Living that Small life in a BIG way

To say that I’ve living small… is an understatement. I’m living in a 22 foot travel trailer with a 60# dog and a cat. I estimate my living space is approximately 175 sqft… on a good day. We have a bedroom on one end, bathroom on the other, with living space in between. My living space boasts a fireplace (ambiance, or warmth), walk in pantry, kitchen with an oven, microwave and stove, and a couch with a chaise. Nifty, ain’t it?

H and I spend most of our time on the couch. Me studying, or procrastinating. Her snoozing the hours away until we snuggle in our RV queen bed. Fi, the cat, does whatever she wants. She has a cat tree in the bedroom – how exactly we fit everything in that area I have no idea. But it’s cramped for sure – but she also spends a lot of time lounging on the couch, ripping up my ottoman, or staring out one of the windows. She’s a captive with intermittent yard time. She would tell you not enough yard time. (Keep the spiders out of my trailer and we can negotiate for more yard time my friend).

Since we’re living the trailer life in Southern California most days are beautiful skies, with a nice breeze, and sometimes a lot of heat. Makes for plenty of “porch” time. Over the last year or so I’ve tried my hand at having a green thumb. Round one didn’t quite work out, but I bet the deer LOVED the failed attempt at veggies. 🤨

In our new spot we have Peter the rabbit that enoughed eating my flowers and cabbages. Now they’re out of his reach so I see him less. The veggies I grew from seed aren’t thriving… but the seedlings I bought from my local Lowe’s are. I just added my veggie fencing to help them continue to grow. Some of the flowers aren’t thriving, but I will say I’m not home enough to tend to them as I’d like.

I’ve also taken to having indoor plants. How exactly, or why exactly I don’t know. Fi eats them if she can reach them. So some are hanging, or up out of her reach…. for now. Surprisingly she’s left the newest addition alone. Again, for now.

Anyways, so I’m trying this whole living life thing. But I also desperately need to consider the purging life aspect. I mean… the trailer is overflowing with crap right now. I need to put the laundry away, and thin the drawers/closest to what I truly need. It’s a bit crowded in here these days.

Textbooks everywhere. Acupuncture supplies everywhere. Extra blankets. Throw pillows. Wine bottles. Amazon boxes. You name it. It’s probably squirreled away in this place. Ugh. Spring cleaning will have to happen for reals. I’ve done a few smaller segments of spring cleaning. But I just bought a whole lotta stuff for the new semester, brought my wine home from the Central Coast 2 weeks ago. It’s a lot. And sometimes it’s what drives the claustrophobia I’m developing from living a big life in a small trailer.

I’m gone A LOT. So that helps some. But when I’m home I struggle with the tight quarters. While I may do well jet setting and living out of a suitcase, I definitely struggle with the living a small life on the daily. Here’s to hoping I can expand our living situation over the next year. 🤞🏼