by Roberta Murphy

A couple of years ago we were buzzing about the possibility of Slumburbias–where Baby Boomers were abandoning cul de sacs, suburbs and the McMansions battled for a decade ago. Instead, they wanted something smaller, something in a walkable neighborhood, something that didn’t require 100 square feet devoted to lawn mowers, clippers and tools.

They still long for the freedom to lock and go, the freedom to travel, the freedom from having to care and climatize square footage they don’t even visit for weeks at a time. Kids have either moved on or are hanging on and something without a grand staircase sounds mighty inviting to knees that remember prior injuries.

Today, CNBC reports that the McMansions, Starter Castles, Garage Mahals and Faux Chateaus–or whatever you want to call them —are history. These days, few are seeking 4000 square foot  two-story boxes that sit 15 feet from their neighbor’s Plan II Tuscan with 3800 square feet–each with granite and stainless kitchens, epoxied garage floors and mind-numbing sameness. The article goes on…

Just 9 percent of the people surveyed by Trulia said their ideal home size was over 3,200 square feet. Meanwhile, more than one-third said their ideal size was under 2,000 feet.

“That’s something that would’ve been unbelievable just a few years back,” said Pete Flint, CEO and co-founder of Trulia. “Americans are moving away from McMansions.”

We are seeing much the same in our San Diego real estate practice. There is great demand for single story homes, neighborhoods where one can walk to a store, where life can be simpler and more easily managed.  And, of course, it also helps if this downsized San Diego home has the luxury of sitting on the beach–or fronting the golf course at La Costa, Fairbanks Ranch or Rancho Santa Fe.

You may also wish the read:

7 Bargaining Secrets for Luxury Home Buyers

Homes for Baby Boomers: What Do They Want?

© roberta for Luxury home Digest, 2010. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: baby boomers, luxury, luxury homes, mcmansions, san diego baby boomers, San Diego Luxury Homes, slumburbia, suburbia

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Who said wetsuits have to be boring? One artist has taken this question to heart & turned wetsuit design on its head by incorporating different prints onto the neoprene fabric with spectacular results.

Diddo Velema has released some pictures of his prototype wetsuits that will soon be available to order & there are some great pieces in the collection.

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Post from: BallerHouse.com

Back in 2005, Nike ran an unprecedented ad campaign demonstrating to the world that it’s A-okay to have a badonkadonk; and, what’s more, anyone who happened to disagree, should kiss said badonkadonk.  I thought it was brilliant, and exactly the type of message that women need to hear and see.

Well, it’s back - bigger and better than ever.  Just this week, Nike released their 2010 version, and it’s freakin glorious.

I’m not gonna call this the best ad campaign ever, but it pretty much is.  Whoever walked into Nike headquarters and pitched this idea needs to be handed a Medal of Honor or something.  Whoever he or she is, they’re an American hero.  At a time when women are constantly told by mainstream media and douchehole celebrity trainers that lifting anything heavier than three lbs will turn them into Chewbacca, and that eating celery sticks is a treat, this is definitely a breath of fresh air.  I mean, I’m so sick and tired of seeing models with no ass, no muscle, and no shape being touted as the ideal “look” for women to aspire for.  Why not just get a 2×4 and put a dress on it?

Nevertheless, kudos to Nike for an awesome job.  Here’s hoping that it catches on……..

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Back in 2005, Nike ran an unprecedented ad campaign demonstrating to the world that it’s A-okay to have a badonkadonk; and, what’s more, anyone who happened to disagree, should kiss said badonkadonk.  I thought it was brilliant, and exactly the type of message that women need to hear and see.

Well, it’s back - bigger and better than ever.  Just this week, Nike released their 2010 version, and it’s freakin glorious.

I’m not gonna call this the best ad campaign ever, but it pretty much is.  Whoever walked into Nike headquarters and pitched this idea needs to be handed a Medal of Honor or something.  Whoever he or she is, they’re an American hero.  At a time when women are constantly told by mainstream media and douchehole celebrity trainers that lifting anything heavier than three lbs will turn them into Chewbacca, and that eating celery sticks is a treat, this is definitely a breath of fresh air.  I mean, I’m so sick and tired of seeing models with no ass, no muscle, and no shape being touted as the ideal “look” for women to aspire for.  Why not just get a 2×4 and put a dress on it?

Nevertheless, kudos to Nike for an awesome job.  Here’s hoping that it catches on……..

ShareThis

Not a misspelling either.  Truly a crows tale.  Current Biology published a paper on the intelligence of rook crows.   Amazingly these birds having never been exposed to glasses of water or pebbles as such, were able to sort out that if you drop pebbles into the glass you’ll raise the water level.  The birds appeared to be intelligent to the extent they estimated the water level would be at a sufficient point upon dropping a certain number of pebbles.   They then gathered exactly that many and did not attempt to drink until those had been dropped.   Each attempt was a success.   Quite impressive.  Gives a whole new spin on “bird brain”.  If you recall this was a tale told in Aesop’s fables “The Crow and the Pitcher”.