Kerrie, I mentioned earlier DH's situation......I should add that his families situation was down to $$ too. They had lived on a surbarban block, and their rural block had been bought for a "weekender" but when $$ got tight, one property had to go........and they ended up, after much soul searching, on the rural /water access only block, in a one roomed shack (MIL, FIL, DH and his 2 siblings, he was the eldest at age 4!). They lived like this for YEARS as FIL gradually, very gradually, built a house around the shack.

I have seen photos of the 30 years that they have all lived there, and without question, they all look so happy, and DH (and his siblings, who I am quite close to) all reflect on what a perfect, different, but fantastic childhood they had.

They now, as adults, all look back on it all, including the chaos and the relative inconveniece, with beautiful memories, and talk about it with so much joy. They all also comment that their lifestyle made them very self sufficient........

Not sure if that helps any?