A Smaller House?

I've been following Brenda's blog entries at Cozy Little House and enjoying all of the comments about the pros and cons of living in a small house. Like many of you, we are "Boomers" who occasionally think about downsizing and living more simply now that our children are grown. The other day, we rode by this little bungalow for sale in a historic cottage community with its own private beach...

The little place was adorable and I started wondering...

 Could I really simplify my life enough to live in 1100 square feet instead of 3500? I sure wouldn't mind having less house to clean and lower heating bills in the winter. The money and time saved could be put toward something more fun than cleaning and maintaining a large home and three acres of land.

But would I regret the decision later?

Could I trade three garages for one? It would mean scraping snow and ice off the car in the winter and less space to work on messy projects...

 But this little cottage garage is so cute with its trellised garden to the side.

 If I didn't have my third floor for a craft room...

would I end up storing my fabric like this? Or could I just keep the pieces I love and forget about the old adage that "she who dies with the most fabric wins"?

Would I have to say "Good-bye" to my favorite junk stores and find new hobbies that don't take lot of space? Could beading or embrodery entertain me as much as bringing a dented old chair back to life?

Maybe I could take up tennis? This court, and a sandy beach, are right down the street from the yellow bungalow. Tennis might be healthier than junking, and my WW leader wold surely approve, but would it be as much fun?

I wonder if I could do without my formal dining room...I think I could.

Most of my guests seem to end up in the kitchen anyway. Maybe I could learn to part with everything I don't really need. I think I could live without a pasta machine, silver serving trays and chafing dishes. But would this little cottage kitchen eventually feel too small?

 Would I miss peeking into my daughter's old room?

Would our grandsons miss their cowboy bunkhouse when they come to stay?

or could this little cottage guest room work just as well?

At this point in my life, I think I could I trade having a living room and a family room...

for a cozy little cottage living room like this...

with an old screened porch right outside the door.

The dreamer in me would love to live simply in an old bungalow by the sea...the practical me keeps wondering if it would work in real life. Back and forth, back and forth I go...one day the dreamer, the next day the pragmatist...

But this little place is awfully cute!

Have you ever thought about simplifying your life and downsizing? Have you actually made the change? I'd love to hear your thoughts...

This post is linked happily to:
Show Off Your Cottage Monday at House In the Roses
Cozy Little House
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps On the Porch