Eve Edelheit / Tampa Bay Times Files
The Next Gen model at Tampa Bay Tiny Homes in St. Petersburg.
When it comes time to downsize from my current homestead, I’m thinking a tiny home might be the perfect next step.
I do not want an apartment, nor does a condo appeal to me much. I’m not a trailer-court guy, either. I don’t mind minimal square footage to live in. But I do want space outside, a yard, the possibility for a garage/workshop — and privacy.
It’s not that I don’t want neighbours, I just want the right ones. We all know that when you roll the dice on who ends up being your neighbour, there is the potential for issues to flare up (it’s always their fault), resulting in a negative impact on your quality of life. Not good.
So how does one stack the odds in favour of avoiding a possible Hatfield/McCoy situation?
Allow me to share my current dream scenario with you.
As you read this, there is a river lot I know of for sale, beautiful old-growth trees on nearly two-thirds of five acres, close to Winnipeg, in a great area. Perfect.
A tiny home on that lot would be spectacular.
Just what is a tiny home/house?
The definition, according to thetinylife.com, is a home with a square footage between 100 and 400 square feet, with most being independent structures. Some are on wheels, some are not.
My vision includes finding four or five other friends, like-minded individuals or couples who could also move tiny homes onto that lot as well, sharing that paradise amongst us.
There’d be a single driveway that meanders through the five or so tiny homes, which are spaced at least 50 to 75 feet apart, placed strategically throughout the lot to provide the most privacy and individuality possible — in what is actually a communal situation.
The third or so of the yard that is open land could be used to create a group garden, a good-sized building for group storage and social activities, and workshop and hobby shop possibilities. Without question, I’d want a huge group-sized firepit area near the river’s edge. I mean, I can smell that wonderful wood smoke now.
Maybe even throw in a pool.
And central to all on the acreage in these crazy climate-change times would be an in-ground concrete room large enough to protect all the residents and pets, even a horse or two if need be, so a surprise tornado couldn’t suddenly whisk us all off to Oz. That concrete escape would also be a good place for a backup generator. Important to be prepared.
Us pet people would be wise to choose other pet people to form the tiny-home family, as you don’t want your now unfriendly neighbours trying to bear-spray your cat for pooping in their flower garden. That can get ugly, quick.
Does this sound ideal? Affordability, good neighbours, good company, mutual support, sharing of all the maintenance tasks — and still that private residence rural setting feel to maintain that sense of independent living.
I’m not ready for this dream scenario, yet. Although, I really believe someday, I could be.
Good thing I’m not ready, because generally at present here in friendly Manitoba, tiny homes — with varying exceptions here and there — sort of do not meet the regulations they need to, including current code standards, to be approved as a home. They may meet some trailer standards, but that’s kind of a grey area at present, as well. Hereabouts it seems, we are in the early days of the tiny-homes movement.
I called the Rural Municipality of Headingley office to ask if tiny homes are allowed here yet. Their answer: "No tiny home for you."
They were actually very friendly and polite — as always — but tiny homes do not meet current home regulation requirements here.
That probably rules out living in a van down by the river too. And that, my friends, is a very good thing.
Comments or feedback love to hear from you.
lmustard1948@gmail.com
