Trailer Life

Most people in the Navajo Nation live in trailers or double wides including yours truly. This is due to a number of factors. Trailers cost less than conventional housing is the biggest reason. The other reason almost just as important is the process needed to build a house. All the land is held in common by the tribe so it sort of a commune without the hippies. Each family can only lease the land although the lease can almost be perpetual and passed down in families. If one wants to build a house the design and location must be approved by the tribal engineers and council. The land has to be surveyed and inspected by the tribal archeologists. Finally, the house has to be inspected and then re-inspected each year. If the house is not maintained the tribe can order it to be torn down.

Trailers have none of these restrictions as they are considered "temporary". Thus, there is a proliferation of trailers. The tribe is working to reverse this by building approved developments and slowly more people are moving into conventional housing.


My trailer is not unique in that it houses feral animals. A family of cats lives under me and although shy can be noisy when they have a disagreement. It seem like the floor comes alive. I guess it is a bit better that the chickens I slept with before I got married. At least the cats sleep late.