Having a functional space for your contemplative life and any subsequent creative endeavors that often follow is important for success. In order to design such a space, you have to understand your own objectives and needs.
Structures
A safe place. Whether you’re in an urban area, the backwoods, or somewhere on that road between, you need a place where you are not concerned for your safety. Fear and worry intrude mercilessly on free and vulnerable contemplation, and so you need a place where you do not have concerns about safety. Some people are perfectly fine in a canvas yurt in the tundra, others need the security of a deadbolt. Whatever your case may be, this is an a priori requirement.
Tiny Houses. These are very tempting. My shed was an off grid tiny home that I lived in for a couple years while building my house. Important questions are: are there other people and animals in your life? How will they handle the change? Enough windows? Light and fresh air is important for the mind. Plumbing or not? Are you braced for composting toilets and sponge baths? Study up. This is a great solution for some, not for others. Look in to the legalities of these structures as well. If on wheels, have a place to put it before you invest.
There’s lots of positives online about tiny living. The drawbacks that I did not anticipate were:
- I moved around little in a little space. One must make a point of getting out and moving to burn calories when living in a tiny home.
- Expect to sweep every single day, maybe more. All the dirt is concentrated in a small footprint.
- Some smells are strong (I had three large dogs with me and it was stanky sometimes!) The composting toilet was surprisingly not stinky. Email if you have questions about that, I’ll let you know my routine.
- Washing hair outside beneath a rain barrel spigot is a literal pain in the neck. The long hair didn’t last long, I lopped it off and waited for the big structure to get plumbing to grow it back.
How about an apartment? The simplicity and security of renting an efficiency is a very effective way to start a monastic adventure. Make sure the building has noise restrictions you can live with, and consider meeting the folks in adjacent units. It’s nice when you’re starting out not to have to worry about the costs of maintenance repairs and such.
Sustainability
Ends must meet.
Gone is the world where monks can make rounds with their bowl and support their meager lifestyle. Often eremitic endeavors begin after the children have fledged, and retirement savings kick in. If you have a job, consider whether you can mentally leave it behind after hours. If not, how closely linked is it to the Good you’ll be focused on in your monastic endeavor? Can you cut costs? Reducing your regular expenses goes a long way towards a simpler lifestyle, freeing up time, and also space and cash reserves. In any case, the harpies that accompany growing debt will not be conducive to a contemplative life. Get those ducks in a row before you start, and especially before renting the penthouse suite. Stable, sustainable finances will free your mind for the quality experience you seek.
Projects?
You may find that the contemplative life is very inspiring. Some people knit, write, or sing. Those folks have different spatial needs than I do. I build boats, paint and sculpt, rehabilitate wild birds, and play several instruments. My finished monastery has a generous studio where I can be happy and productive.
Organization and minimalism
I’d recommend working with a tidying up resource like Marie Kondo’s books, or Matsumoto’s A Monk’s Guide to a Clean House and Mind to optimize your space for deliberate, focused living.
Here’s an example where I compromised, and gained a great deal of space. I love reading and continue to do so. I had amassed yards upon yards of books that I had read, but rarely referenced. I’ve moved most to digital format, and keep fewer, but important and meaningful books around.
Clearing your space of stuff that is meaningless, and also those things that are emotionally burdensome. Gift, donate, recycle, trash, was the mantra I cycled through for objects that got the ouster in my transition to solitude. It can take a while, so be patient with yourself.