The Mid-Aughts Millennial Urge to Build a Cabin in the Woods

Around 2014 we were desiring more. Our third-story San Francisco apartment was an increasingly poor lifestyle fit. Small projects had evolved from arts and crafts to hammering that threatened neighbor relations. We took a stab at a rooftop garden, but it lasted all of a week before our liability-minded landlord demanded it dismantled. We’d hosted some workshops and events for friends (even butchered a whole pig in the apartment) and attended others’ as well. All of this was further stoking our desires for impactful experiences. But we needed more quality time and more space.

To scratch the itch we rented cabins over long weekends. And there were the frequent camping trips, or the occasional lengthy stay at a friend’s family property. But these were piecemeal solutions...if only that Airbnbs frowned on tree house construction. What we really craved was a place we could shape—ideally in the woods. We yearned to spend days together, charting our time tinkering and playing. We wanted to bond over problem solving and projects. And Molly deeply longed to plant a fig tree.

So we thought about moving. Someplace where acreage or even an ample yard could be had. We toured some far-flung options, but ultimately circled back around to the reality that so much of our day-to-day happiness was owed to our local community. We liked San Francisco. We loved California. Moving outside Boise would provide plenty of affordable space and some notable nature, but little else. So we resolved that we weren’t leaving any time soon… but then what?