Friends in small spaces

My mother always insisted on having a big house, probably because she grew up in a huge one, but I think what she forgot was that three families lived in her house as a child.  Her grandparents, her aunt and uncle, and her own family with her parents and three brothers.

My children were brought up in a large home too, five bedrooms, four bathrooms, but small spaces have always intrigued me.

I saw a book, Material World:A Global Family Portrait in the nineties and I was fascinated.  A man took photos of families from all over the world with their possessions out in front of their homes.

My son and his family just packed all of their remaining possessions into an 8 by 12 pod and set off for a new adventure, living in an apartment.  I am moving into a 425 square foot apartment next week.  By the world's standards we will both be living in relative luxury.  By television's standards we will be in beggarly small places.

I could not live in one of those adorable tiny portable homes I read about because I cannot climb up into a loft to sleep and make the bed on my knees, but the idea appeals to me.  Sorta. 

In the end I think a certain amount of space makes for better living partners.  How much that is depends on each family and the way they socialize with each other and their friends.