The original tiny house? But all that land means the residents are out & about most of the time, plowing the sod & all that. When people can't imagine how two people (Johnny & I, i.e.) have lived — comfortably! cheerily! cozily! — in a studio for decades, I should point out what it was like out on the prairies 150 years ago. Read Giants in the Earth. I've read books about mail-order brides who lived in shacks like this with their in-laws, the babies as they came along, and a cow or 2 till a barn got built. My apartment has all the space I need.
NauenThen
Tiny house
April 28, 2022
2 Comments
Comments
May 14, 2022 9:07 AM EDT
Again on Joseph Brodsky who has a lengthy essay in his book "Less Than One" titled "In a Room and a Half" about where he and his parents lived in Leningrad for many years. After he was exiled by the Soviets his parents continued living there until their passing. I think the place was about 270 square feet (I had to do some metric conversion) and did not include a kitchen or bathroom, both of which were communally shared with about 11 other people. The sharing ratio was unusual according to him and normally would've been a lot higher (lower?) with many more people sharing. While I know many things have changed in Russia since the early '90s I think that many people probably still live this way. There are some extremely interesting YouTube videos showing the daily lives and living circumstances of various people around the world. One that I have recently watched is about village life in a remote part of Afghanistan (isn't it all remote?). The series is slow but very enlightening and my take away is that the villagers are, in general, satisfied and content with their lives. I'm sure some want to get out and do 'bigger' things but our amazement about how people can live that way is badly misplaced, IMO!
- Michael Sharpe
Comment by Elinor on May 14, 2022 9:34 AM EDT
thank you! I should have thought to say that most people in the world (yes?) live in spaces that a lot of Americans would think is impossible. My apartment at one time probably house a family of 6 & a boarder or 2. "Sleep fast, we need the bed!" Started the Brodsky essay.