Alone Time

So, I recently put out a Facebook post, asking what YOU, the readers, are interested in knowing about our new tiny lifestyle. Thanks for your feedback -- we have some good topics to ponder and post for you in the coming weeks!

I wanted to start with this topic, because multiple inquiring minds wanted to know...in such a small space, how do we navigate the area when alone time is preferred or tensions possibly run high between us?

Here are my thoughts...

1. Our 5th wheel trailer is a small space, yes...but one of the neat things about the model we chose is that there is an "upstairs" space. The living room, dining room, and kitchen are on the lower level. Then, up three steps, is the upper level with the bathroom and bedroom. This area feels pretty separate from the rest of the space. The bedroom door can be closed off from the rest of our home, and there is a TV in there, as well. It can easily be a private space, if one of us wants to get away for awhile for some quiet time or to watch something different on TV. In our marriage, though, we tend to spend most of our time together when we are home, so it hasn't even been an issue. However...you do need to remember -- Chris' workouts keep him very busy! He is currently training for a full Ironman triathlon, and let me tell you -- triathlon training is no joke! So because of that, we have automatic alone time built into our days. His workouts can last for hours at a time, and sometimes he has two workouts a day! This provides good alone time for me and time for him to be alone with his thoughts. It's really no different from when we were in a 3,000 sq. ft. house.

2. I certainly don't want to paint a false picture of our marriage being "perfect", because no couple has that. But, we do pretty well :) Our times of tension are few and far between, thankfully. We've gotten wiser and less dramatic through the years...age has a way of teaching you things along the way! Over the past 15 years, we have learned how to navigate tense times a lot quicker...what used to take us down for weeks can now be resolved much quicker. We've only been in our new situation for a little over two months now. In that short time, we've not encountered this yet...but when it does happen we can take advantage of that upstairs bedroom :)