Where Building Freedom Begins
Years ago I purchased a notebook from Target that says "Ideas Become Things" on the front. That line grabbed my attention. That concept of a small idea that I might write down turning into a house, a lifestyle, a new way of living resonated with me.
I've loved tiny houses since I was a young teen. I feel in love with Tiny House Nation as soon as it started airing and I was inspired by the many stories of people choosing a different way of life all in an effort to live better, to follow their dreams, and to introduce more freedom into their lives. And the houses themselves were beautiful, full of personality, and created with intention. They weren't cookie cutter houses and they only contained possessions that were precious or necessary to the owners. Efficiency, beauty, freedom. I was completely sold. I knew that in my future, I would choose tiny house living. It was the right thing for me.
That little notebook from Target became my designated tiny house planning notebook. I learned as much as I could about the different legal ways of handling tiny houses, how my local zoning might handle them, and started learning about tiny house construction as well. Thanks to my dad, I started learning woodworking as well.
Now, years later, the process has actually begun! And it's evolved into something bigger. This is about the building of a tiny house I've dreamed about for years, but more than that it's my "exit and build" plan. It's me ditching the system and living in a way that makes a lot more sense to me.
Why I'm Doing This
The older I get, the more I realize that I wasn't meant for systems that turn us into robots; disconnect us from God, each other, and ourselves; and that slowly but surely strip our freedom away. I don't want a life filled with screens, subscriptions, digital reality, disconnectedness, or reliance on a system that cannot offer true security or thriving.
I do want a life filled with quiet mornings, hard work that mutually benefits me and my community, and a relationship with the land. In some ways I want to return to Eden — return to a way of living that I think is closer to God's intentions for the best of human thriving.
Where I'm At Right Now
Right now we're at the design stage for the tiny house! I'm working with the wonderful NC-based tiny house builders Perch and Nest to build my shell, and then I'll be finishing it out with a contractor friend. We’re currently figuring out the layout, window placements, and all the foundational things that are going to shape everything else.
I’ll be writing more soon about the layout I’ve landed on and why it feels like the right fit, at both a practical and emotional level!
What You'll Find Here
This blog is my hub for everything. What I'll be sharing will include:
- Details about the tiny house building process
- Tiny living mistakes and lessons learned
- Off-grid ideas and experiments
- Thoughts on designing a slower life that resonates a soul level
- Ways I'm choosing to exit the system and live differently
Want to Follow Along?
My hope is that this space helps someone else who’s in the early stages of dreaming about a different kind of life — whether you’re planning to build a tiny house or just questioning what you really want in life. Honestly, I’m mostly writing to my younger self — and sharing what I wish I had known back then.
I'll be documenting everything on YouTube and here on the blog, as well as on social media. If any part of this resonates with you, I'd love to have you along for the ride!
