what, are we becoming fashionable?

[OT from cottage renovations]

the real estate market isn't entirely doom and gloom.  one bright spot is cottage living: downsizing to sustainable means livable (though not necessarily affordable).  the Wall Street Journal is reporting that while developers can't move McMansions, buyers are flocking to new cottage developments in "pocket neighbourhoods". 

these certainly have a familiar look to them: 

images: Ross Chapin Architects

it's not just the cute little houses: folks who live in them develop a sense of community. 

here's a sidebar from the article:

How Developers Target a Market: Contemporary Cottage Neighborhoods Now, as energy costs soar and concern for the environment grows, more buyers are interested in living in smaller, more energy-efficient homes.  In Seattle, one developer is banking on buyers wanting smaller houses that come with a built-in community of neighbors: cottages of about 1,100 square feet that face a common green.  Developers across the country are trying to replicate the idea.  "People are recognizing there's something wrong with the way we've been building.  It's not sustainable, and something's got to change," says architect Paul Lukez, author of "Suburban Transformations."

none of this comes as a surprise to Grovers.  we wish them all well, builders and buyers alike. 

like most fads, over time it can be expected to run its course and fade away.  once that happens we can go back to being eccentric.  that will be a good thing: trendy is something we just don't do very well.