We arrived at my best mates place at lunch time, winding our way up the mountain to greet Jamie at the Vipassana Centre.
Their land is just adjacent to it - they lease the 8 acres on the condition it is bequeathed back upon their death. And yes, our husbands are both named Jamie. Our first long term boyfriend's were called Geoff. That's the nature of our friendship - full of delightful coincidences. Jamie - her Jamie - hitches a ride up to their home.
Their home is an old bus, with a small caravan beside it as a shed come laundry. There's a small add on porch for a fridge, shoes, jackets and a kind of air lock to prevent flies and other insects finding their way in.
The inside is lovely. It's all made from found items, including the wood burner which they need on cold winter nights.
In the late afternoon she feeds the pademelons vegetable scraps. Tassie has no natural predators so the marsupials enjoy life to the max. They used to have thylacines, but managed to hunt them to extinction, although Tasmanians still hope they hide in the deepest wilderness.
To bath, they have a small gas heated shower outside and a fire bath.
There's also a gravity fed water system, but they are careful with water and lay out buckets when it rains.
The toilet is down the hill, a bush dunny not for the faint hearted. Most Aussies I know are used to a long drop, as they are known. My bestie dug it herself, back breaking and blistering work.
It's so gorgeous and quiet here. A good location for the silent retreat if course, where they are senior teachers. They start another course soon, but we can still stay here.
Now, you haven't seen where we are sleeping yet - that's a real treat I'll save for another post, save to say it's one of the sweetest, most peaceful places I have ever stayed.
It's a reminder again that we don't need a million dollar house. We just need a shack on a good piece of land. We have lived in buses, trucks, caravans and cars, and are always happier in such spaces. Low impact, low cost, low maintenance, less bills. No brainer!
Have you ever stayed in or lived in such a tiny home?
With Love,
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Not lived in one of those small homes but I know all about 10 day vipassana retreats and training, not for the faint of heart.
It isnt is it. I have done one course but reluctant to do again. I loved it and it changed my life, and I believe it's the best form of meditation, but couldn't do the 45 and 60 day ones like they do! I'll be posting on their meditation hut tomorrow, you might be interested. X
Oh damn that looks homey and sacred and gorgeously quiet. The height of bus living always worries me, since I stand 187cm (6 foot 2 inch) but I'm currently obsessed with smaller living options and moving more freely and lightly.
Hey - you have a bath. π
Like n idjit I forgot to post a pic of actual bus. It's now in post. Jamie, Tams boyfriend, is tall.. the bus is fine for him. It depends on the bus!
I also love the tiny house conceptπ₯°
Tiny home but it beautiful and have a beautiful things around.
Tanks for sharing
No worries.. I forgot to post the bus but have now so do check it out x
It looks tiny but so beautiful!!! I love it so much, I hope I can have it too. Have a wonderful day ππ
It really is. Maybe when you have land!
A million dollar house cannot give the happiness this surrounding would provide - the inner peace. And the inside is really fantastic - no less than a luxurious room.
It even has solid wood floorboards!
Wow - so they made it on purpose.
Yes, they did. Most of the materials came from the tip shop, found items and second hand.
The adventure continues...Cute tiny house!
Wait til you see the meditation hut on the property we stayed in!
Absolutely awesome home your friends got there. What else could one ask for?!? And the fire tub...I ve been looking them on Pinterest, wondering if they get too hot?!?
We stayed in a caravan for 2 months in the summer and it was great...and the kids were much smaller. I don't know how it will feel in the winter but looking at your post I just keep confirming myself that one day when our birdies fly away from the nest I am totally ready for life in a caravan π
Oh it's a great life. We used to live in a bus just like it and my friends were inspired by it!! Same with the fire bath, I have one in my garden. You need to put a wooden mat on floor so you don't burn your bum and I have a thermometer to measure the temperature and add more water if it's too hot. I'll show you pictures some day!
I am truly envious of any and everyone who is able to find the way to live in such a way. That's incredible and awesome. I hope you're having the best of times there!
Truly! It's Def jitely inspired us to go back to that way of life. It's certainly.comfortable too!!
What a wonderful way to live surrounded by nature! I would totally try to stay in such a place, at least for a week, just to see how it's like
It's a reminder again that we don't need a million dollar house. We just need a shack on a good piece of land
Oh mamacita you've said it better than I could. Having a house is precisely about that! Owning the land and the shack. At old age nobody needs loads of rooms which require heavy maintenance. I loved the bathtub sitting in nature. Imagine having a hot soak while it's raining outside. The two seem happy, I am glad for them!
Oh yes they have hot soaks when it's snowing!!! We used to do that in our own fire bath in the winter, under the stars. It's magical!!!
Yes, they are very happy. And the property is stunning, the nature, the mountains. I don't want to leave.
Under the stars...oh....how wonderful. I don't think there is anything more romantic than a hot soak under the starry sky....π₯°π₯°
Oh it's amazing! Especially with a glass of wine π·π·
What a beautiful home! I've always dreamt of living in a tiny house, too! Hopefully in a few years.
I totally agree. And with a small living space, you get to be closer together with the people you're living with, literally π, so you also create better connection with them.
That's so true. It's not for all relationships but my friends, like me and my man, are soul partners and find it easy to be in each other's company. And they spend a lot of time outside too... The world's biggest room!!
Yes, the gift of being surrounded by nature. I'm glad I've seen your post. βΊοΈ Looking forward to see more of your adventures! Sending love from the Philippines π
Heaven knows I really wanna visit that place as it seems so quiet and sacred, what a peaceful life, free of street noises all you'd always wake up to would be sounds from cute birds and a lovely sunshine. I love simple living like this and I'm really astonished. Great images !PIZZA
It's truly the natural surroundings that make the place so magical. Sunshine is trickier... Being on a mountain in Tasmania, it's not as common! The sun is very low in the winter apparently. They take VITAMIN D to get through!
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I'm so behind! Have you moved there, or are you visiting?
It looks dreamy. I am so set in my cushy ways, I wonder if I could live like this for more than a few days. I think I'll have to give it a try to find out. I love what they've done with their place.
It's easier than you think, I love it so much. We are just visiting and looking for land. We are trying to move her although not just yet. Believe me I have my own heart tugs about this one!
And Buttercup shares colors with the bus it looks like. Also, what a great place to hitch a ride \o\o\o\ If busses weren't so expensive here i'd park on down our land facing the creek, because the one you share is so coooool.
Oh you can't find a wreck? To get it towed there?
Maybe yes, but I don't think my Dad would be so eager to allow \o\o\
It's great to spend a period in this climate which gives us a degree of freedom and calm.
Yes, I feel better already. It's the nature!
Looks very civilised. I've lived in countless garages, backrooms and storage spaces so I often joke that I'm no longer housetrained. It has been an adjustment to own a house and I'm still not quite sure what to do with it
Oh I recall that feeling .. it took me ages getting used to a house after living in vehicles for years! It's easier switching back!
This looks as nice as the bus you were doing up, and a bit more spacious as well if I remember correctly. Am intrigued to see where you'll be sleeping
Yes it's much more spacious!! The roof is taller and they removed the whole front drivers section. However my new phone has a wide angle lens so that probably makes it look bigger than it is.
Inner peace is all that matters. This is my definition of inner peace, so lovely. At first, I didnβt know the bus would have so much space inside. So homey and filled with nature, I love this.
Yes it's more spacious that you would think. After all the seats have gone and the clever, organised use if space.
It's dreamy! I love old buses turned into cosy homes and this one is very cute! Oh, and this pistachio color!
These last days I am thinking of having a Vipassana seminar again, it's been 3 years since last time and I would like a reminder, so when I saw the first photo I got excited! But I am also happy that you are not taking the seminar, not the most pleasant thing in the world :))
I wonder how it feels for you being in Tassie now :)
Oh you have done Vipassana!!!!! Me too but over ten years now, I did it with my Dad!!! Then I tried again but I was camping in my van and temperatures hit over 40 degrees for three days so I left! I'm not sure I want to again though I think EVERYONE should do one.
I adore Tassie and want to move, but I'm experiencing some grief I should write about to balance out the story.
With your dad? That's awesome!!!
I am thinking of having a 3day seminar for old students, just to freshen up the technique, I am not sure I can do the whole thing again soon, haha! With over 40 degrees, I can imagine it was unbearable...
I believe that, too, it would be great if everyone would do it. When I finished the seminar I was super excited, but I promised myself that I will never propose to anyone to go because it is not an easy thing to do, but if someone is thinking about doing Vipassana that I will give them all my support!
I guess grief is part of the game... It is a way to honor the old and open the gates for the new one to come...
"Anicca" my dear @riverflows :)
The bus is very spacious and I love the colour they painted. Having a bath and a shower seems very civilised. I am guessing the weather is pretty decent all year round!
Of all places in Australia, The climate in Tasmania is the worst ahaha. It even snows. But with the wood heater on or a hot bath, you'd be surprised at how manageable it is!
Now you mention that, Years ago I did meet someone from Tasmania who said the weather in Scotland was okay haha Now I know why! A hot bath though is awesome in the winter, so I can imagine it is manageable!
wow you should IRL live stream on https://vimm.tv @vimm you could just get upvotes and donations from paypal and hive for just making food and coffee and showing nature, maybe you need starlink maybe you have signal lol
I'd love to but I'm never comfortable on video.
u can always bee behind the camera shot an just have shots of nature etc and just use voice or not jusyt can be chjill irl stream
I love it!!!
Xx
I fell in love with the site, it looks so warm and beautiful, very pretty
Hello @riverflows , your publication reminded me of special moments that marked a before and after in my life.
I have attended Vipassana retreats in my country, here in Venezuela there are two centers and I am lucky that one is two hours away from where I live. The first retreat was the most difficult spiritually for me, the second one was easier but not as important.
I hope your retreat was pleasant and liberating.
The place of your retreat is so intimate and special, those mobile homes look beautiful both inside and outside, inside they look very cozy, nice images of the Buddha.
Oh you know exactly what I mean then. I feel glad I have done one but another I feel isn't right for me now. They are incredible experiences though.
If there should be a prudent time between the first level and the second.
I repeated a year apart.π€
Norway winter , had -18c some nights , still February will get colder , lot's of snow . I live in such a tiny home yes ,.. trying to survive the cold . I keep some water in the electric cooker , so at least i can make a coffee in the morning .
When i sleep the fire dies , the cold creeps in , and everything freezes up .
Greetings from the North side . ;-)
Oh yeah I've lived in the snow in a truck, the gas would freeze .. we would cook on burner. Cosy when the wood burner is chugging!! Love your little home x
You know what, @riverflows? I have this beautiful sense of peace and stillness as I read your post. I get a sense that if I read more of your work that I'll likely feel the same way. It's rare for me to have this experience reading a post on Hive, or on any social media platform to be honest. To me it speaks to the energy you're in as you write and create this post. I feel your gentleness sister. Thank you for everything that you've done and are continuing to do, day-to-day, that allows you to be this person. Your way of being is felt all the way up in Brisbane, and, no doubt, around the world by all other energy sensitive beings. I hope your time at your friends' place is/was gorgeous π€
Gosh, I am humbled, especially as I try to quell my reaction to a certain troll of late! That's so kind of you. Lovely to meet you and I hope I can live up to your feelings about me ππ
A troll? Someone being mean and nasty on here of late? Boo! Shoo troll!!! π
Nothing to live up to. Just be you. You're doing great and I'm appreciating you as you are. π
This is looking cool. I always liked the idea of tiny houses that I actually wished we can have something like this here in our country, or a mobile home at least.
Where are you?
Here in the Philippines :)
What a beautiful setup! looks gorgeous i bet your all having a great time in the nature!
I have a motorway coach that im currently converting, though i did make it habitable and stayed on it whilst working away and have to say has been the best living experience so freeee!
i look forward to finishing the conversion and moving back onto her in the future!
Thanks for sharing
Tassie tigers still exist I have seen one on the west coast of Tas.
The tiny movable home having lot of beautiful natures around and whatever life you getting, not lesser than a million dollar home.
Very good the way you live. Since houses are great, I'd actually live in one of these. But here where I live, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is really very dangerous this type of housing. You're subject to fines, robberies, other types of violence. What can you suggest to me? For someone with the mentality of living like this, and that in the city that lives is practically impossible. What am I supposed to do?