Bruce Thompson wrote this post on Jun 21, 2021. He describes how repeated moves, large homes, and life in Barcelona shaped his interest in small space living and the URBANEER Bungalow.
Thompson and his wife Brenda married 33 years ago. They completed 17 moves across 5 states and 3 countries. Their experience led them to prefer smaller homes and a freer urban lifestyle.
Before Barcelona, they lived outside Munich in a large suburban house. They had two young children, Thompson worked constantly, and the house required too much time and attention.
In Barcelona, they moved into a 900-square-foot apartment in the city center. They learned that urban life reduced home maintenance and increased freedom. They did not need a lawn or a large house to manage. They had more time to travel, including weekend trips to France.
After returning to the U.S., they moved back into suburban homes of 3,500 square feet and then 5,300 square feet. Thompson says they became tied to the demands of maintaining larger houses.
Brenda said they needed to “get back to Barcelona,” meaning they wanted the lifestyle they had experienced there.
Thompson describes Barcelona as a “City of Design.” He notes details such as matching garbage trucks, sanitation workers, and trash cans. He also praises the parks and the city’s walkability.
While living in Virginia, they decided to move to East Grand Rapids, inspired by their wish to live smaller. They then built a custom home with minimal living in mind, but it still became a large house because they justified using every square foot.
After several years, they sold that home and moved to a condominium in downtown Grand Rapids. They liked the experience, but still wanted a smaller house in an urban setting. That desire led to the URBANEER Bungalow.
Thompson presents small living as an ongoing process of choosing what matters, reducing attachment to material things, and moving toward a freer, fuller lifestyle.