1. Enough window that the light from the sun can come from outside (that you won't need so much electric light inside), and where they do not add additional lights outside in the night time, so that only the light of moon and stars can be seen.
2. We should also avoid (and undo) the noise and pollution. The weather and birds and animals can be heard better too, then.
3. We will have electric power but should not overuse it and should not overly rely on it. If the power is not working, then the things can be done without the electric power, too.
4. Outside, there will mostly be the trees, flowers, insects, etc. (There can also be grow vegetables at the appropriate time of the year.) Also sun dial; when walking outside (or if the electric clock doesn't work) you can see the time by sun dial, too.
5. The other places that you can walk to, rather than needing the car and bus too much.
6. Don't be too hot/cold.
7. If the stuff is arranged well then hopefully it should not need too large amount of space. You also shouldn't need too many rooms; some rooms can be used for multiple purposes.
A small (not tiny) apartment with a tiny (that yes) garden/outdoor space in Tokyo. Murakami describes something similar in “The Wind Up Bird Chronicle” [0]. I want a small kitchen corner and a spacious and luminous living room for reading and listening to music. As minimal as possible.
I'm actually torn because in Brazil almost everyone that can would choose to live in a condo, due to security. The downside is that you need to follow a bunch of rules and get much less square m2, and likely worse locations... but you get into some kind of "social network" (depending on the house price) and your kid can walk to the neighbors by himself.
I love how this response started with a very pragmatic checklist and then quickly turned to some very specific and personal wishes. What would you be doing with that forklift and/or pallet jack now that the house was paid off?
zzo38computer|8 months ago
2. We should also avoid (and undo) the noise and pollution. The weather and birds and animals can be heard better too, then.
3. We will have electric power but should not overuse it and should not overly rely on it. If the power is not working, then the things can be done without the electric power, too.
4. Outside, there will mostly be the trees, flowers, insects, etc. (There can also be grow vegetables at the appropriate time of the year.) Also sun dial; when walking outside (or if the electric clock doesn't work) you can see the time by sun dial, too.
5. The other places that you can walk to, rather than needing the car and bus too much.
6. Don't be too hot/cold.
7. If the stuff is arranged well then hopefully it should not need too large amount of space. You also shouldn't need too many rooms; some rooms can be used for multiple purposes.
horsellama|8 months ago
[0] https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11275.The_Wind_Up_Bird_C...
swah|8 months ago
chrsw|8 months ago
But in Hudson Valley New York instead of Newcastle Australia.
treetalker|8 months ago
chistev|8 months ago
mikewarot|8 months ago
It would have a separate machine shop with 3 phase power and a floor thick enough for a forklift or pallet jack.
randerson001|8 months ago
ssc23|8 months ago
1. < 40 min from at least one major airport 2. < 30 min from downtown of a tier 1/2 city 3. Multiple seasons
house: 1.Open layout with tons of natural light 2.Fully private backyard
bonus: 1.Ability to add Rooftop Solar with decent MWH generation 2.Additonal underground water source
octo888|8 months ago