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Guest post from Katherine of Catching Eddies When I tell people I live in a bus, I often hear, "That's cool, but it's not for me." And you know what? They're right! Living in a bus or tiny house is not the best option for most people. In fact, even we don't plan to live in our bus forever. Nevertheless, we have learned important lessons from tiny living that we can apply to our future. 1. Don't rush into buying "bigger and better". By living in our bus as a couple, and now as new parents, we have saved money and grown my husband's business. There are seasons of life when one can practice certain forms of "extreme" frugal living that won't be practical down the road. Those seasons can be times to prepare for the future. 2. Practice honest hospitality. Inviting guests to the bus can be challenging. Larger get togethers have to wait for good weather when we can be outside, and we obviously don't have a guest room. However, I know I appreciate friends who say, "Come on over, we'd love to have you," even when they are in the midst of real life, with real life mess, rather than waiting until they have the time (and money) host the perfect dinner party. I am learning that offering what I have with love means so much more than hosting a grand, expensive gathering with the hope of impressing others. 3. Give and receive graciously. The friends who welcomed our bus into their backyard once lived with friends while building a home. They are happy to be able to offer a similar blessing to others. Of course, we asked how we could repay them and they requested that my handy husband help them out with projects. Still, we recognize the gift we have received and it has driven us to look for big and small ways to give back to our community. 4. Get outdoors. When I watch my daughter dig in the sand or splash in a lake, I am reminded that the size of our house does not have to determine the quality of her life. City, state, and national parks and forests are places where we can spread out and run free at little cost, no matter the square footage of our homes. I will continue to make use of those resource and support measures to keep them safe and clean. 5. Consider quality vs. quantity. My husband has worked hard to make the interior of our bus beautiful. Therefore, living in the bus is different than living in 200 square feet of beat up travel trailer. Later this summer, we are planning to build a home. We're hoping that a good layout, simple but appealing finishing, and a bit of organization can make up for a "lack" of square footage and cut thousands of dollars off our mortgage. 6. Don't let other people establish your priorities. It can be hard to discern what is most important for our families, our health, and our spiritual lives. I have often mixed up my priorities by paying too much attention to what I perceived as other people's expectations of me. The cost of this confusion has been my own joy and contentment. When I am able to let go of others opinions and focus on God's calling for our family, I am a more joyful person. How do you reflect your priorities in the way you live? Do the seasons of life affect the way you live out your priorities? 
Katherine has worked as a whitewater rafting guide, ski instructor, and wilderness trip leader, but she embarked on her biggest adventure yet when she gave birth to her daughter last August. She blogs about tiny living, outdoor adventure with kids, crafting, and micro-homesteading at Catching Eddies.
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