The size thing is getting out of hand. I grew up in older housing built in the 60s and 70s -- fairly small by modern standards, but there was a bigger backyard and still enough space to store everything. It felt adequate and honestly more than enough for sleeping, eating, and resting from the outside world with friends and family.

And then I started visiting my friends' more modern home and I was flabbergasted by the sheer size. You have to text someone to get their attention because yelling across the house is not very convenient anymore. And so many rooms just stood empty like gallery spaces -- "to be used on specific occasions".

I don't quite get it -- and I hope that construction costs come down and permitting eases. For once I am ready to buy a home, I want to be able to custom build my own small house.