August 2016 Latitude 45

fish in fly

August 2016

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partnering for progress container homes:

living inside the box

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CONTENTS August 2016

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Latitude N O RT H W E S T L I V I N G

WWW.LATITUDE45MAG.COM MARKETING

Washington Sales and Marketing Director | Julie Reed 253.273.8524 | julie@livinglocal360.com Executive Director | Steve Russo 208.946.0901 | steve@livinglocal360.com Marketing Manager Kelly Williams kelly@livinglocal360.com

EDITORIAL

Managing Editor | Patty Hutchens patty@livinglocal360.com Editor | Jani Gonzalez jani@livinglocal360.com

DESIGN

Creative Director | Whitney Lebsock Senior Designer | Jessica Herbig Media Intern | Maddie Russo maddie@livinglocal360.com

CONTRIBUTORS Mike McAuliffe

Latitude 45 is published and mailed to targeted neighborhoods in the Pacific Northwest. We’re not responsible for omissions or information that has been misrepresented to the magazine.

Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher and no part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted without the permission of the publisher.

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Feature Story

Partnering For Progress

06 16 19 06 Travel & Leisure Tranquility in the Water

16 Arts & Entertainment Uptown Gig Harbor Concerts

19 Unique Dream Homes

Rethinking Your Home

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TRANQUILITY IN THE WATER TRAVEL & LEISURE

BY COLIN ANDERSON

T

here is something about the sound of rushing water that soothes us to our core.

A beachfront oasis next to the ocean, the waves subtly crashing against the shore helping us fall into a deep sleep. Camping along a mountain stream with its steady trickle helping to mute the sound of sticks crackling and animals scurrying around the campsite.

Think of the last time you went to a spa for a massage or other treatment. Was there a water feature near the entrance?

It’s one of the most natural sounds to help our minds calm thought as we start to turn off stresses of work, family and finances. The plethora of rivers and streams across the Northwest give us opportunities to enjoy one of the most tranquil of water activities; casting a fly in hopes of seeing a fish rise.

Casting a fly is unlike any other form of fishing. The cast must be delicate, yet sent with enough force to reach the eddy or rock on the opposite side of the river. Rhythmic motion while keeping the rod at ten o’clock and two o’clock.

And when you make that perfect cast

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with the fly delicately dropping to the water, it’s an amazing feeling, almost as amazing as bringing in a large trout on a lightweight rod.

The diversity of our rivers is vast across the Northwest. Western Montana is well known for Blue Ribbon waters holding monster Browns and Rainbows.

Anglers across North Idaho seek out feisty Westslope cutthroat and in the fall aggressive Dolly Varden or Bull Trout. Huge runs of Steelhead challenge anglers in Central Idaho, the Washington coast and the rivers of West and Central Oregon. Each species requires varying tactics, and if you’re new to the sport, the best place to begin the learning process is your local fly shop.

Fly shops are run by people who’ve made their favorite activity into a business and most are eager to share their passion for the sport with those looking to get involved. As with many sports, you can gear up as technical and expensive as you want, but looking like you just got done modeling for a

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Casting classes or demonstrations are usually available at your local fly shop.

Once you’ve got the pattern down, practice at home in the yard.

Cabela’s or L.L. Bean catalog won’t help you with the most important part of fly fishing − the cast.

Rod/Reel: Fly rods can cost more than a thousand dollars, but there is plenty of wellconstructed beginner and intermediate rods in the $200 to $300 range. This is your most important purchase as a good rod gives you control of the presentation and is the key component to accurate casting. Until you’ve progressed into an every weekend angler, a reel is mostly just a reel, so put your budget toward the rod, and worry about the reel later on. If you’re going after Rainbow, Brown, cutthroat, or bookies, a 4- or 6-weight fly rod will probably be your best option, but let the fly shop owners know in what rivers you’ll be fishing will help them narrow down a weight and length that will be right for you.

San Juan Islands: A beautiful place to island hop and explore small and quaint communities, kayak and hike out to incredible ocean vistas.

All the surrounding water means ample angling opportunities.

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Flies: One of the trickier parts of learning to fly fish is getting the hatch right. There’s not a more frustrating sight than watching fish rise toward your fly only to turn away just as they are about to break the surface.

Trout eat bugs, and different bugs hatch at different times of the season. Some days the fish are looking for tiny gnats to nibble on and others they’re gorging themselves on jumbo hoppers or mayflies. It’s a good idea to have a variety of bugs as well as larger and smaller sizes of each. Local shops will let you know what hatch is currently happening and can point you to what bugs to use. When out of the water, try to snatch what’s buzzing around you, and pick a fly that closely resembles it.

Gear: Hat, Sunglasses, pliers and a multi-tool are must haves. Polarized lenses will help cut glare off the water allowing you to see your fly much easier. A vest for carrying these things as well as flies, food, drink and net is also highly recommended.

If you’re casting from a raft or drift boat, waders are unnecessary, and depending on your tolerance of cold water aren’t always necessary in the warm summer months either. Sturdy boots or river shoes that can get wet will help you navigate to and from the river and keep your balance on slippery rocks.

Casting classes or demonstrations are usually available at your local fly shop.

Once you’ve got the pattern down, practice at home in the yard. Set up a small target at varying distances, and see if you can land your fly on a Frisbee or dinner plate.

Move your position to under trees and near shrubs as you will likely encounter these things along the banks of your favorite river, and it’s good to practice so you don’t spend all day digging your hooks out of the brush.

While there are countless rivers to explore across the west, perhaps you’re not looking to spend the entire week fishing, but a day or two on the water over a family vacation.

The following are great vacation spots that give you close access to excellent nearby waters.

Montana: Kalispell/Whitefish: On the doorstep of

Glacier National Park, a beautiful area filled with incredible scenery. Golf, Hiking, huckleberry picking, and plenty of logging and railroad history to explore.

Bozeman: Just 45 minutes from Yellowstone National Park, Bozeman blends high end shopping and dining with cowboys and ranchers. Several of Montana’s blue ribbon trout streams lie within 90 minutes of downtown.

Missoula: Farmer’s markets, biking, paddling and a laid back vibe great you in Missoula. Those who don’t want to fish can plop themselves in a tube and float the Clark Fork or Blackfoot while you chase huge Browns to the south in the Bitterroot Valley.

Idaho: Coeur d’Alene: Relax in a vacation rental along Lake Coeur d’Alene or Hayden Lake, and enjoy small town charm. Try the Coeur d’Alene River or one of dozens of mountain lakes that dot the peaks. Take a trip over to the Shadowy St. Joe for amazing cutthroat action with few homes and barely a speck of a town along its banks.

McCall: Another Idaho lake town that offers nature in any direction. Steelhead runs heat up in September in the rivers surrounding town and gives you a chance to reel in a monster fish.

Washington: Longview: A great base of operations for visiting the Oregon coast towns of Astoria and Cannon Beach as well as a short

drive into Portland for big city experience.

The Cowlitz River is world renowned for its spring Chinook fishing and summer steelhead runs but fish are abundant year round.

San Juan Islands: A beautiful place to island hop and explore small and quaint communities, kayak and hike out to incredible ocean vistas. All the surrounding water means ample angling opportunities.

Parking yourself in a stream and pitting yourself against a picky fish will test your patience but even if the fish aren’t biting, the sound of the water rushing around you is sure to help put you at peace. A new challenge in each body of water and season awaits and with each cast you are hopefully developing a love for this tranquil lifelong activity.

Parking yourself in a stream and pitting yourself against a picky fish will test your patience but even if the fish aren’t biting, the sound of the water rushing around you is sure to help put you at peace.

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FEATURE STORY

PARTNERING FOR PROGRESS IN KENYA HOPE, A “HAND UP,” AND PLUMPY’NUT

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By Michael McAuliffe Photos Courtesy of Partnering For Progress

Most travelers to Africa return with amazing stories of grand vistas, vast wilderness, and teeming wildlife. Volunteers who visit southwest Kenya with Partnering for Progress (P4P), a Spokane, Washington, based non-profit see spectacular sights on a six-hour ride through Kenya’s Great Rift Valley to the rural villages of Kopanga/Giribe. The valley is bordered by massive escarpments, contains a chain of volcanos and is traveled by red-cloaked Maasai tribesman.

Many volunteers add a wildlife safari to their itinerary.

Those aren’t the stories, however, that brighten the voices of P4P volunteers like Beth Sheeran, an emergency room nurse at Holy Family Hospital in Spokane, who has traveled to Kenya twice. Their stories are about the wonderful people they helped and befriended — people who live in deep poverty with rampant malnutrition and illness but are warm, resilient and hard-working, and who move the visitors gifting them with a new perspective.

One of Sheeran’s stories is about Mama Quinter. Blinded by the measles as a young girl, Mama Quinter can’t leave her hut without help, and it’s hard to care for her tiny malnourished twins. Mama’s husband has another wife and other children — polygamy is common in traditional Kenyan communities — and the family’s meager resources are stretched thin. Many of the poor farmers in the area support their families on $1.00 a day — less than we might leave in the tip jar at Starbucks after buying a $4.00 latte.

Despite these difficulties, Mama is upbeat and thankful for her family. You can’t help but smile at her joyous nature in a video where she holds her incredibly cute babies, Quinter Tausi and Princess Taiwan and says, “God blessed me with two children.”

While she expresses deep appreciation for the Plumpy’Nut nutritional supplement that P4P volunteers bring her babies, like so many Kenyans that P4P helps, she is looking for a “hand up, not a hand out.” Mama Quinter knows how to operate a knitting machine and dreams of someday knitting school uniform sweaters to help her family.

A Hand Up, Not a Hand Out

Mama Quinter and Her Twins

Stacey Mainer, a nurse practitioner in Spokane, tells the story of another severely malnourished baby who inspired Mainer and her friend, Sandy Ivers, a retired teacher, to

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P4P Scholarship Students—Rose Anyona, Ephy Adhiambo and Daniel Masaga

found P4P. “This poor little girl was probably the second most malnourished baby I had seen in my entire life,” remembers Mainer, who had seen many nutrition-deprived babies during her travels as a medical volunteer. “It just broke our hearts.”

Today, P4P volunteer teams visit Giribe — a village near Kopanga — twice a year.

With their Kenyan health care counterparts, they provide medical and dental care at the Ogada Health Center, assess community health and exchange medical knowledge.

In 2007, Mainer, her husband Dr. Michael Mainer, Ivers and Ivers’ son Nick, volunteered at a medical clinic in Kopanga.

For two weeks, they assisted Alice Kephas, a Kenyan nurse, at Kephas’s primitive understaffed clinic. The clinic had no running water and no electricity. Medical supplies were in short supply. Women delivered their babies on mats on a dirt floor. A steady stream of patients arrived with malaria, malnutrition, skin conditions, diarrhea and HIV/AIDS.

P4P also attacks the root causes of poor health in the region with life-changing programs that battle malnutrition, award school scholarships, create clean drinking water sources and combat poverty. Rather than a one-time “hand out” of food or aid, these programs give a “hand up” that improves the long-term health — physical and economic — of the community.

The baby who so touched their hearts didn’t survive and on the flight home, Ivers and Mainer made a commitment to help. Mainer recalls, “We gathered our friends around our dining room table and decided to start a non-profit.” In 2008, with a grassroots effort they founded Partnering for Progress. “Our fundraising attempts were things like garage sales.” P4P began sending volunteer teams of doctors, nurses, dentists, health educators and nutritionists to Kopanga and helped build a modern clinic there.

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The organization also has a year-round presence in Kenya. Seth Okumu, P4P’s Program Manager in Giribe, coordinates P4P’s programs, assisted by another Kenyan, Charles Atha Otieno. Charles weighs babies and runs P4P’s Power of Milk program.

The Power of Milk Beth Sheeran tells the story of a mother determined to help her tiny sickly baby.

“One woman was hiking across the border from Tanzania just to sit in and listen to the lessons. She wanted to know how to feed her child appropriately. The people are

hungry for the knowledge of how to care for their children.” Each week, the young mother trekked six miles, toting her baby in a sling, to sit with other caregivers and hear nutrition lessons to help her baby thrive— even though she wasn’t officially enrolled in P4P’s Power of Milk program.

Infant undernutrition causes much of the poor health and poverty in Kenya. “We see kids that are 1 or 2 years old and weigh only 8 or 9 pounds — birth weight for American kids,” Sheerhan says. “They are very vulnerable to any illness that comes along. Their brains can’t form correctly, so they can’t perform in school.”

P4P’s Power of Milk program brings hope for some of these babies, who otherwise might not survive. Twenty children are enrolled in the program at a time. Mothers and babies gather weekly at the Ogada clinic for nutrition and health lessons that help the moms fight their babies’ undernutrition.

Severely malnourished babies go home with Plumpy’Nut, a nutritional supplement provided by the Kenyan government that supports rapid weight gain and can save a starving child from illness or death.

The program is also social. “After the class they get a meal. It’s really fun watching all of these caregivers with their babies.

They sit around on the grass eating their meal and talking and engaging with each other,” explains Mainer. “They support each other on a really personal basis. It’s like a support group!” The resourceful and entrepreneurial Kenyan caregivers even organized a “table banking” group to pool their money to buy goats. Matching funds from P4P help the families obtain goats more quickly.

Each week, Charles Atha Otieno weighs the babies. Once a child reaches a normal weight for their age, they remain in the program for another six months and then graduate. When a baby graduates, P4P throws a party and presents the family with two chickens as a graduation present! This life-changing “hand up” means that the family will have eggs — a protein source for a better diet and an income source.

So far, the Power of Milk program has saved the lives of more than 35 babies.

Partners in Education Beatrice, a young girl determined to get an education, is the main character in one of Stacey Mainer’s stories. Beatrice and other determined kids like her motivated P4P to start a scholarship program for kids who otherwise couldn’t attend secondary school—kids like Rose Anyona, Ephy Adhiambo and Daniel Masaga.

school and has persevered, even when donor assistance ran out, forcing her to change schools several times.

Poverty is at the root of many of the problems in Kopanga/Giribe.

“Improving the economic health of the community should improve everything,” Mainer explains.

Now 24-years-old, Beatrice is a senior, about to graduate fourth in her class, and hopes to go to college. Mainer says, “Beatrice’s story shows the strength and resiliency of Kenyan women, and she reminds us why it’s so important to do what we can. She is truly hope.”

Each year, P4P’s scholarship program brings hope to 27 children in Kopanga/ Giribe.

Partnering Against Poverty Poverty is at the root of many of the problems in Kopanga/Giribe. “Improving the economic health of the community should improve everything,” Mainer explains. “If you have more money you improve health because you can pay to go to the doctor to get medication, pay to have clean water and a latrine, and you can pay

for your child to go to high school.”

In 2015, P4P began an economic development project that helps local farmers increase their income by increasing the yield of their corn crop. The pilot project gave 10 local farmers a “hand up” with seed, fertilizer and agriculture education. The farmers saw an average increase in production of 300 percent, and Eunice Adhiambo had the largest increase — her harvest increased from five bags of corn previously to 19 bags. Eunice will use the income from her extra corn to pay school tuition for her children — providing more hope for the next generation.

In return for the seed and fertilizer, each

When Mainer and Ivers first met her, Beatrice was helping in the medical clinic in Kopanga as a caregiver for several orphaned babies. She was 16-years-old and already had a child. Beatrice dreamed of going to secondary school, what we call high school, but that seemed out of the question. In Kenya it’s especially hard for girls to go to school. Ivers explains, “Often the girls won’t go to school because the families are large and only so many kids can go to school. Girls are then pressured to move on and get married.”

And it’s expensive. Paying tuition of as much as $600 per year isn’t possible for families surviving on $1.00 a day.

Beatrice’s school dreams wouldn’t die.

When tuition assistance was offered by the clinic where she worked, Beatrice arranged for her mother to watch her children — by then she had three. Beatrice enrolled in

Power of Milk—Grandma Feeding Baby Plumpy’Nut

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held in Spokane Valley on Oct. 1, 2016. Attending this fun event supports P4P’s key initiatives like the Power of Milk. Volunteers are needed at the fundraisers and for P4P’s committees.

have all the watches, but Kenyans have all the time,” says Linda Hagen-Miller, head of P4P’s Communications Committee. “We are always in such a hurry to get things done. They are a little more laid back. They want to talk to you, get to know you, and learn about your family, children and work.”

If you have dreamed of going to Africa, you can join one of P4P’s service teams on a volunteer trip to Kenya.

Doctors, nurses, dentists, optometrists, teachers and engineers are needed to treat patients, teach health and nutrition classes and help with clean water and economic development projects. Even if you don’t have those specific skills, there’s a place for you on the trips — everyone has talents that can help.

Make a donation or volunteer, and give a “hand up” to Kenyans like Mama Quinter, Beatrice, and Eunice Adhiambo, and the young mother from Tanzania. Once you visit Kenya, you’ll come back with your own stories about the amazing people who do so much with so little.

Once you visit Kenya, you’ll come back with your own stories about the amazing people who do so much with so little.

farmer gave P4P a 198-pound bag of corn.

The corn was sold to help fund the Power of Milk program and to award an additional school scholarship — a step towards making these programs sustainable.

Tell Your Own Stories Donations and two yearly fundraisers — an auction and a Spokane Civic Theater benefit — generate much of P4P’s funding.

The 9th Annual Into Africa Auction will be

The volunteer trips are self-funded but are a great way to see Africa while helping people and seeing a different perspective. “There’s a saying in Kenya that I love. Americans

Sandy Ivers and Stacey Mainer—P4P’s Founders

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To learn more, visit P4P’s website at partneringforprogress.org.

Michael McAuliffe is a freelance writer and photographer living in Edmonds, Washington.

He can be contacted via his website at www.mcmikephoto.com.

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS AUG

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Uptown Gig Harbor Concerts August 4, 11, 18. Bring your lawn chair to the Uptown Gig Harbor Pavilion to enjoy wonderful music this summer! Every Thursday evening from 6 to 8pm enjoy a variety of fantastic music by local musicians and bands. These concerts are free to the community and all are welcomed to listen and dance to the beats!

Waterfront Farmers Market AUG

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August 4-25. Enjoy this summer’s Waterfront Farmers Market at Skansie Brothers Park! The market runs every Thursday from 3 to 7pm through the end August. This is a community-based, openair market providing access to locally grown fruits, vegetables, fish and other local products. Come stroll through the market that connects citizens and food producers.

From Hiroshima to Hope Lantern Festival

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The city of Hiroshima was destroyed by an atomic bomb on August 6, 1945. From Hiroshima to Hope promotes peace and remembers victims of war with music, speakers, and candle-lit lanterns that will be put to float on Green Lake at dusk. Join in this amazing commemoration.

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Seafair Air Show and Hydroplane Races August 5-7. Don’t miss one of the largest summer festivals in Washington! Enjoy the day with friends and family on the water watching an airshow and hydroplanes racing across the water! This day is filled with wet and wild fun and will create memories to last a lifetime. For more information visit www.seafair.com.

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Cruise the Narrows Classic Car Show Celebrate Cruise the Narrows Classic Car Show as it hosts its 19th annual community event at Gig Harbor’s Uptown Plaza! From 9am to 3pm check out historic cars, listen to music, enter to win raffle prizes and simply have a good time. Proceeds from the show go to local youth activities and scholarships.

Upcoming Events - September 02 16

PUYALLUP FAIR SEPT 2-25

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ELLENSBURG RODEO SEPT 2-5

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SEATTLE STORM HOOPS FOR HEROES

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DONKEY CREEK CHUM FESTIVAL

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The Original Browns Point Salmon Bake August 6-7. People from all over our region make the trek to Browns Point to enjoy an authentic salmon dinner, catch up with old friends, and make some new ones. Join as Alaskan salmon is cooked over alder wood fire pits at 201 Ton A Wan da Ave NE in Browns Point. Crafts and Northwest festivities commence from noon til 8pm.

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Galloping Gertie Half Marathon

Tacoma Beers & Blues Festival

Tacoma Color Run 5K

The summer’s hottest block party is back!

Enjoy 30+ Washington State brewers, grab some grub from local food trucks, and listen to tunes! The fun starts at 1pm and lasts until 8pm. This is a 21 and older block party in downtown Tacoma, on Broadway between 9th and 11th. Early bird tickets are $25.

The Happiest 5K you’ll ever run! The Color Run will lead you through color stations and leave you covered from head to toe in powders and gels of pink, yellow, green, blue and violet. Not only will you be having healthy amounts of fun, but you’ll be getting your daily exercise in the process! 8am at the Tacoma Dome. thecolorrun.com/locations/tacoma-wa/

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Josh Turner Live

Olalla Bluegrass Festival

Country artist and singer Josh Turner hits the stage at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma at 8:30pm! With his rich, deep voice and distinctive style, Turner has sold more than 12 million units and is a disciple of traditional country music. Buy your tickets online now!

Kick the City Off Your Shoes! This festival is dedicated to entertaining and enriching the local community featuring local and national bluegrass, folk and jam bands, great food, handmade arts and crafts and a wide variety of activities for children.

Gates open at 10am. Directions to SE Olalla Valley Rd & SE Hovgaard Rd are online. www.olallabluegrass.com.

Seattle Storm vs.

Los Angeles Sparks

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Span the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in the Galloping Gertie Half Marathon, 10K or 5K! This out and back course offers some of the most gorgeous views in the Northwest and gives participants a once in a lifetime opportunity to race across the bridge.

The race begins at 8am. Sign up today! www.galloping-gertie.com.

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Tip off begins for the Seattle vs Los Angeles women’s basketball game at 7pm. This game is featured BHA Night presented by the Swedish Cancer Institute. Raise awareness and support your local WNBA team! www.storm.wnba.com.

Upcoming Events - September 17 18

ROUND THE ROCK PADDLEBOARD RACE

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RAINIER MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL SEPT 17-18

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CIDER SWIG

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RACE FOR A SOLDIER HALF MARATHON, 5K, KIDS RUN

UNIQUE DREAM HOMES RETHINKING YOUR HOME

By Jani Gonzalez The American public has gotten increasingly creative about its ideal dream home. Creativity and innovation are everywhere. The novelty we are seeing in the media is perhaps a form of rebellion against widespread suburban sprawl and McMansions. Or it is an escape from our increasingly connected culture. Those looking to build or simply to dream need not go far. Click on the television, and you are bound to find an episode about treehouses, majestic cabins, mansions on wheels or some other unique and non-traditional abode. The choices open up the imagination – even if it’s to change up your current home. There is also a plethora of dream home magazines. Small or large, the ultimate place to call home is in the eye of the homeowner. Today’s dream homes come in all shapes and sizes, and sometimes, with a surprising budget too.

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There’s something to be said for simplicity

CABIN OASIS The thought of a cabin conjures up a makeshift wooden single room in the forest. Have you seen the penny honoring Lincoln’s cabin? Customized log homes have come a long way from that one-room stereotypical cabin. Historically, cabins have been used seasonally for vacation, but Americans are increasingly calling it their primary residence. Styles include the traditional Craftsman, which is smaller, more traditional but with an intricate floor plan and exposed wood trim. The Swiss/ German Colonial Cottage is larger with exposed beams and has a much more detailed decorative exterior and interior. The Adirondack is more like a lodge because of its open floor plan. It’s very classic and incorporates the use of native materials. From rustic to majestic – it’s obvious that the cabin has grown up.

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Floating Fortress A home on the water is another way to live within nature’s tranquility and gain a deeper appreciation for one’s surroundings.

Prospective buyers should factor in dock slip fees, taxes, insurance and maintenance.

Also, you won’t be able to park close to your home, so accept that you’ll be carrying your belongings more. You’ll also need to confirm that your floating foundation is sound.

Logistics aside, living in a floating home can make it seem like you’re always on vacation.

Homeowners can fish off their deck (or through a window!) or change their scenery by getting towed to a new location.

Treehouse Hideout

The customized treehouses of today are a grown-up’s version of the ultimate hideout.

If you’ve ever watched “Treehouse Masters” on Animal Planet, you know there are a host of logistics to building a treehouse. Most important are the trees that will support the home. Treehouse dreamers will likely want a second opinion to verify the trees they’ve selected can carry the weight load of the house. From there, the design process can make dreams come true – from whimsical forts and castles to modern-looking homes lifted considerably from the ground. And the adventure only begins when the house is finished. Treehouse dwellers live at the center of nature, swaying with the trees and getting a bird’s eye view of it all.

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m a e r D Tiny homes are growing in popularity as not only a dream home but a way to a better, simpler lifestyle. The homes are between 100 and 400 feet and are often built on trailers because of code regulations. Living in a tiny home is in direct opposition to the direction of the average American house which is up to 2,600 square feet. Most dwellers of tiny homes live with minimal debt, no mortgage and have more personal and retirement savings. Not only is a tiny home more economical, it’s more environmentally friendly too because it uses less energy. If the thought of living within your means sounds simple and appealing, a tiny home might be your dream home and new lifestyle.

Luxury Mansion Mansions are where one can have it all for the right price. Whether you buy new or old, mansions come with a large menu of amenities: swimming pools, tennis courts, bowling alleys, home theaters and spiral stair cases – these might just be a few of your favorite things.

It’s where you can have a dedicated room for each of your activities.

Mansions can be in the middle of the city or the country – it’s your choice. These homes are the trophies for deep pockets and are a display of pure wealth. They are the homes of the “Rich and Famous,” but a few ingenious individuals have become caretakers of second homes, and are able to “have it all” in return for their work.

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The Lake Effect...

SERENE Sanctuary Waterfront homes give you the best of two worlds: property and access to water. If you’re contemplating a home with a body of water for a front yard, it’s best to work with a realtor who is well-versed in this type of property. You’ll need to know the quality of the house since waterfront weather is harsher than in other areas. Also think about how your lifestyle will benefit. You may be in a more remote area which may or may not suit you. As with other specialty homes, there is a cost to customization, and you need to educate yourself to how you can access the water and what changes you may do to the property.

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The dream home is changing. Gone are the pie-in-the-sky options of a mansion on a hill.

Those are still being dreamt of and built, but let’s face it, not many of us will ever afford that quintessential house on the hill. More and more, however, people are finding creative ways to get their ideal homes. In recent years, with a new interest in repurposing and being mindful of the environment, shipping containers are being used in a variety of ways to build small and large homes. More people are considering using them as a unique and relatively inexpensive way to customize their home.

A brief history of shipping containers For many of us, we don’t think much about shipping containers, but according to the blog, "Container Home Plans," before the 1950s, the transportation and delivery of goods was laborious and slow. Malcom McLean saw an opportunity to change that and is credited with the concept of the shipping container. His containers could transport goods by sea and be immediately loaded onto trains, thus reducing the time it took to deliver cargo.

Two decades later, people were already devising of ways to use them for other reasons. In 1987, Phillip Clark was the first to file a patent to use shipping containers as building material, but other builders and architects had already had similar ideas. The first recorded structure built from a shipping container was in 1998 in South Africa, called Simon’s Town High School Hostel. It’s a huge structure built to house 200 students, and it’s still standing, proving the longevity of the containers as building material. In 2006, the popularity of this new building material was showcased by architect Peter DeMaria for a home in Redondo Beach, California. The home, as many others, is a

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hybrid of traditional construction with the stacked containers attached. The house stands white and glorious and is comparable to any modern luxury home. Its sleek modernity hides the obviousness of the containers.

In the past decade, however, the use of shipping containers has increased in part because of an ongoing surplus of containers available in the U.S. It is estimated at 90 percent of our goods are delivered from overseas via cargo shipping containers. Because the U.S. imports more than it exports, the containers have become abundant in supply. That surplus has made it an affordable building material. Its frugality combined with a cultural drift to repurposing items and being mindful of waste – whether it be wasted space or building refuse – has made shipping containers an alternative home affordable to many.

Tom Woods, author of the blog, “Container Home Plans,” thinks the recent interest in container homes is possibly out of environmental and financial reasons. “I think there are many reasons why people are opting (for) this type of home, including both financial and sustainable. But fundamentally, I see it as a movement by people who are both environmentally conscious but also seeking financial independence through more affordable building materials,” he said.

Designing the container home Building a home out of shipping containers is considered a strong and quick way to construct a home. Costs, of course, will vary depending on the number of containers used and their arrangement, but a home could cost less than $100,000.

“The first recorded structure built from a shipping container was in 1998 in South Africa...”

These steel boxes generally come in two standard sizes: They are either 20 feet or 40 feet long 8 feet wide and 8-feet 6-inches high. There are two routes for future homeowners: purchase your own containers and hire contractors or hire a company that specializes in these homes.

You can purchase a container from a dealer.

Prices range between $2,100 and $5,800, and you can purchase them new or used. When hiring contractors, they should be familiar with shipping containers and know that you’ll have to comply with local regulations and permits.

Although deemed a faster and more cost-effective, it doesn’t mean it’s meant for everyone. Placing a container on top of a newly poured concrete foundation can conceivably happen in one day.

However, building a home is still a full-time project even if you hire professionals, and there are always details that will arise during construction.

You’ll still need to budget. It’s advised to have a working budget plus an emergency one as there are always unforeseen costs with any building project.

Next, location is probably one of the bigger factors to consider. A shipping container makes it easier to build a home in almost any location, however, you still need to consider the feasibility of building with the containers. Also, are they acceptable where you want to live? Will you live on or off the grid?

Consider these points too as you search for property.

You’ll also need to consider your blueprint and stick to it. Changing your mind about room dimensions after construction begins will cost you.

There are several concerns particular to shipping container homeowners. One of the primary concerns, if not purchasing a new, unused container, is what did it transport? You can inspect your containers by checking for corrosion, holes and bad odors. These could be indicators of previous chemical loads.

There’s also been some concern about the chemicals used to treat the flooring for the containers to withstand shipping overseas. Homeowners can remove the floor boards, tile over them or use a sealer to prevent contamination. The decision may ultimately depend on your budget too.

Shipping containers are strong and built to withstand harsh weather. However, if your property is on a high location, you should consider building in noise reduction capabilities to damper the sounds of the wind. Insulation and proper ventilation are other factors to include in your design. You must avoid anything that will trap moisture as condensation will create mold inside the containers.

Using shipping containers as an alternative building source will certainly allow you to create a novel home from the rest in your surrounding area. Do your proper research online and with the experts to gain ideas about what to do and not. Being innovative with building materials and design is a sign of the times, making a custom home accessible to more prospective homeowners.

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ROUTE 101

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