing codes have made it illegal to build a small “efficiency house,” deeming such a dwelling uninhabitable even though the same-size dwelling as an apartment is legal. Basically, I wanted the option to own a simple room like the one I was renting.

  • Published on Sep 23, 2009
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