All About You FRIDAY – All the Space You Need

“Where’s Columbiaville?” That question came at me several times as I told people of our first anniversary plans.

“Somewhere in the Thumb,” I would reply referencing a location in Michigan like us Michiganders can.

Columbiaville is a village in Lapeer County, with a population of 702 according to the 2020 census. It is the kind of community where, I imagine, everyone knows everyone. According to their website, the small community takes part in regular events like the Annual Chili Cook Off, Polar Plunge and Easter Egg Hunt. A throwback to more innocent times.

An hour north of Detroit, this was meant to be a consolation for a trip out West we had hoped for but couldn’t afford for our first anniversary. A 150-square foot tiny home nestled in the forests of Columbiaville, one of the Postcard Cabins in the Thumb.

There was nothing surrounding the campsite except nature. Neighboring sites were obscured from view making each site was private. You could hear the crunch of the gravel as we drove 10 mph to our site called Nanu. Each site is named after a grandparent of one of the staff members.

The Postcard Cabins were originally known as Getaway and founded in 2015 by Jon Staff and Pete Davis, two men seeking an escape from the hustle and pressure of their lives in NYC. Jon’s dad was a carpenter and drove the first nail into what would become a Postcard Cabin. A true father/son business. With locations around the US, each set of cabins is strategically positioned an hour from a major city. Close enough to get to quickly. Far enough away to make you exhale.

We unlocked the door and stepped into a room. Literally.

It’s amazing what can be housed in 150 square feet. A queen sized bed against a window the size of one end of the cabin. A kitchenette with all the utensils you need to cook up a meal. A small desk. Innovative storage spaces. A cell phone lock box to encourage digital detox. A bathroom with a toilet and shower. They had a box outside filled with firewood and a pit with a grill to cook up a campfire meal and even included a S’mores kit for two. And it’s all climate controlled.

This was my view when I woke up in the mornings:

The temptation to go and grab a bite to eat somewhere or find some Saturday night entertainment was non-existent because there weren’t any options. We built a fire and stared at it until the flames became embers and eventually died out. We chatted about life. We walked along the nature trail and took deep inhales. (Note: Forest air with all its mold and bacteria is some of the best air you can breath to boost your immune system). I wrote in my journal and did a sketch. She taught me how to play solitaire. We cooked dinner over the fire two nights in a row. And toasted to our great life.

This was meant to be a consolation for a trip out West, but a consolation for what we needed, it was not. Turns out 150 square feet, a fire pit, a bed with a view and the one you love is all you need to be reminded of how lucky you are.

If your in need of a great escape, check out the Postcard Cabins in the Thumb.

It’s been a long week. Don’t forget to celebrate.

Until next time…