Why Don't You Buy a Bigger House?

To give some background information, my partner and I live in a teeny tiny house. The other day a well intentioned family member asked us when we are going to buy a bigger house. She rightfully pointed out that we are lacking on storage space, so it came from a good place. In fact, a lot of our friends will also comment on our super small house, so this question did not surprise me.

My answer, though, might surprise a lot of people, and it is a resounding probably never. In a consumer orientated society that is all about bigger, better, and more (more more!), I am happy in our super small house because it suits me and my heart failure. The downside of less space (which is a major pain) is outweighed by the amount of joy and peace that a smaller house has brought to my life.

Why I do not want a bigger house as a person with heart failure

So how has our small house enhanced my life? Why would I even go so far as to say that it is well worth the pain that comes from a smaller house?

1. There are less steps that need to be take to make my life happen, whether it's moving from the bedroom to the couch, couch to the kitchen, or couch to bathroom! This is SO nice when fatigue has hit and I have zero steps left to give.
2. The things that have to happen like laundry, getting water for meds, or using the restroom, is physically easier to accomplish. It is VERY helpful when I have no energy left, but I know I will be making lots of trips to the bathroom. Hello diuretics!
3. There is far less to clean. This also means that when I ask my partner to pitch in a bit more because I have nothing more to give, it is less of an ask. This has been a huge source of stress relief as it allows me to prioritize my health without adding further stress to my plate.
4. The biggest plus is that I can be physically closer to my partner. This may seem like a little thing, but hear me out! Heart failure is a mental burden for me because there are activities that I want to participate in, or things I want to do, but I have to decline because I either a.) don't have the energy or b.) I am saving my energy for a later task. (See my article here on pacing.) Add to that, there are times when I am completely depleted and I spend my day sleeping and resting on the couch. Even on those days, it's a huge source of relief that I can still be physically close to my person! When I am awake we can talk and joke, and I can see him moving around because the house is so small it's impossible to not be near our only couch. It does not make the heart failure struggle easy, but it does make it easier to cope with.
5. Lastly, the physical proximity to my partner makes me feel more secure. If there are days or evenings when I feel crappy, I am typically in bed and cannot do anything for myself. I can yell his name and he can bring me whatever I need, whether that's water, a light snack, or a hug. This brings me huge piece of mind, and honestly makes it easier for him to check on me.

What's right for me

For me, the down side of living in a small house is definitely outweighed by the ease of living in a smaller space. Also, the overall ease has also reduced my stress in both getting life done but also being able to bow out when I need to rest, which has brought me additional peace of mind. Instead of trying to fit a square peg in a round hole, it feels like I am fitting a square peg in a square hole.

For me, the peace of mind has been wonderful and even though larger houses do sometimes bring pangs of jealousy, ultimately I feel a tremendous amount of ease knowing that I am where I am meant to be. This does not make hard failure easy, in my opinion, but it makes it easier (without adjusting my meds, lol) and I'll take that!

What sacrifices have you made for your heart failure? Ultimately, do you feel it was worth it?