Comments on: VardoForTwo

By: Joe

Joe — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 06:41:24 +0000

A little etiquette and tact would serve all in these blogs. Most people come to these venues trying to get ideas about the needs of their own physical living spaces. If they do not like others style, most make a conscious choice not to repeat what they perceive as unacceptable. Many feel they can only control what they do. They may even feel others might be critical of their choices as well thus avoid throwing stones in glass houses. Most are just glad others are willing to share ideas.
If a few feel the need to comment on cultural choices in the small house movement, it could be done in a more constructive, tactful, less adversarial manner. I would also think it wise not to be so quick to extrapolate quite as much about the rest of peoples’ lives from a single photo and moment in time.
Most movements find safety in numbers. Insulting the intelligence and character of potential allies causes divisiveness. It does not seem a wise strategy for reducing skepticism about the movement, promoting acceptance and reducing barriers such as zoning laws and other impediments. If there is real concern about our future it might be wise to consider our choice of words and the ways and types of venues for expressing these concerns.
If ones’ perceived motive is simply debunking others for short term personal self aggrandizement I know I would not think such a person much of an ally and not likely consider their criticism, no matter how valid or accurate.
I’d like to think we are in this together even if our motive is for a more primitive, off the grid existence away from the crowd. We can still benefit from supporting, not bashing each other. Just something to chew on…

By: Cheryl

Cheryl — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 21:37:46 +0000

I can see why Coutch would have to live in a vardo. Who would want to be his neighbor? He comes off as being cynical, presumptuouss, and most of all, self-righteous. Ick. What a nasty attitude he has towards these people he doesn’t even know. Doubt if he has any friends and this is why he has to live alone in a vardo. I was thinking of vardo living, but if I have to encounter the put-downs by people like him, no thanks. I will just continue ruining the planet with my giant footprint and leave it to him to save the world without inviting cooperation from the rest of us. Good luck with that job. No wonder people can’t stand environmentalists.

By: Brook

Brook — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 03:30:40 +0000

People need to get out more. Human scale items like laundry lines, camp tables and nice tin Garbage cans are signs of life. Cozied up in a tin box might be fine for some but many of us are into it for living outside.

It looks like theres not a neighbor for miles and it looks like every fun campground i’ve ever been to in the west or europe.

Your vardo is so great and smart. I’d join you in camp any night you’d have me. At home in the pines. Ignore the grouches, they need to get out more.

By: Jessie

Jessie — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:04:06 +0000

I absolutely love this! I have been dreaming of an outdoor kitchen when I finally have to means and the freedom to build my own home. It just seems right to me to live outside in the open as much as possible, rather than inside where, even without such concerns as these people are dealing with, I feel like the air has already been breathed too many times. Home should not have to be enclosed by four walls, especially not when home is parked in such a beautiful location as the first photo seems to show. Congratulations to them for creating a home that meets their needs and will not force them to spend a single day without going outside!

By: Mr Obvious

Mr Obvious — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:17:05 +0000

Coutch may have elected himself Lord, Savior, and Judge of all things liveaboard, but he (or she) doesn’t know much about MCS and the changes it requires in lifestyle. Dude, get over yourself. We can’t all live according to your rules.

It’s ironic, coutch strongly and repeatedly criticizes others based on his perception of how other people should live (while constantly justifying his own) and he says the Mokihanas are bringing the tiny home community down, but yet his narrow mindedness and condescending tone is a blight on this web site, and it discourages others from joining the community because they don’t want to be treated the same way he treated M&P. Thanks for pissing in the punch bowl, brainiac. YOU make the tiny home community look bad.

Coutch = preachy hipster MEGAFAIL.

By: Annie

Annie — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 05:27:55 +0000

I am very blessed to have been friends of Mokihana and Pete for many years. There are a myriad of reasons why I say this. However, in response to these comments I feel compelled to share the following. Both Mokihana and Pete through their maturity, sensitivity and very developed gifts and abilities create a sacred space where ever they are. Though I have never been to this particular space I have absolute certainty that most people who were in the space they have created would see and feel great beauty, peace, comfort, connection to the earth and more.
The causticness that those 2 Dears have been through is beyond comprehension and yet through it all they have remained kind, contributing, loving, caring and responsible. I believe anyone would be hard put to find a more Visible example of the words Responsible Contributing Citizens.

By: wildbug

wildbug — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 22:01:36 +0000

It’s clear that those who commented negatively about Mokihana’s and Pete’s lovely encampment have no clue about what it means to live with severe chemical sensitivities. One of the most critical needs we have is for outdoor space to “offgas” new items since we cannot breathe/think/function with most items indoors, and certainly in not a small space like a Vardo. It’s just a harsh reality of our illness. We all would love the luxury of having aesthetic concerns but those went out the window along with hair dye, makeup, fashionable clothing, and new paint jobs. We just can’t live with it anymore, plain and simple.

I can’t speak for Mokihana and Pete, but I imagine that day to day they are concerned with issues of survival over issues of visual coherence. From their blog I can see they have been dealing with pesticide sprayings and finding a space to live for winter. Until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes, please cut them some slack. They are a subset of the Tiny House movement, one that adopted the lifestyle out of crude need; not to make a statement or to reduce their footprint (although I’m sure that is an appreciated benefit for them). Until you’ve become an environmental refugee and have to live with the daily symptoms that make just getting through the day a challenge, please don’t point fingers and accuse them of giving the Tiny House movement a bad name.

They are doing their best. To the chemically sensitive community, they are a complete inspiration, to have accomplished what they have and to be living together in such a small space. It is so difficult to do that with this illness. And they are new at this; with time and more stability I’m sure they grow their encampment into a beautiful community (in all the ways that count!) that will be a great example for others.

By: Greg

Greg — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 14:26:46 +0000

Hey! Relax, I know some of us were born walking, talking and building but some of us have to learn still. They will get it eventually!
I find it curious that all of these units have had great construction and used quite a few different types of tools. But where are the storage sheds for the tools used?
There is no sign of storage for tools or building materials in any of the housplans. Some of the houses in a landscape do show storage sheds nearby, but for the most parts the photos only show the glossy units themselves.
So they have things outside in temporary shelter, they were honest enough to show how they really are existing.
Most liveaboards and tiny houses I have seen also have a deck outside, so they haven’t done their deck yet.
Besides if we were all perfect and the same how boring and ants nest would we be?
Greg

By: Mokihana

Mokihana — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:14:47 +0000

Christina,

We have just found this post about us (August 31, 2009), and are surprised! How strange, people will comment here, but do not come directly to the folks who describe our life and our lifestyle on our blog.

Living from a 50 foot space, the vardo, was first and most importantly, the way we could build a safe from the chemical and toxic reality of Earth at it is now.

These comments are diverse and we would like to reply to each of them in subsequent replies. They are excellent examples of the kinds of thinking exits and we will encounter as we evolve from our present experience.

This post was written more than three months ago, and we are about to move to a winter encampment. Before we do there needs to be some counter to these comments; and we am excited to take them on/learn from them/be heard.

In the future, should you post an article about us, we would appreciate being made aware of it, so we can be involved in the current threads of commentary.

Mokihana Calizar and Pete Little

By: Coutch

Coutch — Sat, 30 May 2009 18:36:59 +0000

Gus,

Being chem sensitive is not at all conducive to being a livaboard unfortunately… There are too many obstacles to overcome, mold – being only the most prominent.

As for utilities, I do have H2O supplied and a land based DSL / wifi modem. Grey water is held in the former fuel tanks, filtered and neighborhood plants, flowers, and grass are then watered. Black water is not an issue as I find that a composting toilet with a solar fan and carbon filter in the exhaust vent pipe works great – no smell of evaporating moisture or yeast fed compost.

All electricity needed is via a 1200w solar panel and battery storage onboard inverted to 120v AC so as to use less costly over the counter lights, etc.

Air conditioning, for those 95 degree / 95% humidity Michigan August days is via 50 feet of clothes dryer hose in the water, under the boat fed via fans at the intake and exit, nice 70 degree air conditioning for free.

I live in a community, not a marina and take my place in this canal enclosed space treading very lightly, both visually, and physically. Upon coming by, you see a boat, a car, a bicycle and an occasional hammock as my footprint – no stray tarps, refuse, or outdoor food storage, etc as I do feel very strongly that we shouldn’t foul our nest – A pet peeve of mine that I see way too often about both liveabords, and the Tiny House movement as people do not really downsize, they just pile most of their belongings outside in plain site as they no longer have a garage and basement to fill. Makes them look like unkemp trailer parks…

As far as galley and living space layout is concerned, look at sailboat magazines for inspiration, look at 35 ft to 50 ft sailboats as they have by far the best use of space/ livability & storage uses. Even Phillip Stack has designed an interior for a 35 foot Beneteau sailboat a while back which became my inspiration and direction for the interior, along with mid century modern – Eames funiture design which is a pleasure to come home to.