Rich in Time?

Are you rich in time? I've been thinking alot about money I guess lately. Maybe it's paying the bills from the last two months of holiday spending or looming taxes to do. But have you ever thought about what real wealth means. Feeling secure, knowing there's food in the frig., knowing you can pay the pharmacy bill if you go to the doctor. But there's another kind of wealth that I feel goes with the live lightly idea. What if how you lived your life allowed you to have more free time to do whatever you really enjoyed doing? Would you consider yourself rich? How can living lightly give you more time? How can your environment affect your feeling of security? Just alot of food for thought this morning, not alot of answers...

Average House Size

The average house size in the United States has continued to grow and grow. According to National Association of Home Builders from 1750 square feet in the late 1970's to currently 2479 square feet. And yet it seems to me the average family size is decreasing. No longer do extended families live together in the same household, kids, parents and grandparents, uncles or aunts. (Although if this economy continues, it may turn back that way.) How much room does a family of four need? How about just a couple of empty-nesters? Big houses need more heating and cooling, more lights, more furniture, more stuff. More stuff to clean, more stuff store or throw away. What do you really need? What would you rather do with your free time? Less house means more living. I would want to see good design, higher quality and less quantity homes.