Along the way, the couple came up with smart storage solutions, which range from a hidden compartment to stow camping gear, to a laundry hamper built into a bedside table. The decor that has taken shape is a Scandinavian-leaning mix of white, wood, and brass. “Mostly we decorate with really good kitchenware and lots of plants,” says Lawyer. Still, “lots” is an understatement: At last count, there were 63 potted plants around the home. “They give us amazing air quality and a pop of color.”
Greenery aside, the couple keep their possessions to a minimum. They admit that downsizing was emotionally draining at first, but as they cleaned out their storage unit in preparation to move into the Airstream, the process became liberating. “It got to the point where I wanted to throw out whole boxes,” says Lawyer. Today, they try to abide by an in-and-out policy. “If you want a new pair of shoes, you have to get rid of one,” says Bashaw.
And the couple chooses to do without in ways that many people can’t imagine. They don’t have an oven, microwave, or—since they had the option of using the park’s shower facilities—hot water. “That’s the biggest thing: Not having a lot of space requires a lot of compromise,” says Lawyer.
The small footprint has paid off in unexpected ways, though. For one, Lawyer and Bashaw spend more time outdoors, where their small deck serves as a dining space and home office. They’ve started a container garden full of vegetables and succulents, and even have a water view: the park’s small lake, where geese and turtles mingle. “It feels like we’re on vacation,” says Bashaw. “There’s nowhere else in Seattle we could pay what we do and have that kind of view.”
While Lawyer and Bashaw can easily rattle off a dozen more reasons they love their less-is-more lifestyle, they admit the Airstream probably isn’t their forever home. “But that’s also one of the best things about it—we’re investing in something and we’re not going to have to leave it,” says Lawyer. “If we want to go somewhere else, we can take it with us.”