| Affordable, too. When we are older, our families are | | | | culture---with manure run through a "digester." |
| smaller. Gone are the racing toddlers, the needy | | | | Sounds like hippiedom? Hmmnn, maybe it is. But think |
| schoolkids, the teenagers spreading out like viruses in | | | | for a moment, remember how cheaply we lived back |
| the living room. So who needs a big house with a | | | | then? I'm not saying it was all ice cream and roses, |
| yard? | | | | but we got by and few people were lonely. |
| There are lots of interesting trends these days. | | | | This is the second part of "The Maturity Manifesto." |
| There is the "Tiny House Movement," in which people | | | | It's one of my favorites: it's about downsizing. What |
| buy micro houses outright and give up mortgage | | | | a wonderful idea for retirement. And it's natural, too. |
| slavery. Some of them are quite charming and | | | | It would seem to make supreme sense in the |
| innovative. There is the ever-growing trend of living | | | | cosmos that when our families are grown, we no |
| full time in motorhomes. Even younger people are | | | | longer need a whole lotta stuff. |
| into this one. Some younger families are taking home | | | | Some of the downsizers are what is known in the |
| and business on the road, maintaining that the | | | | RV world as "full timers." These are folks who have |
| motorhome is basically a sleep/work/wash place, and | | | | decided to chuck the house and live in motor homes |
| that much of their living is done out of doors. | | | | all year round. Some head for warmer climes in |
| One of the nice things about downsizing is that it | | | | winter; some don't. If you set your gypsy wagon up |
| forces you to decide what is truly important and | | | | right, you can park it anywhere. (you may need a car |
| what is not. Most often, what is truly precious to | | | | truck to get through the snow, however) |
| people can be fit into a box. The furniture, big screen | | | | In doing some research for this article, I was amazed |
| TV's, huge stereo systems, extra sets of | | | | at some of the facts I found. Specifically: there are |
| everything….in the end, they don't matter | | | | tens of thousands of elders living full time in RV's. |
| anywhere near as much as we thought they did. Sell | | | | There are thousands of single older women living full |
| them. You could use the money. | | | | time in RV's. There are hundreds of clubs for RV'ers, |
| As for buying stuff, why bother with the stores? | | | | including singles clubs. There are hundreds of |
| The checkout lines are all too long anyhow. Craigslist | | | | campsites that cater to older RVers and range from |
| and Angieslist are what ebay used to be, and offer | | | | the very simple to the high end snobby. There is RV |
| some incredible deals on whatever you may need. | | | | technology that would blow your mind and make |
| And remember, if you unite into groups, you don't | | | | your unit virtually self sustaining. Most importantly, the |
| need as much. Five families can manage with two | | | | ethic of the road is to visit and make friends, not to |
| grills. If one owns a circular saw, and another owns a | | | | be isolated in your lonely parking spot. Evening |
| jigsaw, and another owns a sewing machine, and | | | | cocktails are often lively affairs….I hear some of |
| another owns a sander….you get the picture. | | | | those folks can drink. |
| Food: try growing some. Even if you live on the | | | | What a concept for boomers. Uh, come to think of |
| move in RV's, you can grow anything, and quite a lot | | | | it, wasn't that how we started out? Everything was |
| of it, in grow boxes that can be set out in the | | | | done in groups. We gathered in groups for marches, |
| daytime. You can fit enough broccoli, tomatoes, | | | | rallies, concerts and whatever excuse we could think |
| carrots, and lettuce for a twofer family into one 2x3 | | | | of. We did not have to be lonely. |
| box. | | | | Question: what's the difference between young |
| Fuel? Insulate the small house, run the car on | | | | gypsies and old gypsies? Answer: There is no |
| vegetable grease, and heat the house with a small | | | | difference. |
| propane tank or---if you really want to go counter | | | | |