Opus 1.01 - Beginnings...

Beginnings...

...because this is the start of what I hope will be a fact-finding, soul-searching endeavor to comprehend and put to use, a plan to build an intentional home that is no more than I need, as close as possible to net-zero, befitting the phrase 'useful and beautiful', and add to that durable.  Design with legacy in mind...

Having spent 15% of my life in a 1,400 s.f. home, it became evident and seemingly unavoidable to collect a lot of 'stuff'.  I know I'm not alone when I ponder such things.  

My current home is both useful and beautiful.  It has already lasted 64 years. The previous owner added a 50-year roof and a limited amount of remodeling with plenty more to do.

And the answer is, more to have less.  More space and storage efficiency, with less stuff.  More white space and overall systems integration, with less to maintain.  More garden area with more sun, less pests, with less shade for food, but more shade for home.  

More workshop area, including divided work areas for steel and wood, less cleanup through a well-thought design, i.e., more systems with less stuff on the floor and movable features.

"As a man born in the 60's, I realize that my home and all it entails, takes more time to maintain than I really enjoy.  
---                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Why not rethink, resize, reset my life... enabling me to have more time with things I love most, and work less ?"

I no longer have tons of trees.  They're great for shade, and very beautiful, but then leaves fall, pests drop, birds crap, branches fall, trees die, etc.  So, I'm inclined to embrace an intentional wooded area, away from the house in a future home.  Currently, working on getting solar, which I strongly desire. 

So, I will begin collecting features from various sources on the Interwebs, that depict a feature or condition that I observe, embrace and wish to imbue in my next nest.  Simple is good.  Affordable is important, so long as quality is not removed.  Maximized Living will be all about having the important things in life - in a world that needs all of us to have less, use less and contribute more...  onto the discovery process !