From 2020 to 2022, I split my time between two rentals: a one-bedroom apartment in New York City and a tiny home in Santa Monica, California.

But one day, I decided I needed a change. My stepfather had passed away, and I was going through a breakup. These losses shifted my perspective, and realigning my life to fit my values became a priority.

I realized that I didn’t need so many belongings, let alone two places to live. So in May 2022, I sold or donated most of my stuff. I put five boxes of winter items into a storage unit and left New York with two suitcases and a camera.

Now, at 40 years old, the 140-square-foot tiny home in Santa Monica is my primary home. I’m an eight-minute drive from the beach, and there are plenty of places to hike nearby.

The house is smaller than the average size of a parking spot (which is roughly 150 square feet). But it’s designed in a way that doesn’t feel cramped.

I found the listing on HotPads, an online rental marketplace. The home was built by architects at Minarc Design Studio, and is parked in the backyard of a single-family home.

The main room functions as my living room, office, walk-in closet and kitchen. I added a few small aspects like hooks and accessories, but otherwise the place is exactly as it came.