I live in a tiny home mansion and fell in love with it — it's the only way I could afford to live in California

• The tiny home lifestyle became appealing to Stacey Murphy after she attended an online course.
• She moved to California to live in what she calls a "tiny mansion" and has no regrets.
• The home's small size meant she could afford to customize it with luxury upgrades.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Stacey Murphy, a 55-year-old relationship coach originally from Brooklyn, New York. It's been edited for length and clarity.