Life in a One Room Shack

Home, Sweet Home

Realistically, it's not that unusual. All around the world, I'd say a majority of people live like we do. Technically speaking there is a second room, aka the bathroom. We do actually have a bathtub which is almost unheard of in these parts, and after about a year here, we set up hot water to the shower. We don't, however, have a kitchen sink.

Notice the missing sink.

View corner to corner

When you come from life in the US, it's a pretty solid transition. I have sworn in the past that I'd never again have a house without a dishwasher, two bathrooms, or four bedrooms. Sigh. There are challenges for sure. No one has any personal space. Dishes are washed in Rubbermaid bins. It's hard to have a space without toys. Storage is not really a luxury we have. I have a teenager, @sophieharling, who just can't get away from me or her 5 and 4 yo siblings. There's no kitchen table, and 5 people share one bathroom. Any idea of privacy is shot to shit.

In her Little Corner

There are actually advantages, though. We're planning to buy our own little piece of land and bring together an earthbag workshop to help build our little earthbag house. It's gonna have real bedrooms and shit. I was telling little wildman about it and asked him if he was excited to have his own room someday. "No! I love having us all here so close together as a family."

The Little Kid Corner

It's true. We're really close. I always thought that was part of why I was so close with my college friends. A dorm room is a pretty intimate environment too. We all work from home, so we're together all the time. I know how my kids play and who they are. Sometimes it's too much. The other day my husband went to the store, and we just needed a break from each other. I get tired of hearing every single little scuffle between the little ones. When I am alone in this house, it's like winning a fucking bar of gold. Still I love having close relationships with my kids. Sometimes I think it must be really hard for people who see their kids maybe 30 minutes a day. Our life used to be like that. If the only two choices are this and that, I'm going with this every time. Luckily there are other options.

How many mamas are close with their teenage daughters? @sophieharling is amazing.

So, I think we will go for a balance. Work and play at home so we can spend time together but have rooms to retreat to when needed. In any case, I'd never trade this because look what I see out my window and out my front door. I'm surrounded each day totally and completely by love and beauty. It's a good life. Even without a dishwasher. And, yes, I'll be buying a dishwasher for the next house.

Views of Jungle and River and Sea.

You know what I love most about this? This is the one community I can post this in. I'd never post this on Facebook. A combination of embarrassment and not wanting to seem like I'm asking to be saved and also not really wanting my mom to see cause shed worry even more. I can write this in here and just authentically talk about the gifts and the challenges. There are plenty of people on Steemit in similar or more challenging circumstances. I still see myself as privileged. Mostly it's a privilege to have those crazy people call me mama and also to be a part of this community.

View from my Window isn't Bad