Tracy, Jack, and Anda have lived in their tiny home for over 3 years. They are part of a community called “Tiny Town” in Durango, Colorado, where there are 10 other tiny homes.
Their home is in the mountains, just a few minutes’ walk from the town center. Jack enjoys playing hockey across the street, and Anda loves playing with other kids in the neighborhood.
Tracy moved here with her children from Thailand 6 years ago. At first, she was worried about supporting her family. But living in a tiny house has helped her not only manage but also thrive. Now, Tracy, Jack, and Anda love their life in the tiny home.
We live in Durango, Colorado, in our tiny house located downtown. We’ve been here for about three and a half years, but time seems to fly, and I’ve lost track of it. We named our home “Red Mountain.” It was built by Rocky Mountain Tiny Houses right here in Durango.
We call it Red Mountain because it has three peaks, similar to the nearby Red Mountain Pass. The house features old barn wood and rusted iron, giving it the feel of an old mining shack right in town.
I’m a single mom, and I take care of my family by myself. I have several jobs: I’m a bookkeeper, a landscaper, and I manage some Airbnb properties—I clean them and host guests.
I also substitute teach. I do all this to put being a mom first. I work from home and set my own hours so I can always be there for my kids. I’ve never used childcare or had a babysitter.
I spent over ten years in Thailand, where I met the father of my children and had two babies. When my son was old enough for school, I decided we should move back to the United States to give him better educational opportunities and a chance to participate in more activities.
I grew up in Durango, where my parents and brothers still live. When I returned to the U.S. at 45 with hardly any money, Durango was the only place I could imagine going.
We first lived on my brother’s trout farm, staying in a yurt on the hillside for about six months. It was bigger than this space but very basic.
When we first came back to Durango, we didn’t have any amenities. We tried living with my parents, but it got too crowded, so we moved back to the farm. There, we lived in an office space above a greenhouse. It was just one long room, and when winter came, it was too cold to stay.
So, we moved back to town and into my parents’ house again. I realized that living with them just wasn’t going to work. I love my family, but moving back into their life after being away for so long was too hard.
I spent a lot of time thinking about where we could live. I looked at rentals, considered buying land, thought about yurts, and even considered going back to Thailand where we have a home. Then, I discovered tiny houses. Moving into a tiny house here in Durango was wonderful.
We have our own space right in town, by the river, and near a beautiful island. My son can play hockey just across the street, and their school is just a mile away. It feels perfect.
I’ve learned that tiny living isn’t just for young people or couples. It can work for families too. It keeps life affordable and allows us to have fun. Tiny houses have made a big difference in our lives.
