I live in a 1BR apartment and it's huge; much too large for me. I moved here 7 years ago, from a small studio (efficiency) place. The last place had a dorm-siz

I live in a 1BR apartment and it's huge; much too large for me. I moved here 7 years ago, from a small studio (efficiency) place. The last place had a dorm-size refrigerator, a non-walk-in closet, no tub, etc. Between there and here, I've accumulated a lot of stuff, and for a while it seemed like I could never downsize again because I needed a separate working space, and this was a dealbreaker for entertaining thoughts of a roommate or going back to a studio at all. However, I've downsized, got rid of plenty of stuff including some storage furniture and my desktop computer(!) and I feel ready to downsize again. And eventually, I will need to. I'm 50 and living independently with mental illness. Every year I have a nervous breakdown, because managing my own household is a Herculean effort I can barely sustain. If I prepare all my own meals and clean up after myself, I'm exhausted. If I don't, then I'm broke and fat. It's not a winning situation. Eventually I'll need to work something out where I give up my independence of living and rely on some sort of caregivers, and I may also need to admit a roommate to the mix. This will not be enjoyable. It reminds me of our grandmother who, 50 years ago, lived in a 5BR-2BA house with about 6 apartments in back. She was a landlady and head of household. And eventually it was just way, way too much for her to maintain, even with Mom and Dad's help. The space we take up as Americans is unconscionable. Either have a large family and share that space, or give it up, or share it with other adults equitably. We just don't need these McMansions all over the place. We also don't need pedestrian-hostile suburbs!!!