Tiny go Lightly

Living sustainably and designing my lifestyle to be meaningful and low impact. My story of building and living in a tiny house, in Gippsland, Victoria

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Living  /  August 30, 2018

Staying slow in the rat race – is it possible?

by tinygolightly

For the past 16 months, I’ve had the luxury of working three days a week, often from home. As of Monday this week, I’m officially back in the rat race. Working part time for me means having extra time and energy to spend on things that are a priority to me. The part time dream is one that I think feels unattainable to many people, due to financial commitments that require full time work. Luckily, my tiny house has enabled me to choose part time work that I love, without financial strain.

Over the past year I have had more time to spend with my friends and family. I’ve volunteered, worked on my house, on the garden, on my music and in my community. I’ve worked to set up a meaningful and sustainable lifestyle for myself and I’ve shared my experiences in alternative living to help others do the same. Working part time has provided me with opportunities I will find hard to let go of.

Maybe you’ll wonder why then, I started back in a full time job this week? To be honest, I’m still working through that decision myself.

One thing I know is that despite wanting to slow down, to appreciate my time and health and family and the small joys in life, I am also ambitious. I’m hungry for a new challenge. Working three days a week has allowed me to throw myself into many side projects. It also allowed me to set up my lifestyle to reflect my values – something I was desperate to do and desperately hope won’t be affected by my new job. But I think it is one of the many flaws in our current system, that in order to take on a role with responsibility and to progress in your career, you’re often expected to work full time hours. I took this job because it is a chance for me to grow professionally, to learn, to stay in Gippsland and also increase my opportunities for future employment in an area I’m passionate about. For those reasons, it seemed like a sensible choice.

On the flip side, the full time ongoing aspects of the job I find confronting. Not because I’m fickle, or lack commitment or scared of hard work. But I value my limited time here on Earth. I refuse to be sucked into the notion that I have to spend my days in front of a computer doing something that doesn’t bring me joy just because that’s the way society says things should be. And I’m lucky enough in all the ways that count, to know that I have other options.

Yet, without insurance or a fixed home for the tiny, security is another reason. I know that my financial freedom has more to do with luck and privilege than skill or my hard work (not to discount the hard work of my parents and other family members). I don’t want to take that for granted and I don’t want to live in the insecure margins of society forever. I want to start planning the next steps for the tiny. This will be an ongoing and long term process, but more money certainly opens up those options considerably.

Finally, I don’t see my tiny house as a gimmick or a gamble, or as a home that is only suitable for someone who is willing to forsake modern society. I don’t think it’s extreme to commit to reducing my footprint while working full time. I don’t even think it’s unachievable. I don’t think it’s unrealistic for more people to downsize their house and their lives and still be ambitious, successful, comfortable and happy. I’ll prove it. It’s a big shift for me, moving back into this space. I see it as part of the process of questioning norms, part of the ‘journey’ if you like. Are there ways we can fuse slow, meaningful living with modern Australian society and the roles we’re expected to play? Can I hold onto the lifestyle and person I want to be while committing so much of my time and energy to this job? I guess it’s time to find out.

For anyone accustomed to working full time, these questions and reflections might seem dramatic. For me, it’s important to challenge what’s viewed as ‘progress’ or ‘success’ in our society and what we sacrifice to get there. I do know that there can be positives to full time work as well – new relationships, a sense of pride and satisfaction in your work, personal growth and learning opportunities. As I work through some of my fears and doubts I’m sure the shift will seem less monumental and I will find new and unexpected positives as well. But I also know how easily we adapt and shift our perspectives based on our situations. I don’t want to lose sight of the new ‘normal’ I have created for myself with the tiny: days filled with love, small joys, time and life.

Tags

  • balance
  • future
  • slow living
  • sustainability
  • work

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1 comment

  • Julie Esdaile
    August 30, 2018

    Appreciate you sharing your experiences and ponderings. Hoping to help with reducing the ‘marginalisation’ of tiny house living… we’ll see how it goes.

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1 year ago
Timeline Photos

I don’t know what feels more luxurious, having a towel rail in the tiny house or owning more than two towels!

What amazes me more than how much stuff you can live without, is how much stuff you need to live in a regular house. This was put into perspective doubly when family came to stay from interstate recently. With 6 adults and a toddler in the house, suddenly our two sets of sheets and 4 towels (already double what we had in the tiny!) was far from adequate. We ran out of cutlery, crockery and pillows. I forget the things people expect in a house, like a washing basket or a rubbish bin. Or a stash of kid’s toys. I feel like we’ve spent the last 8 months collecting things to try and make this house functional and comfortable, but we’re definitely trying to walk the line between those things and falling into the trap of needing ‘stuff’. We have brought a lot of the tiny house lessons into this house and it works for us. But having a space that is welcoming and comfortable for other people is sometimes a different task again - it’s not all about us. And it’s often not until your partner’s mother asks where the laundry basket is and you hand her a shopping bag that you reflect on these things 😬

Finishing the tiny also means thinking of other people. Sure, we didn’t mind hanging our towels in the shower or over the clothes drawers, but probably some people will. Sure, we managed just fine on one towel each most of the time, but that is also a personal choice. As we ready the tiny for its new stage in life, I am trying to look at things from different perspectives. And rather than marvelling at how little we needed, I am instead marvelling at how much it seems we can’t do without!

#minimalism #tinyhouse #bathroom #stuff #freshtowels #diy #airbnb #towelrail #progress #details
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1 year ago
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Sunlight and green green grass by Mother Nature, deck by Mick and photo by insta boyfriend. For once, serving his purpose.
Happy Sunday, folks!

Peace, love and sunshine
☀️✌🏼✌🏽✌🏾☀️

#peaceandlove #farshion #womenwhobuild #toolbeltswag #michaellongfoundation #alwayswasalwayswillbe
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1 year ago
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Some nights I dream of straight lines and saw dust.

There’s poetry in the building process. I’m no poet but I feel connected and creative in this space, and it becomes easy to find beauty in unexpected places. ... See more

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1 year ago

Would you like a tour of Tiny go Lightly and Ravenscroft farm? Are you interested in learning more about sustainable farming and regenerative agriculture practices? Do you love being outside and have some time on a weekend to help support a local project?

If the answer was yes to any of these questions, please consider coming along to a tree planting day at Ravenscroft farm in Tanjil South. I'll be there and happy to discuss any tiny house questions you have while we plant!

Date: Sunday 8th September, 2019

10:30 am - arrival for coffee and cake, followed by planting

1:00pm ish – Lunch

Post lunch – tour of farm featuring revegetation, tiny house and other activities

Please bring: warm clothes, gloves.

If you're keen to join us, please get in touch for the farm address and further details. Hope to see you there!
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