The Millionaire Next Door

It's a fixer-upper she shed.

The Ultimate in Alone Time

If you are the mother of small children, or a working mom, or a woman who needs a mental escape from your busy day, the idea of having a place all to yourself is appealing. The latest in ultimate escapism is aptly called the “she shed,” discussed in depth in the Wall Street Journal. In summary, the she shed is a detached structure designed for moms to escape from the nagging, crying, and fighting that often accompanies a household of with children, or any other household or work-related annoyance. With this alternative to and competitor of the “man cave,” women are taking to their backyards to find solitude.

The idea has roots in the basic notion of having alone time, which can lead to less anxiety and increased energy. Of course we all need alone time, but how long will it take before this alone time refuge becomes another way to demonstrate conspicuous consumption? Do a quick search on Pinterest for “she shed” and you’ll see it won’t take too long at all. As retailers describe it, she-sheds are a new way to “reach consumers” and their wallets.

1 thought on “The Ultimate in Alone Time”

  1. “The universe is complex; people are just complicated.” And we have a great gift for complicating the simplest concept.

    If someone needs some “quiet time,” instead of just closing the bedroom door while the kids are napping, or having the spouse take the kids to the park, we have to build elaborate luxury sheds where we will (supposedly) get away from it all and recenter ourselves with soft music, soothing tea and mediation.

    It’s amazing how quickly such a simple concept can be turned into another marketing scheme and sales opportunity. Googling “Simplifying life” returns 23 million hits; all purporting to provide the secret to a simple life, by following their 5, 10, 25 or 72 steps.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *