Well, it's official. The cabin is about to get a lot cosier - and louder.
As of last night, all three of my adult children have asked to move back home.
Within a week, I got three phone calls: one lost a job, one's lease fell through because the owner is moving back in, and the oldest is separating from their partner.
I don't know if they planned it in a group chat I'm not privy to, but they're all coming home over Easter weekend.
I said yes, of course - I'm a mum, its that's what we do. But now I'm looking at the logistics, and⦠It's going to be a tight fit.
For those who've seen the cabin, you'll know it's cozy (read: small). Two bedrooms. That's it. I've got a commercial-grade bunk in the spare room that should hold adult weights (I checked online) , and a fold-out sofa bed in the living room that technically sleeps two.
But obviously, this is not a long-term solution unless we want to live like sardines but with slightly more pillows.
So now I'm brainstorming other options.
Some thoughts:
-
A caravan on the property could give us extra space and some privacy.
-
One of those converted container offices?
-
A tiny home on wheels if we can find something secondhand - but I suspect that is going to be way out of my budget.
It's got to be affordable. I already used a big chunk of my savings on new garden beds and enclosures this year, and to top it off, I took a $65K hit on stocks recently. So yeah, I'm feeling the pinch.
So the grocery bill? Is about to triple until they're all back on their feet. I'm bracing myself for the sound of the fridge door opening every 5 minutes.
I know I'm not alone in this. The housing struggle is real. Rentals in this area are few and far between, and prices have skyrocketed.
It's no wonder more young adults are moving back in with family right now. But, I'd just gotten used to being on my own and enjoying the quiet.
So, if you've been in this situation-or have creative space-saving ideas-I'd love to hear them. What worked? What didn't?
Send help. Or snacks.