10 Reasons Why: Living in a Small Space...

...is OKAY, and even GOOD:

1. Less to clean. This would be stating the obvious.

2. We can pretty much see and hear the kids from anywhere. No baby monitors needed here.

3. We are forced to keep fewer material goods.

4. We can't get away from each other. You'd think this might be bad, but it forces a family to actually deal with each other instead of hiding away.

5. On a similar note, it creates more bonding opportunities. Everyone doesn't just go do their own thing in a separate space. We play games together in the same room, read together in the same room, and even when we are doing our own things, we're together doing them.

6. We have a lot of on-call help in the form of a gardener, snow-remover, pool-cleaner, lawn caretaker, electrician, plumber, and other prompt on-site maintenance...and all for FREE with a quick telephone call. This is specific to apartment dwellers, and not necessarily just small spaces, but it's both for us.

7. It is good for children to share bedrooms. In my not-so-humble opinion, anyway. I have Thing #1 reading over my shoulder at the moment declaring, "I don't LIKE to share a room. I want my OWN room!" See? It drives home the point for them that you can't always get what you want. Cue Rolling Stones music.

8. Decluttering is a must, and is much easier. Smaller spaces, simpler life.

9. Along with #3 and #8, having fewer material possessions and going through them more often is good because it forces us to determine what is truly valuable and meaningful and forget the rest.

10. And one of the biggest things is that it costs less. More money saved for our bigger goals in life.