After Boulder

As you may recall, I went to Boulder, Colorado this past weekend.  Primarily I was going there to bring my tiny house back to Dallas to complete the construction, and then the side benefit was that I would be able to attend the Four Lights Tiny House Company workshop.  As it turned out, my house didn't quite make it there - the logistics got complicated and it is still in California - but I attended the workshop anyway.  And I'm glad I did.

As I have reflected back on the weekend, I've been able to identify that I am different when I am with tiny house supporters.  I am a better person.  Certainly a happier person.  Everything just seems really natural, and logical, and ... sensible.  It's like I have become my favorite pair of jeans.  It's weird. I'm so alive.  Will every day be like that in my new life?  I really think so.

At his workshops, Jay likes to find someone who is living in a tiny house in the area and have them tell their story.  I was in the car with Jay and Daniel on Friday before the workshop, and it came out from both of them nearly simultaneously that they were each going to ask me to say a few words at the workshop - to tell my story.  I was in the back seat.  They were in the front seat.  Honestly, I was certain that I hadn't heard correctly.  You know, windows unrolled, road noise, really just watching the local sights out the windows...  I leaned forward.  "What did you say?"  Me?  About what?  Oh.... Hmmm.  "When were you going to tell me that??"  LOL  I mean, I didn't mind doing it, I guess, but speaking does not come naturally to me... I'm working on it, though...

I spoke on Sunday, right after we had a field trip to tour Christopher Smith's tiny house. (He was great - came and spoke with us on Saturday, and invited all of us to tour his house Sunday morning - such a privilege!) I felt very ... out of my league.  My voice was very shaky - I was nervous.  If you catch me one-on-one I can easily tell you my story, and it brings me joy to do so.  Put me in the front of a room with an audience, and things change.  But I got through it, and a few attendees were kind enough to come up to me at the end of the day and thank me for telling my story, that they could identify with me, and that it makes their tiny house seem tangible.  One kind man made a beeline for me after I sat down - walked right up to me, stuck out his hand and said, "I'm John.  I want to be your friend." I loved John for that.  I am not a natural speaker, but I'll get better at it.  And in the meantime, maybe I'll open up a few minds with my clumsy ways. : )  It also helps me out with my "do one thing every day that scares you" mantra.

I met some really fun people who were attending the workshop.  I was really disappointed that I missed the session where everyone went around the room and said why they were there - I was out running an errand - but I was able to talk with a few people about their dreams.

Here's the view from Christopher Smith's front porch - how this must change how you start your day...

I also found out that I have a side business that I was unaware of... LOL

Next on my list?  Finalizing logistics on my house transport... and educating myself on electrical systems and plumbing so that when my windows and roof are installed I'm ready for the next step.

So What's Next?

The question everyone is asking me now is, "So where is your house now?  Is it done?"  I guess I forget that everyone doesn't know everything that I know.  Go figure!

My house is in Thousand Oaks, CA.  Daniel is doing a bit of work on it to ready it for travel.  (Thank you, Daniel!)  My house is not complete.  It has a floor, walls, a roof and a porch.  The roof decking will be tarped for travel, in case it rains along the way.

Daniel will tow it from Thousand Oaks to Boulder, Colorado, arriving in Boulder on Friday, July 12th.

Why Boulder?  There is a Four Lights Tiny House Company workshop in Boulder July 13th and 14th. My house will be there for "show & tell."  I'm so glad I can share my house with the attendees.  I know that when I attended the 4L workshop, being able to stand in a tiny house was a high light!  Of course Jay's is spectacular, and well, finished, but ... details, details.

I will fly to Boulder (?) on Friday, attend the workshop along with my house : )  and then get on the road with my house on Monday morning (I presume.)  I should be in Dallas by Tuesday evening.  I think.  It's a goal.

Yesterday I went to visit with the friend who is letting me park on her land while I finish the construction (and perhaps beyond.)  We scoped out which of her driveways my house will fit down.  We assessed sheds for secure storage of my tools.  We checked on electrical outlets, evening light poles, and shady places to park.  We discussed mini water meters and mini electrical meters, "home tour" schedules, additional traffic to her place due to the house... and so on.   She is having keys made for me, and giving me the lay of her land.  Nine acres.  It's gorgeous.  I clocked it when I drove there, and it's less than 9 miles from my apartment.  Not bad at all. 

It's all feeling very real now.  Very, very real.

This will be my new driveway:

Here's one of the possible sites to park for the duration of construction.  I'm hoping to look around a bit more and choose a place with shade...  It's beautiful here, though.

I went to a friend's newly purchased (older) home today to help her assess a shed that needs a new roof and a new floor.  We ended up sitting in her backyard and getting caught up on our lives.  So fun!  In the course of conversation she said they are having a garage sale on July 20th.  Total score!  I'm going to sell my couches, my huge framed mirror, my bed frame... all that stuff that I've been keeping (and that I am still using) but that I can easily do without.  I'm super excited to finally have bumped into someone who is having a sale.  Plus I totally owe her a bunch of hours of work - she helped me so much last Fall with my sale.  And I'm so happy for the opportunity to repay the favor.  Plus - we just have fun.  : )

What's next for my tiny house?  Here's the rough order of things: A trip to my steel friend for stabilization jacks and "L" brackets  A metal roof and windows, both professionally installed.  Exterior trim.  A front door.  Electrical - professionally installed - I hope I can still find my favorite electrician.  Plumbing. (this may involve another trip to my steel/welding friend.)  Insulation.  Interior trim.  Cork (I think) flooring.  A tiny furnace... which is of lesser importance here than a tiny air conditioning unit.  And then... a futon and a pillow.  : ) Holy cow.

Some Major Fun

Sometimes when you roll over in the middle of the night and are wide awake, and you grab your phone to see if anything is happening in the world, you find something fun in your InBox.   In the wee hours this morning, I found received this entertaining/incriminating/soul nourishing bit of footage from Jay Shafer: You Should Have Been There

I want a do over.  That was the.  best.  week.

Maybe we should crash the L.A. workshop this weekend.  Bwaaa ha ha ha ha

You can't see her behind the camera, but let's give a big round of applause and thanks to Gabriela Sosa - she followed us around for 5 days - and we were not a camera savvy group!  Our heads got in the way, we talked over each other, we said all the things that made us look really smart when we were outside mic distance... I'm sure filming us was like herding cats.  Plus it was cold.  And she looked like a suicide bomber with the equipment and battery packs strapped to her.  We told her to be sure to steer clear of airports....

She did, however, get the spend the night in here every night:

Packed and ready to go home.

We were all insanely jealous.

 And, this post wouldn't be complete without a shout out to Nina & Judy:

(And we know our gang sign...)

More workshop opportunities:  Four Lights Workshops

All Hail to the Angels

http://tinyhouseblog.com/tiny-house/four-lights-tiny-house-companys-workshop/

Trip in Review - Feb. 18-20th

I've been a slacker on posting... busy work week. 

So the last 3 days we helped a family build their tiny house.  So much fun!  It was very similar for me to being on a Habitat job site and it was all happy and familiar.  When we got there the floor joists were on the trailer.  We added blocking, insulation, decking.  Then we put up 4 walls, put on the house wrap, and the exterior sheathing.  

Upon arrival....

The second wall (it was really cold that day!)

When we departed... front left is the porch

We had the best time!  I have a zillion photos, but mostly great memories.

The workshop was definitely life changing for me, and affirmed all the huge changes that I have been making the last 6 months are on the path that I should be on.  I am so excited about life these days that I can hardly stay in my chair!