Thin Walls and Wide Open Doors
This is Part 5 in my series about living in a small space. If you've missed any, catch Part 1 , Part 2 , Part 3 , and Part 4 . Standing in my kitchen, I can hear my neighbor in hers. She's talking about her day, using the microwave, grinding her coffee. In my bathroom, I can hear my upstairs neighbor plunging his toilet, starting his shower. Not all small living is this intimate with neighbors, but for me, it often seems a natural extension. I stand in the open door while the kids retrieve the mail from the box across the hall. The hallway door opens and other neighbors pass between us, greeting us and naturally glancing past me, seeing most of our house. I'm not ashamed, I tell myself, hoping to one day make that true. I'm not the best housekeeper in the world, plus small children add their own special housekeeping style. But there is little I can do to hide it from my neighbor, since the routine of daily living opens up my life for them to see inside. I...