There’s something interesting that happens when you spend enough time living in a small space. At first, it can feel limiting. You notice the lack of storage, the close quarters, and the fact that every item needs a purpose. But over time, something shifts. Instead of focusing on what you don’t have, you start appreciating what you do have.

Over the past few years, we’ve spent a lot of time living in smaller spaces than most people would consider ideal. During our seasonal work in Yellowstone National Park, our van becomes our home for the summer. It’s a simple setup that forces us to be intentional about how we live. Every piece of clothing, every tool, every kitchen item, and every personal belonging has to earn its place. There’s no room for clutter, and there’s definitely no room for collecting things we don’t need.

When the Yellowstone season ends, we don’t move into a large house. Instead, we return to our small condo. While it offers more space than the van, it still encourages many of the same habits. We continue to prioritize experiences over possessions and focus on keeping our environment simple and functional.

One of the biggest lessons we’ve learned is that more space often leads to more stuff. It’s easy to fill empty closets, spare rooms, and storage areas with things that rarely get used. Living small has helped us become much more aware of our purchasing decisions.

Before bringing something home, we ask ourselves a simple question: Will this genuinely improve our life, or will it simply take up space? We have also started using the Konmari method of getting rid of things. With this approach we ask ourselves - does this item bring us joy?

That mindset has saved us money, reduced stress, and helped us avoid accumulating things that don’t add value to our daily lives.

Another lesson is that organization matters. In a van, every inch counts. A misplaced item quickly becomes an inconvenience.

We’ve learned to create systems that make daily life easier, whether it’s where we store cooking supplies, outdoor gear, or work equipment. Those habits have carried over into our condo as well, making it feel larger and more comfortable than its square footage might suggest.

The better organized we are, the less time we spend searching for things and the more time we spend enjoying where we are.

Living in small spaces has also taught us the value of experiences. Some of our favorite memories have nothing to do with where we lived.

They come from watching wildlife in Yellowstone, exploring new hiking trails, taking road trips, meeting interesting people, and building our businesses together. Those experiences have provided far more happiness than any extra room or additional possessions ever could.

When your space is limited, you naturally become more selective about what you bring into your life. We’ve found that memories and experiences are always worth keeping, while many possessions eventually lose their importance.

Perhaps the most important lesson is that happiness isn't measured in square feet. Society often tells us that bigger is better, but our experience has shown us that comfort, freedom, and fulfillment come from something entirely different.

They come from creating a life that aligns with your priorities.

For us, living small has created more flexibility. It allows us to spend less time maintaining our living space and more time focusing on travel, adventure, and the projects we enjoy. It has helped us simplify our lives in ways we never expected.

That doesn’t mean small-space living is perfect. There are certainly days when extra storage, a larger kitchen, or another room would be nice.

But those moments are usually temporary. The benefits of simplicity, reduced expenses, and greater freedom have consistently outweighed the inconveniences.

If there’s one takeaway from our experience, it’s this: you may need far less than you think to build a life you love.

Whether you live in a van, a condo, a house, or somewhere in between, focusing on what truly matters can make any space feel like home.

Thanks for following along with our journey. We’re grateful for the adventures, the lessons, and even the small spaces that have taught us so much along the way.

Living in a van during our Yellowstone seasons and returning to our small condo each year has shown us that a meaningful life isn’t built around how much space you have—it’s built around how you use the space you’re given. Some of our happiest moments have happened in places most people would consider too small, and that’s been one of the biggest surprises of all.

While we don’t know exactly what our future living situation will look like, we do know that the lessons we’ve learned from living small will stay with us. Being intentional, appreciating experiences, and focusing on what truly matters are habits we hope to carry forward no matter where life takes us next.

What’s one thing you've learned from the space you call home? We'd love to hear your thoughts.

— Zoe & Rich

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