Seems more analogous to clothes than housing — clothes can be “too big” in the sense that the extra size is detrimental to the function, which is somewhat different from houses.
And it’s pretty common to have buy-nothing groups in cities or even at large companies. Got a loooot of hand-me-down clothes for my toddler from friends, family, and randos in the neighborhood.
Yes and no. I’m sure there is an argument to be made that a house can be too big. Bigger houses require more maintenance, cleaning, higher taxes. Downsizing a house is also a retirement strategy.
Yes, that’s a better analogy.
Actually swapping house like a hermit crab swap shell would leave very little time to move furniture, put some fresh paint on walls, have the owner review the house to return the security deposit, etc
Pretty sure hermit crabs (like most animals) aren’t renting. The previous owner of that shell has abandoned it, so they’d be squatters or, lacking any concept of private property, simply inhabitants. Point is they wouldn’t need any owner to return security deposits they never made.
Moving furniture and personal belongings is a good point though, they don’t have any of that. Most houses aren’t too mobile either. Clothes just fit better.
