If only it had been true

Image via Wikipedia

It seems to be a good night for nostalgia and romatic ideals.

It was snowing outside, and I settled down with some books about cottages. I’m doing research for my own remodeling project, and writing another ebook. Plus, they’re just fun to look through. Even my daughter gets into it.

The New Cottage Home was published in 1998. In the introduction, author Jim Tolpin says –

“From the 1960s into the mid-1990s, while the average American family shrank from 3.6 to 2.7 people, the size of the average new American house grew from 1400 sq. ft. to 2200 sq. ft. Even as families became smaller, many home were built well beyond their practical needs. The increase in the size of our house was matched only by the corresponding increase in our debt load (and in the subsequent rate of bankruptcies).

But as this century draws to a close, there seems to be a sea change in the way people are thinking about true wealth, true happiness, and the homes in which they want to live. At the same time our lives are becoming increasingly accelerated by the demands and trappings of the cybernetic future, many Americans find their hearts turning toward visions of a mellower and shomehow more fundamental lifestyle. It seems we are finally ready to consider uppretentious, modest-sized houses that off simplicity of form and construction that are less consumptive of resources and energy; …”

I guess it was just a romantic notion, wasn’t it? If it had been true, we wouldn’t be in the mess we’re in.

Maybe the lesson will be learned this time around?

I love living in my little cottage.