Most people plan grand vacations when the topic of retirement comes up. They also consider taking up a hobby or spending their lives learning new skills.
For some, retirement is an opportunity to downsize and live a simpler life. After all, they don’t have to worry about their kids, who have all grown up and moved out of the family home.
You might no longer need to live close to your family or work.
Many retirees feel more free after downsizing. Instead of spending their time cleaning out a large house they no longer have to clean, they can spend their time doing the things that they love.
Many of them also have a fixed-income lifestyle so any opportunity to reduce expenses or cost of living is a good option.
Sandy Brooks, 77, moved into a tiny home at Escalante Village in Durango, Colorado as a gift for herself on her 75th Birthday.
The community consists of 24 tiny homes, seven rentals, and was created by a Durango resident.
Tenants brought their own homes. Some had them made and others built the houses.
Sandy had hers made in Simblissity Tiny Homes.
Escalante Village is home to people from all walks of the life. Some are retired like Sandy, while some are professionals, therapists, engineers and woodworkers.
They may all be different, but they have a common goal—to live simpler and more intentionally.
Each lot is 20 ft x40 ft and can hold a tiny home, a garden, a deck, or a parking space for two cars.
This community is not like traditional tiny homes that are built on large lots far from their neighbors. Instead, the homes are built close together.
Sandy has heard many people comment negatively about the proximity of their homes, but they’re not bothered by it at all.
“We all pretty much keep to ourselves when we want to be alone. Or if we see someone outside, we’ll go chat with them,” she said. “We all just have the same reason for being in this tiny [house community].”
“It’s not noisy at all. I have driven through many communities where houses are much closer than this, with windows on both sides, and you can see into someone else’s bathroom.”
“I can’t see into my neighbor’s bathroom. So the fact that we’re somewhat close together, I don’t think, bothers any of us at all,” she added.
Sandy lived in a large house before she retired. She reached a point in life where she was ready to let go of many of her possessions. Her 1,000 sq. ft. home felt too big.
That’s when she became curious about the tiny house movement, and whether it was a lifestyle she could live.
Simblissity Tiny Homes helped her to make the decision to go small. The company showed her a sample for the house she’s currently living in, and she was sold.
“And I have no regrets,” said Sandy.
Her brothers, an engineer and an architect, thought she was making a bad decision by moving into a small house.
But they’ve since changed their minds once they saw how happy she is in her new home.
Sandy used to spend a lot of her time cleaning her house before she moved into Escalante Village. She now has the freedom to bike, hike and chat with neighbors.
Take a tour of this tiny home village and Sandy’s adorable home in the video below.
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