ADU, Travel, Community
Lina Menard
Maui, Hawaii

After A Week Long Send Off, My Round the World Trip kicked off with eight days in Maui visiting my sister Sarah who has split her time between Hawaii and Alaska for many years. What an epic way to start this adventure! There was mist falling when my sister greeted me at the Kahului airport on Maui a week ago, so she teased me about bringing the rain from the mainland. We headed straight for Paia where she presented me with a young coconut and a lei, accompanied by the chant for the gifting-of-a-lei.

Maui, Hawaii
Tiny House, Travel, Planning
Lina Menard
Lucky Penny Moves to Walla Walla

A number of circumstances collided recently to compel me to move the Lucky Penny to my property in Walla Walla where I have a ground bound small house called Valencia Cottage. So on Tuesday trusted tiny house movers Linh and Stephanie Pham helped me move the Lucky Penny safely from Portland to my place in Walla Walla.

Lucky Penny Moves to Walla Walla
Minimalism, Workshop
Lina Menard
Downsizing Tune Up

As I packed up recently in preparation to travel cross country in my Honda Fit, I did some downsizing… It was harder than it had been during my last couple of moves because this time I had more stuff. I’d been living in a bigger space…My apartment was a studio, but it was still about 6 times bigger than the Lucky Penny! I talked with several people about the experience and a handful of them said “oh my goodness, I need to do more of that!” So I’ve decided to offer a 6-week Downsizing Tune Up…

Downsizing Tune Up

cooking

Pro-pain!

When Brittany helped me settle into the tiny house a few weeks ago she left me a propane tank with a little bit of fuel. At the time my host had said "one of these days you'll be cooking dinner and - poof - your propane will be out." I knew she was right but felt like I had too much else on my mind to worry about it.

Tonight was that night. I was half way through cooking my pasta when the propane ran out. Luckily I was able to finish it in the host house kitchen and it gave me a chance to visit with my neighbors. So I guess it's time to figure out how to get a propane tank filled.
This, like so many other errands, would be much easier if I were a car owner. I have never owned a car because I don't really like driving. I know lots of people actually enjoy driving but I think it's stressful. And while I certainly appreciate the freedom and convenience, I don't want the troubles of owning a car either. My commitment to being car-free is sometimes an obstacle to my determined self-sufficiency, but I like that it requires me to come up with alternatives. I can usually find a creative way via foot, bike, or bus to move myself and the stuff I need to and from. (I know someone who moved her entire apartment with her bike and a bike trailer!)
But a propane tank is heavy and I don't think the bike trailer is a good idea for transporting flammable liquids. I recently joined Zip Car so this may be my first adventure with car sharing...
Follow up: My neighbor plans to be out and about running errands tomorrow so she offered to fill up the tank for me. Thanks! I do think this would be a good car share errand though. I plan to periodically rent a car for the afternoon to get a bunch of errands done so this sort of hauling task will go on that list!

Then This House Dropped Out of the Sky...

We have been joking about how it seems like my tiny house dropped out of the sky like Dorothy's place in the Wizard of Oz. One day there was an empty space in my landlady's yard and the next day it was occupied by a cute-as-can-be tiny house on wheels. Brittany drove her tiny house Bayside Bungalow from Olympia to Portland with me as her copilot. Dylan manned the follow car and kept us posted via walkie-talkie about the reactions we received from passersby. It was amazing how many people completely failed to notice the tiny house on wheels cruising down I-5, but we were glad when Dee Williams called to say she saw us go past. When we stopped at rest stops and went over the scales we got plenty of attention.

We were all a little nervous about getting the house backed into its spot, but Brittany did an excellent job and it's amazing how nicely it fits in. Serendipitously the tiny house colors are exactly the reverse of the colors of my host house! Brittany and Dylan helped with getting the house jacked up and Brittany walked me through all the hook ups and then they headed home and I was left to marvel at how it's all coming together.
Moments later my sisters Amy and Aurora called to say they were on their way. They came by with Lynette's kids forming a fantastic work crew to help me pile my belongings into the wee house: 1 foam sleeping pad, 2 dressers, 2 sets of sheets, blankets, 4 towels, 1 black plastic garbage bag of clothing, a basket of office supplies, 12 books, 3 pots, 1 pan, 8 bowls, 8 plates, 6 sets of flatware, basic toiletries, sleeping bag and pad, a tent, a couple backpacks, my beloved cordless drill and driver set, craft supplies, and 5 boxes of food. They teased me about how most of my stuff was food, but I explained this is the most important part to making my house a home.
Unfortunately, I wasn't set up to cook yet so we headed out to the Alberta Arts district to enjoy a little food cart culture. We dined at the Grilled Cheese Grill and then they bid me good night. I can see Cassiopeia through the skylight of my sleeping loft! It feels like I'm in a wooden tent. So cool!
Tomorrow... unpacking.