November 9, 2016

Trump poses in Scotland
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Will The Donald endorse Off-grid living in Tiny Homes?

Let’s make America Tiny again – like it was back in the days of the orginal settlers.

As the kleptocratic corporatocracy tightened its grip on the masses – finding ever more ways to funnel wealth to the top – rural residents have responded in a number of ways, including the rising popularity of tiny houses – and voting Trump.

These dwellings, typically defined as less than 500 square feet, are a way for people to break free of mortgages, taxes, utility bills and the general trappings of “stuff.” They’re especially attractive to millennials and retirees, or those seeking to live off-grid.

But government and corporations are finding all sorts of ways to block this new lifestyle choice.  The global system depends on rampant consumerism and people being connected to the grid.  So this really is not in their interest.  Politicians dont like off-gridders either – because they are difficult to canvass and control.

Seeking actual freedom through minimalist living should seem like a natural fit for the Donald’s  American dream, but the reality is that many governments around the country either ban tiny homes or force them to be connected to the utility grid.

As of now, few cities allow stand-alone tiny houses. Most communities have minimum square footage requirements for single-family homes mandating that smaller dwellings be an “accessory” to a larger, traditional house. Many also have rules requiring that dwellings be hooked up to utilities, which is a problem for tiny-house enthusiasts who want to live off the grid by using alternative energy sources such as solar panels and rainwater catchment systems.

Some of the more recent examples of explicit bans include Etowah, TN and Wasilla, AK, which don’t allow homes less than 600 square feet and 700 square feet, respectively.

Boise, ID doesn’t allow homes less than a few hundred square feet, as Shaun Wheeler of Wheeler Homes found when he built a perfectly good and safe 310 sq. ft. home.

Lawmakers spout slippery slope fallacies, saying that allowing tiny homes will lead to decay and “unsightly little cabins plunked down next to traditional homes.” Using government force to stamp out societal change in response to financial factors is this councilman’s idea of conservatism.

Granted, some cities are actually encouraging tiny homes as a means of freedom or as a solution to homelessness, as in Detroit, MI. Some Los Angeles lawmakers don’t see it that way, calling tiny homes for the homeless “a threat in many ways to our public safety.”

Wasilla residents are baffled by the tiny home ban, which seems to run contrary to Alaska’s wild and free nature. Tundra Tiny Houses is leading a new market of small home construction using renewable energy, and now they’ll have to tell customers Wasilla is not an option, in addition to Anchorage to Eagle River.

A big priority for tiny home dwellers is their …

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Diane inside her home-vehgicle with her hat on
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The Art (and fabulousness) of Sleeping in Your Vehicle

By Diane Kois – car-dweller, car-lover

A few months ago when I made the decision to dwell in my Jeep, instead of continuing to pay high rent and utilities, I did not really know what impact this choice would have on my life.

It’s funny how “living in your car” can conjure up all kinds of images for many people, running the gamut from a crazy person to a rebel. For me personally, it’s a little bit of both with a lot in between.

What I have come to learn from choosing this lifestyle is that I don’t actually “live” in my vehicle – I sleep in it. This way of life has become a way to actually live.

I have been able to save money, travel, visit family and venture into the surrounding beauty of the RockyMountains and explore places I’ve always been curious about. While I work full-time, my weekends can take me wherever I want to go. I have woken up to some of the most breathtaking views: from rolling open plains, to a forest with a river running through it. I have also met some amazing people along the way.

During the week, however, I make a deliberate choice to stay as close to my employment as possible. I have found a secluded trailhead (my favorite) that is tucked away in a nice residential neighborhood. I have a few friends that allow me to park outside their home (I always let them know when I do that), and there is a particular big box retailer that has no issue with letting folks park overnight. These locations so far have worked perfectly for me.

I have, on a few occasions, chosen to pay for a tent site at the State Park in my area. My mother gave me an annual State Park Pass for my birthday recently, and that takes care of the cost of the entrance fee. Staying at the campground gives me a nice opportunity to relax a little, use my culinary skills around the campfire, and just BE.

Throughout this experience of sleeping in my Jeep, I have not had anyone approach me, nor have I had any authorities knock on my window in the middle of the night. While it may happen at some point, I try to be very aware and conscientious of my surroundings. This also helps me to feel more comfortable and in turn I sleep well. I am getting used to this wonderfully simple life every single day.

It has allowed me to become more and more who I am at heart. Like I stated before, I sleep in my vehicle, but I live my life. I have no plans to return to the expected, status-quo lifestyle anytime soon.

The Asphalt Ocean

“Sailing with the windows rolled down”…

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