Living the American Dream
Wednesday, October 22nd, 2008 |
I think every girl in America must have her dream home, complete with wraparound porch and a white picket fence. Thats all fine and good, and I hope one day to make such a dream come true for the woman of my life, but until then, I’ve got a dream home of my own. I’ve secretly always wanted to live in… a tuffshed.
The sad thing is you probably think I’m kidding. I’m really not sure how this idea came about but I should probably clarify: I am not referring to one of those standard 5X7 tuffsheds (I’m no cheapskate); I’d need at least the 150 square feet Thoreau had in his shack down by Walden Pond in order to get by. They make tuffsheds the size of 2 or 3 car garages and I think those would do splendidly.
I see I have some convincing to do. As I learned in my highschool history class (thanks Val!), in making an argument you need at least three good points to back you up. With that in mind, here is my reasoning for wanting to live in a tuffshed: 1) It would help you live a simpler life 2) You’d save boatloads of money, and 3) I really really want to.
Honestly though, I think our culture is too materialistic. Granted, I am a self-proclaimed deal shopper and I enjoy my little gadgets just as much as your local neighborhood geek. At the same time, though, I already feel like I have too much “stuff” and living in such small quarters would encourage me to only keep what was really necessary. It’s all about living simply.
The concept of a 30-year mortgage is ridiculous to me. Whatever happened to the good ol’ days of our pioneer ancestors when they’d erect a house in the course of a day? Tuffsheds are prefabricated and assembly can be done in no time. Granted, it would take some more time to insulate, drywall, and add lighting, heating, and piping, but the general concept is the same. Also, seeing as that big earthquake is inevitable sooner than later here in Utah, there is all that added insurance to worry about with a nice expensive house. I’ll take the tuffshed 7 year warranty and be on my way, thank you very much…
For reasons that are beyond me I have yet to find another individual who agrees with me that living in a tuffshed is a good idea. While this saddens me and though it would be difficult to part with this dream of mine I have come up with some backup plans, just in case:
Live in a van, preferrably somewhere in the Brittish Isles
Live in an underground home (read: hobbit hole)
Stowaway on a ship (preferrably of the “cruise” variety… those people eat good)
Live in a home that fits in a parkingspot
Have an Outdoor office like this or this (its got a fancy website so it’s gotta be a good idea)
I guess if all else fails I could just move back into my parents basement. When it comes down to it, I’m pretty sure that is my mom’s American Dream anyway.
5 Comments to Living the American Dream
A Tuff Shed home is an interesting idea and we have discussed the issue together many times. I do feel that there are some things you should take into consideration however before you decide to move into a shed/yurt/igloo.
1. Have you considered the anger your neighbors may direct towards you once you construct a Tuff Shed home in their neighborhood? As classy as the sheds may be, I am pretty sure it will affect the neighborhood property values. Although, if the old depression era Hoovertowns come back you will fit right in.
2. While a tough shed may have less mass that could collapse on you when the earthquake hits, you have failed to take the other natural disasters into consideration: tornados, hurricanes, locusts, American Idol season finales; I am pretty sure I would rather be in a secure steel framed bunker house than a shed.
3. The most important issue, I feel, is that you must recognize that once you marry you basically give up the veto power in the home realm. Your opinion on where to dwell may carry significant weight, but the wife yields ultimate authority. You can choose to override her veto, but then you probably will be sleeping the Tuff Shed alone.
A Tuff Shed would be great for a bachelor but anything beyond that, it doesn’t work. Once a woman enters the scene, a Tuff Shed will never do. You wouldn’t be able to do much entertaining. No room. Then there are those crazy kids that come along. YOU will want them to have their own bedroom and for you to have your own bedroom. Romance generally takes a hit after kids but if those kids are sleeping in the same mega room with you, it will probably disappear. Maybe you could just take vacations to small cabins or get a tiny travel trailer to squish into for weekend get-aways.
KellenOctober 24, 2008
But maybe a one room Tuff Shed would give you an excuse to make your kids sleep outside in a tent. It will help you make men out of those boys.
DadOctober 27, 2008
Son, you would have loved the apartment I had prior to my marriage. It had a living room, a bedroom, a kitchen and a bath. It was probably 400 square feet. With the exception of needing a bathroom, I could probably survive in my Sprinter van. I saw one with a bathroom, kitchen, etc., it was used 24,000 miles and they wanted $85,000 for it.
BrendyNovember 20, 2008
Lets be honest, until Rob gives up his tuffshed dream, there will be no woman or offspring to worry about.
October 23, 2008