When the topic of retirement comes up, most people usually plan grand vacations, consider taking up a hobby, or want to their spend their life learning a new sport or skill. But for some, retirement is a chance to downsize and live simpler. After all, they don’t have to worry about their kids, who have all grown up and moved out of the family home.

The need to live near work or family might have also gone away. For several retirees, downsizing has given them more free time. Instead of spending their days cleaning a big house, they get to spend it doing the things they love. Most of them also live on a fixed income, so any chance to reduce expenses and cost of living is an excellent option!

As a gift to herself on her 75th birthday, Sandy Brooks, 77, moved into a tiny home in Escalante Village, a tiny house community in Durango, Colorado.The community comprises 24 tiny homes, including seven rentals, and was started by a Durango resident. The tenants themselves brought in their homes. Some had them made, while others built the houses themselves.

As for Sandy, she had hers made by a company called Simblissity Tiny Homes. People from all walks of life live in Escalante Village. Some are retirees like Sandy, while others are therapists, engineers, professionals, and woodworkers. They may all be different, but they have a common goal—to live simpler and more intentionally. Each lot in the village is 20 ft x 40 ft, which can fit a tiny home, a deck, a garden, and a parking space that can accommodate two cars.

Unlike traditional tiny homes, which are built on vast expanses of land far from neighbors, the homes in this community are built close together. Sandy has heard many people complain about their homes’ proximity, but they are unconcerned about it. “When we want to be alone, we all tend to isolate ourselves.” “Or if we see someone outside, we’ll go talk to them,” she explained. “We’re all here for the same reason: to live in this tiny [house community].”

“It’s not at all noisy.” I’ve driven through many neighborhoods where houses are much closer together than this, with windows on both sides and you can see into someone else’s bathroom.” “I can’t see into my next-door neighbor’s bathroom.” So I don’t think it bothers any of us that we’re somewhat close together,” she added. Sandy used to live in a large house before retiring.

She did, however, reach a point in her life when she desired to get rid of many of her possessions. When she did, her 1,000-square-foot home felt too large. That’s when she became interested in the tiny house movement and whether it was a way of life she could live. Simplicity Tiny Homes is also supporting her decision to go tiny. She was sold after the company showed her a sample for the house she is currently living in.

“And I don’t have any regrets,” Sandy added. Her two brothers, an architect and an engineer, though she was making a mistake by relocating to a tiny house. They’ve since changed their minds after seeing how content she is in her new home. Sandy spends a significant amount of time cleaning her house before moving into Escalante Village. She can now spend the majority of her time outside, biking, hiking, and chatting with neighbors.

Take a tour of this tiny home village and Sandy’s adorable home in the video below.