With Time to Spare

Organize to Make Life Easier

Sue McMillin

Organizing Consultant & Speaker

719-352-5535
sue@withtimetospare.com

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You are here: Home / Articles / Thrive where you live

February 25, 2014 by Jennyce Garber

Thrive where you live

A funny new word has made its way into conversations of late.  That word is McMansions, alluding to McDonalds’ habit of adding “Mc” in front of its latest food offering.  McMansion is a derogatory term for a type of large, mass-produced luxury house which is oversized for its neighborhood.

Americans are often obsessed with the size of their homes. According to recent statistics, the USA has the largest homes with an average size of 2300 square feet. And close behind, Australia ranks second with 2217 square feet and Denmark third, then France and Spain.  The UK and China rank last with average home sizes of 818 and 646 square feet, respectively.

Those UK and China statistics became the reality for two friends of With Time to Spare in 2012.  When Mel moved from Virginia to Hong Kong in 2012, some 8,000 miles, she had to change all her paradigms about space. Her new reality is an 800-square-foot apartment with one closet in a 69-story high rise.  When Jenevieve found out she was moving 4000 miles from Virginia to rural England, she purged, sold and donated nearly all they had.  Her current home is a 1000-square-foot centuries-old stone cottage-style row house in the ancient English village of Oundle. Similarly, she also has only one closet and no storage. Ironically, the combined living space of both Mel and Jenevieve’s homes is smaller than the typical American home.

For both these moms, presently living six-thousand miles apart, an additional reality included very small kitchens, by American standards.  Jenevieve’s refrigerator is half the size of an American model–no room for leftovers or tomorrow’s meals.  Thus the need to shop fresh every day.  Both homemakers had to buy locally-made furniture specifically designed to fit in these tight spaces, as well as downsize their families’ wardrobes.

Despite downsizing for a move both women and their families have found a way to enjoy their lives and thrive in their spaces.  The point here is that we can thrive wherever we are living, whether it be the tiniest of cottages or a modern castle.

To thrive wherever you live requires you to embrace a change of attitude, thinking, and planning.  Then, like Mel and Jenevieve, who have embraced this change of thinking, you can enjoy your space more, whether it be large or small.   Need some places to start?  How about clutter reduction?  Need some help thinking about organizing?   Give Sue a call!

~

To read more of Mel’s story go here, and visit her blog Carpe Dim Sum.

To read more of Jenevieve’s story, visit her blog Halcyon Homestead.

Filed Under: Articles, Life Lessons, Organize Your Home

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Sue’s Story

I've been a professional organizer most of my adult life. Who I am and why I love my work comes from how I was raised and the mysteries of DNA!

From the most humble of beginnings in Kentucky to helping businesses and organizations across the U.S., I always try my best to share both practical and inspirational principles and techniques.

I hope you enjoy your visit here and come back often. And feel free to call or email anytime.

Even though you might reach me on my porch looking out at the Colorado Rockies, a born and bred Kentucky girl enjoys a good chat.

Order out of Chaos

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