How much does it cost you to exist for one hour? Have you ever asked?
Just for a rough guess, add up all the expenses of replacing the stuff that breaks, the cost of going to your job, your mortgage, taxes, tuition bills, gifts for relatives and friends, etc. Then divide by 8,904 (the number of hours in a year, assuming an extra 6 hours to offset for leap year.) How much is that? Is it higher than the US minimum wage?* If it is for you, you no longer have to wonder why you are broke. If you work forty hours a week, there are an additional one hundred twenty eight** uncompensated hours your wage does not cover.
It is my goal each year to reduce the cost of my hourly existence by .10 per hour. That is a pretty hefty goal considering all the upward pressures corporations keep heaping on me to buy more stuff or pay more fees to power what I already own. (PNC, Apple, Vectren, DP&L, Anthem BCBS, Amazon; I’m talking about you!)
It’s not all about money even though that may be the easiest scale to keep track of the cost of existence. It also about time and the quality of the experience. A friend of mine remarked to me several years ago that the worst thing she ever did to her life was buy a house and move to the suburbs. She had a baby at the time. (Since grown and graduated from college. They are still in the house she hates.) She had her epiphany while mowing the lawn and weeding the garden. For an average home of 2,000 sq ft, this usually takes a solid morning every week. If you then factor in “recovery” time for hot and humid weather, that is pretty much a solid day every week beating back nature.
She realized that the whole time she was mowing the lawn, she could be spending that time with her daughter, exploring the insides of a library or museum, flying a kite in the park, taking a road trip to someplace new and exciting or biking a trail. Instead, in her quest to give her daughter a higher quality of life in the suburbs where she was “supposed” to raise a child, she traded the opportunity of experiences for an anchor that demanded a day of her life every week. To further depress herself, she started adding up the hours she spent commuting to her job twenty miles away, the cost of maintaining the car and her work wardrobe and daycare. Fortunately, she stopped before any depression set in.
I think most of us live like that, denying how much cost our lives demand of us in time and treasure, simply because this is how we are supposed to live. A responsible parent does not raise her children in the middle of a city. A successful executive doesn’t live in a one-bedroom walk-up and walk to work.
Some people like spending that time in the garden and for them, it is worth the cost in time and treasure. That is ok. For them, that is the smaller life. For all we know, if they did not have a large yard and flower beds to mow and weed, they would be spending their money and time in speakeasies instead of libraries.
Both the New York Times and MSNBC ran stories yesterday on couples living the simple life. I’d link to them, but I already spent the obligatory five minutes searching for them. Too much clutter to deal with, so if you care enough to read them or check my facts, you go find them. I already had the experience. As usual, the media is getting this all wrong. They are focusing on the expense side of thing, i.e., how big a place to live, how much they spend, etc, and ignoring the overall quality of simple. I’d like to see how families are living simply too, not just a couple, but that is probably an entirely different rant.
I predict what we will be seeing in the next several years is marketers and retailers “packaging” the simple life, inflating the cost of it and re-selling it much like they sold the American Dream of a house in the ‘burbs, surrounded by a yard you have to mow every week, stuffed to the gills with crap that breaks on a cycle of planned obsolescence. And most of us will buy into it and never notice our time and money wallets are being picked.
For now, I use a simple formula when adding anything to my life. I ask myself a series of questions: How long will this last? How will I dispose of it when it wears out or breaks? Can I repair this? Will this cause me more time commitment? Will this reduce the time I already spend on ‘maintenance’ tasks? Where will I put this? Will this reduce my hourly cost of existence? Will this make me happy? It surprises me how often the answer to at least one of those questions causes me to put something back on the shelf, click away from a website or hang up the phone.
That is just “stuff.” Julien Smith has the start of an excellent treatise on the “cost and return of friendship” with his blog entry, Follower Hyperinflation. It may not have been the original intent of the article, but it can branch in so many ways. I suppose you can also explore the cost of contracts, volunteerism, family, etc in much the same way.
Ironically, this thousand or so word blog post was originally over three thousand words. If some of the arguments are incomplete and transitions appear a bit choppy, it is probably because they are. I had to hit publish at some point and the keeper of the deadlines was banging down the door. Add what you feel I left out or argued badly in the comments.
This blog post is part of a blog-off series with a group of bloggers from different professions and world views, each exploring a theme from his/her world view. This was about “The smaller life.” To explore how others handled the theme, check them out below. I will add links as they publish.
Veronika Miller, @modenus Modenus, Brighton
Paul Anater, @paul_anater Kitchen and Residential Design, Florida
Nick Lovelady @cupboards, Cupboardsonline, Alabama
Richard Holschuh, @concretedetail Concrete Detail, Vermont
Rufus Dogg, @dogwalkblog DogWalkBlog Dayton, by way of Minneapolis
Cindy Frewen Wuellner, @Urbanverse Urbanverse
Becky Shankle, @ecomod, Eco-Moderism
Saxon Henry, @DESIGNCOMMOTION Chair Chick, NYC
ABC Dragoo, @abcddesigns abcddesign, NYC
Sean Lintow, Sr., @SLSConstruction, SLS Construction, Alabama
Steve Mouzon, @stevemouzonThe Original Green, Miami Beach
AptTherapy, @AptTherapy, Apartment Therapy
*In case you are wondering, my number for 2009 was $5.43. I’m slightly behind my goal for 2010 but not sliding backward. **Yeah, yeah, and some minutes for leap year.
RT @dogwalkblog: Fresh Poop!: How much does it cost you to exist for one hour? Size matters http://bit.ly/bdINPR #blogoff
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love this idea by @dogwalkblog http://j.mp/buful5
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holy cow – this is exactly how i think. In fact my big theory that I have to ask an economist is this. Add up all of the revenue created by the Avg family, including investments over their life expectancy, Then subtract by the total expenses incurred by that same family including total cost of medical care. That number will determine whether capitalism works for the average family, or so my thesis goes. If it is a negative number than that avg family has been subsidized by government, healthier people, etc.
You also hook in marketers, of which I’m one, on the issue of demand creation. My theory there is this. Capitalism worked when Adam Smith posed the Wealth of Nations because productivity per capita and the number of people were in greater balance. Now, it takes a magnitude of workers less to make products and the global labor pool has provided a radically different wage scale compared to finding a couple local blacksmith shop workers.
The political line back in the 80s was a rising tide lifts all boats. Well that works if you are in the same harbor. The world has many harbors and the fact is the tide that rises in one part of the world lowers in another. At some point all boats are equal. The tide therefore is relative to your point of view. In America’s case the tide is going out.
Don’t take my word for it. Try Peggy Noonan’s America’s At Risk of Boiling Over
Capitalism isn’t about the preservation of a culture or species. It is about the exploitation of resources for the enrichment of the few. The reason it persists is most people believe they can become a member of “the few.” In the world of capitalism, people are merely another resource to exploit, much like steel, forest timber, water, etc. Families don’t matter; individuals don’t matter. Only the ready supply of labor matters. This is not a value judgement, just an objective fact.
Saying that, it ASTOUNDS me that given the new marketplace of less human labor that is needed to produce durable goods that capitalists are not clambering to invest in the health and education of human beings. Think about it; in a knowledge economy, what has more value than human beings encased in very healthy bodies who can outthink other human beings creatively and very quickly? Quick problem resolution can be trained.
Health care and education are not expenses that need to be trimmed. They are the next capitalist investment opportunity.
Ok I now feel like a machine and I am worried that my genes will not pass when we start cloning workers. Unless we start cloning comics in which case I have a chance.
LOL Now I’ve got a reason to start up the underwear and cape factory
RT @julien: love this idea by @dogwalkblog http://j.mp/buful5 #finsaviat #abrelaboca
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RT @julien: love this idea by @dogwalkblog http://j.mp/buful5
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Need a little brain food, make some synapses fire @dogwalkblog helps with this thought provoker http://ht.ly/2nxEv
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Finally! Some math I’m anxious to do: RT @dogwalkblog How much does it cost you to exist for one hour? http://bit.ly/9uDNJ1
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RT @goodhousemag @nytimes http://ow.ly/2nABS and @abcddesigns http://ow.ly/2nANw lots of articles that make you contemplate today!
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Pingback: Building smaller – is it the next big thing? | The Homeowner's Resource Center
Terrific points, as usual. As I was writing my piece last night it hit me AGAIN that in the last 30 years the US has gone from a place that makes things to a place that buys things. That shift has enabled a few at the top to profit mightily but it’s left the rest without a future beyond the promise of more stuff. Big or small is so much more than a housing issue and underneath all of it, it’s an economic model that’s broken. I say irretrievably.
You waited until the last minute?
We’ve slowly become a transaction-based economy. Making money by moving money. Nothing’s real except an artificial value we place on that transaction. Problem is we have not “re-tooled” the machinery that is likely to make us more money; smart, agile, creative minds encased in healthy bodies.
How much does it cost you to exist for one hour? Size matters http://ht.ly/2nCTT Excellent points to consider from @dogwalkblog
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You totally nailed it when you wrote it’s “about time and the quality of the experience.” Great post; this subject is on my mind a great deal lately having just moved back to NYC and starting anew (somewhat) yet again…
NYC is a final destination for me, even if I get there at 90 and live a day. Pave the road for me
http://www.dogwalkblog.com/the-hobo-code.html
I absolutely will! Us Tweeps gotta stick together, eh?
Life is lonely enough without friends
I always knew dogs were smart! RT @dogwalkblog How much does it cost you to exist for one hour? Size matters http://bit.ly/9uDNJ1
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I absolutely will pave the way! RT @dogwalkblog: @SaxonHenry replied to your NYC comment
http://bit.ly/9uDNJ1
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Love this post. When I find myself lucky enough to be in the Scandinavian parts of Europe it takes a few days to get used to the smaller houses, roads, cars and well, toilet paper. But it all works because it is not just small, but "just the right size." At least that is how I counter my big fat American friends who incessantly complain about everything being small in Europe.Europeans are getting fatter, though, so not sure how that will all play out. We’ll see.
At any rate, it takes me about a week to get used to driving a little more to the left from the curb, driving a grocery trolley down the center of the aisle, ordering that 22oz steak and using more TP than I should… ah, back home
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I was inspired by both this post as well as a few other articles I have seen recently. I wrote about a slow home/a smaller life on my blog today.
A Smaller Life: Signs of a Slow Home Movement
http://www.abcddesign.com/archives/2010/08/10/a-smaller-life-signs-of-a-slow-home-movement/
Well, well, well.
Finally America is waking up from a dream. Several people before me made very good points how America is not making anything but mostly consuming. Now that credit cards are not so easily available that consumption is going to decrease and …. this may be a downward spiral.
What is the solution?
That is the question? It is easy to pont out problems but it is so hard to offer solution in a world where we are tough from the very beginning that there is only left or right.
The solution is in the revolution, the same one America started to experience in the 60s. It was a false start, too early,. Now there is internet and I hope this is the revolutionary aspect of it. It will allow us to communicate and resist this unbelievable bullshit all these money hungry corporations and such want us to believe in. A house with a lawn, car, plasam tv,travel-backed by 30 year mortgage, 5 year car loan and bunch of credit cards-non stop stress. How come a working family cannot afford a house after 5 years of saving? This is the dream? This is a nightmare.
If one just tries recalling the best time of their life it will have nothing to do with money. It will be probably time spent with either family or friends.
RT @dogwalkblog How much does it cost you to exist for one hour? Size matters http://bit.ly/9uDNJ1
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ah… a blissful jaunt to Europe. I love that image of the Fin Cube. takes me away, yes to a place where things have been well fitted by centuries and generations of care-filled living. Alas even puppy dogs must wake up, home in the USA. Be careful on the road, Rufus, and dont ever tweet while you drive, ok?Thank you for your kind comments!! here and on twitter. It’s my first blog off, I am happy a member.
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Rufus, my dear doggie friend, I am with you all the way – Time is the Great Equalizer! and even more now that space – at least in the digital world – is FREE. We cannot get the last hour back, at least not in this dimension, it’s gone for good.
I did rather long post about how to use time well – that is, if you have any descretionary minutes – and honestly, it did not get to the heart of the matter. Your list of questions before purchase decisions is spot on.
Well said, thanks for your ideas, Cindy @urbanverse
How Much Does It Cost You to Exist For One Hour? Size Matters, excellent #blogroll by @dogwalkblog http://bit.ly/aVhmB3
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We are attempting to downsize from our 1,800 square foot house to move back into an 1,100 square foot condo for many of these reasons. We made some poor decisions (see why we have two homes) and have been victims of our economy/state – but now we are taking charge. In that we realize that we want less “stuff” and more experiences, and namely those experiences are not mowing the lawn or visiting Home Depot!
This comment was originally posted on ABCD Design
Awesome post! I think the economy, as you mentioned, has been the big factor in contributing to this ‘slow home movement’. I know it has definitely had a very personal impact on our household. Being backed into a corner definitely makes you re-prioritize what is most important. It’s ironic that you posted about this today because we are currently testing out and in negotiations (and were having phone conversations TODAY) with a new paint vendor that produces eco-friendly paint. Fingers crossed that it does everything we want it to so we can make the switch!
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Always timely and inspired. Thanks for posting this.
And don’t even get me started on the art! LOVE!
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Aw! You guys!!! I love all of the thoughtful comments. xo
I just pressed publish and then headed out to catch the train into the City. Floors are wet in the house and I couldn’t bare the expense of another night at a b+b! I miss the Mr. too!
Anyway, I’d love to leave you all a thoughtful comment – but I must get home and have dinner only to turn around and go to the country again tomorrow!
I will write more later, just know I love the comments and that this post seems so well received!
xoabcd
This comment was originally posted on ABCD Design
When given the space and means, everybody in the history of time on this planet exceeds those standards set by those who did not have the space or the means. Not trying to play Devil’s advocate but we aren’t neccessarily forging new ground here in theory. Europeans don’t live smaller because they want to, they have no choice. Those who have the ability to live palacially do – but they ran out of room before we did and and are further along in addressing the problems that we are facing now.
It will take a while to relearn how to do certain things, change the expectations and appreciate what we have to work with but it will happen. The positive side to this is that quality will improve because people will change the focus from quantity to quality because they won’t be spending less, they will be buying less.
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Hey Amy,
Great post–thank you so much for mentioning my book. I think it is very interesting that we are seeing these stories pop up more and more in the media. I agree with you that this really is nothing new, it’s just that “the rest of us” now have a forum–the internet. The reality is that media speaks to about 1% of the population–not the “rest of us” who have to make difficult economic choices everyday just to survive. The question is what do we replace the “consumer” economy with? Maybe we can go back to making things like we used too. Thanks for such a thoughtful post–I’m excited to see the design community coming together on this issue
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hello Bob, We are in a different moment in history, agree? So true, that tight scale is what makes EU cities walkable and charming – and potentially more sustainable. They are now on the right end of history b/c of those actions, some given due to spatial constraints as you said, some b/c of prevailing transportation tech and cultural habits at the time of major urban development and some more recent better decisions.
I’ve read that the UK will be carbon neutral by 2016! 14 yrs ahead of our most optimistic plans. Perhaps their space limits prepared them for understanding other limits too? If so, then equally and opposite, our lack of geographic limits may have prepared us to ignore other limits.aargh! thats troubling.
I dont think either Rufus or I would disagree with you – and btw when did I get in the position of speaking on behalf of a dog?? heh. thanks for your ideas, always thoughtful. Cindy
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Wow. Talk about putting things in perspective!
I am actively calculating our score, as well as the one for the shop… you’ve got me on a roll now. Thanks for the FANTASTIC insight!
Single-handedly stimulating the US economy by creating a demand for calculators.
I’m with you on the money bit! One of the primary focuses of our practice is allowing everyone to have a dream space regardless of size/cost… I think that at least half of that concept is an emotional and psychological love for the spaces we occupy.
Maybe some of our problem is that we have forgotten how to truly appreciate the things and spaces that we have and have grown them to bizarre proportions to try to compensate for our lack of an emotional tie. Keeping up with the Joneses has stressed us out so bad that we can’t love our own homes!
So sad. Great post, Cindy- Glad we were able to connect via the blog-off!
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Awesome post – LOVE all the visuals. & yes, "Right-sized" is how it should be.
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Saxon-
I heartily enjoyed your down-sizing demeanor toward living small; it seems we forget our diminutive origins all too easily, when those formative aspects have the greatest impact on our eventual incarnation. From whence we came… vinyl seats, shag carpeting, eight tracks. How far away are we now? Not so much.And the perspective that comes from exposure to the nuances of expression: double entendre, rhythm, punctuation – makes "shag" once more rather appealing. Once again, we owe a pile of intonation to the Queen’s English. And your mastery of the medium!
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You’re too kind, Rich! Your weaving together of Thoreau and Schumacher, and your comment about "a measure encompassing grace," put me to shame! And, the footprint in the sand image was so perfectly placed there! So glad you take the time to share your thoughts and amazing voice with those of us who are your adoring fans! http://bit.ly/aJqyIj
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Thanks Nick and Becky, the #blogoff was a blast, each post spoke to different ideas about living smaller, quite remarkable. Nick, I’m with you on the psychological aspect and those damn Joneses. Its that deficit pie problem! We just keep throwing resources into a big hole, trying to fill it up. and it’s never going to be full, or big enough.Or small enough either, in my mind anyway. Size is not the issue, or not the only, or even the primary issue; its just more complicated than that.
happiness is, another blog off! great to get more connected with you.
Cindy
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Thanks for the link love, m’lady! You ARE inspiring. And yes, this wordless business is a challenge! My first attempt at a draft last night was more words than not…so OUT IT WENT! Tweet with you soon!
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http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/08/magazine/08FOB-wwln-t.html?_r=2&ref=magazine Gotta love the Times. Another good article that pertains to this subject.
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Cindy! Getting in on this a day late… #blogoff Late Entries, in other words… here’s mine:For too long, American has burdened itself with building too large. Build large or build well… for anyone with a budget, that’s the clear choice. This post makes a compelling case that building too large precludes building to last, and that’s clearly an unsustainable proposition: http://bit.ly/9SjLEU
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wait, what if you calculate your score and you can’t afford to be you. I mean you are not a productive contributing member of society. Or is it the opposite. We have achieved so much as a society, more than other societies in terms of technological, medical, and quality of life advancements that it’s the rest of the world who is not pulling their weight.
This is a zero sum game after all. The total goods produced in the world by the total number of people in the world, the classic who is supporting who equation.
The formula is one to get you thinking about consumption cost, not valuation. How do you put on value on art? philosophy? education? literature? this blog? your thoughts? dogs? If we only place value or ROI on things in terms of money, we strip ourselves of a large purpose of life. (I don’t know what the purpose of life is, but I’m damn sure it is not just about chasing money!)
I don’t really believe the rest of the world is not “pulling its weight.” I just think the priorities are different. They define the “weight” differently as they should. Americans tend to define “weight” as a construct of what matters to us. Europeans are far more advanced in non-fossil fuel technology than the US; they have faster Internet; they value human experience more than human productivity; damn, the Germans build way better cars and are more educated. (23% of Ohio residents have college degrees. 23-effing-percent!) I’m not being anti-America here, but I also think blind chauvinism is not at all productive. Europeans did not get those advancements by just sitting around, so something productive had to be at play there. Americans do tend to run with ideas faster and tend to be committed to accomplishment. While we’re screaming about what we have done and how unfair it is others profit from our efforts, the Chinese are going gang-busters on producing stuff and will eclipse our economy in production and consumption in the next decade. But, they are doing it on brute-force, much like the way America did 1870-1930ish.
It is not what you’ve done, but what you continue to do. Most Europeans get that; they have the benefit of a long hindsight of history. Americans will eventually get that as well and we’ll be lounging in our deck chairs during our seven week vacations, shaking our heads at the busy, busy earnest Chinese running around attempting to squeeze a dollar out of every activity. “What’s the ROI, what’s the ROI, what’s the…”
There is no “us” and “them.” There really is only a collective “we.” Countries, cultures, political parties, religions, companies, etc are artificial constructs that we’ve convinced ourselves and others matter. No, I’m not a socialist, “spread the wealth” guy and all that. I get ticked off at my lazy, red-neck neighbors drawing unemployment for three years while drinking a beer off their decks as I struggle with making a buck to pay their share of the road upkeep and streetlight bill and my own. I believe that at the core, everyone is ultimately selfish.. and I understand why people have created walls around groups and banded together into “us” identities.. I get all that.
Nature is impartial, the human condition is impartial to your cost or value. We all struggle with the same afflictions. We were all born and we will all die. We can spend the time in between including people in our lives or excluding them based on our perceived value of them as a condition of their “contribution.”
It is only a zero-sum game when we perceived there is a limited supply of wealth. We’re human beings; we make more wealth every day from those intangible assets that you can’t put a cost or value on.
And this reply was way too long. Please tell me you didn’t spend as much time reading it as I did writing it
funny you said what I said only I postulated it in a theory and you wrote the narrative. More work on your part for sure. I snicker at those yakity yak talk show hosts that criticize europeans in their arrogant tone. Europeans do have a greater context for the human condition and appreciation for the world.
If we are a selfish lot then we have the best system of checks and balances available in our economy I suspect. Perhaps we need to nick a few dollars off the checks your neighbors are getting so they can’t afford as much beer or to live next to you, but all in all perhaps we have it right imperfections included. We are moving in a direction of greater context and appreciation beyond the ROI, but still have a ways to go.
Healthcare costs and aging baby boomers is forcing us to face the question of the cost of life and the cost of “living” This reminds me of one of the most read pieces I have written about Aging the Opportunity of a Lifetime I hope you don’t mind me sharing here.
Share away!
Let’s get one thing perfectly clear: Europeans are arrogant, pontificating, self-rightgeous, know-it-all-buttinski bastards who need to shut the hell up and quit telling us how to live our lives. But they already knew that, just ask them.
Not to be difficult Rufus, but just a point of order. This is a country of C-students. Europe has many A-students. But, remember, it’s the C-students who build building and other C-students start restaurants and stores in those buildings. A-students write the restaurant critiques of same. The Statue of Liberty does not say send me your educated, your richly endowed, the best of your best. She asks for the lowest of the low. And look what we’ve done with them so far. Not perfection but pretty good.
Hello Steve: thanks for your good thoughts. I love your blog post on living smaller. You have made a living as an architect and writer on the notion of the best fit. Higher quality is essential in smaller spaces. thanks for weighing in and for writing your own blog-off post. It’s beautiful.
Cindy
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You know, publicists aren’t that great at math but I’ll try. Do I have to include celeb rags, time spent chatting with contractors about the Rachel Zoe project, lattes drank while stuffing books, etc? Those aren’t really costs, they’re part of the job right? if I include just stuff like toilet paper I think I might be doing okay.
When you drink a latte, subtract $1.23 from your hourly cost. When you talk or think about Rachel Zoe, add $82.32 to your hourly total
My poor little publicity head is swimming. Can’t I just go back to the old deal, if I still have checks in my checkbook everything is fine?
Checks were always a delusion
Geoffrey Miller has an interesting look at the idea of “stuff” we buy/parade around in his book Spent. As an evolutionary process we have replaced most of the natural/physiological indicators of a person with their ability to conspicuously consume in America. In that case we keep buying bigger, newer, and better things to show off how good we are. That is a very simplified explanation, the book is worth the read.
Very good read. And to save everyone a little bit of time searching and a few trees on printing, http://www.amazon.com/Spent-Sex-Evolution-Consumer-Behavior/dp/B002ZNJWHW/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1281719992&sr=1-4
I am SOOO on board with us. My husband and I have a petite 700sf apt in Brooklyn…I think of it as our own little hotel suite. We too we’re sucked into the “OF COURSE YOU NEED AT LEAST TWO BEDROOMS!” mindset when we were looking to buy a place, but when we sat down to think about it, we wondered why?
We’re a no kids couple (and planning to stay that way) and each add’l room requires add’l furniture, add’l money, blah, blah blah. I’m in a space that we can comfortably afford, and we even had a bit extra to go a little crazy with all new furniture and decor. I’m convinced if we had an extra bedroom it would be stuffed with boxes (the contents of which would probably be a mystery to both of us) and it would all just be a waste of space.
A friend recently purchased a 10,000sf home for herself, her husband and her son. Honestly, the first time I went there I got a little nauseous. I mean, to each his own, of course, but I had that same feeling of TOOOO MUCH the first time I saw it.
I’m going to continue taking it S-L-O-W
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We recently downsized significantly, moving from roughly 3100sf to about 1600. I doubt that it’s something we would have done in the US but we moved to Europe and had no choice. 1600sf is larger than we thought we’d be able to get.What I find interesting is that downsizing hasn’t been difficult. I guess I should say that the reality hasn’t been difficult. Coming to terms with the idea of living in half the space was hard, as was deciding what belongings to leave behind in storage, but for day-to-day living the space we have is more than sufficient. I wonder what we’ll do if/when we return to the US.
In one of the other comments, I noticed mention of walking in Europe. I too used to think that Europeans walk much more than Americans and that it was due to some moral superiority. Having lived here for a while now, I can report that Europeans love their cars (they must considering what they pay for them). They would drive everywhere if they could. To the extent that they walk, it’s because there is no parking.
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@david Europeans love their cars! And their GPS units and they would drive everywhere if they could park in huge lots like we can here. I find myself doing the same thing in large cites. I could drive to where I wanted to go, but I couldn’t park. So, train, taxi… no bike, though, even less parking for those in the US. (bike racks everywhere in European cities)
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How much does it cost you to exist for one hour? Size matters http://bit.ly/9s7BbY
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David and Rufus Dog: so true, it’s not about being superior. Walkability and walking are usually (except for die-hard enthusiasts) unintended consequences that now happen to be green. Its a real trick, how do we shrink when plushy living is so… plushy?? Smaller by choice? far tougher than smaller by mandate.
and you’re right on Rufus, more bike racks. I had to argue w/ KC Parks and Rec to put bike racks on a 2 block civic park downtown. doh! Wouldnt they promote more biking??
Excellent example yr experience with living smaller, David. You’re going to be Alice or Lily Tomlin when you come back to the US. Or maybe you’ll find a smaller place?
Its like a Smart Car on a US hiway – they really look comical between mega SUV’s! a long way to go towards loving smaller.
thx so much for your good comments,
Cindy
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Case in point re: parking. We’re on vacation this week on Lake Lucerne, staying in a wonderful small hotel. It has 27 rooms and 13 parking places. I don’t think that would fly in the US.
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uh oh, call the zoning police. Car beds must be equal or greater than people beds. heh.Enjoy that beautiful part of the world, David, I’m having Swiss envy. fyi, there is a Lake Lucerne in Orlando.
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I am in the process of downsizing from about 1200sq ft to 24sq ft (6′ x 4′). I am currently prototyping the space in a marked off section of my now empty apartment.
6′ x 4′? Sounds just a bit too much like a coffin for my taste. Don’t give up so easily. Take your 1200 sq ft and DO something with them. Make them work for you rather than the other way round. Just my $9.38 ($0.02 adjusted for inflation