A few weeks ago, I decided to skip going to my usual community gathering on a Sunday and travel south to Batangas instead.
My sister and her husband bought a tiny home there, and I figured it would be a fun way to be spontaneous by staying there alone for a few days.
The idea wasn’t completely random. Last summer in May, I had already visited the place for the first time when my sister’s family and I planned a swimming trip at a small-town resort near their house. It was a really nice way of spending time with them away from work.
The First Visit
I still remember that first trip vividly.
The moment I stepped out of the car I rented to get there, I instantly felt joyful. Although it rained hard that day, it didn’t ruin my excitement about experiencing their tiny house for the first time.
The location is in a remote area that is still undergoing land development. It felt nice to be out again without needing to bring my work with me.
I really loved the fresh air, the huge trees surrounding the place, and how clean the streets were. Everywhere I looked, I couldn’t see any garbage lying by the roads.
I also loved how cold the weather was. After a bit of rain, the air felt cool and refreshing.
We had a lot of fun during that trip. I took many pictures and videos to make sure I had something to look back on and remember.
Wanting to Go Back
About a month after returning home, I felt the need to go back.
I thought I might explore the area a bit more this time.
By then, my sister and her family were already back in Manila. They had only spent a few weeks of summer there before needing to return because the kids had to enroll in school and June was coming up fast.
That meant no one was staying in the house in Batangas.
Since I wanted to see for myself what it would be like to stay there alone, I decided to go.
A Different Experience
My experience was quite different when I stayed there by myself.
Unfortunately, my data plan couldn’t reliably support a Zoom meeting, so I had to rush back home after just one night. Because of that, I wasn’t able to roam around the area as much as I wanted or discover some of the things I had hoped to explore.
But it doesn’t really matter.
Even though the trip was shorter than planned, it still felt like a successful attempt at staying alone in a tiny home in a remote subdivision.
For a while now, my heart has been longing for time to think and reflect on my own, without the influence of strangers online. I think that’s one of the reasons I felt drawn to this trip in the first place.
These small adventures have become one of the ways I like to be creative. Not necessarily by making something, but by experiencing something different, even in simple ways.
One thing I learned about myself from this little experiment is that I like being spontaneous. I guess that’s who I am now. Planning too much often makes me overthink, while leaving room for spontaneity allows me to be more present and curious.
And lately, I’m starting to like myself a little bit more every time I accomplish something that’s important to me. Even something as small as spending a night alone in a tiny home feels like a reminder that I can trust myself to try new things, follow my instincts, and enjoy my own company.
Maybe I’ll have another chance to go back and stay longer next time.
