Years ago I applauded the concept: put up temporary housing on your property for "Granny" so she can have some independence but still be close by. Use hook-ups to sewer and water lines and she can stay until it's time to move on, then the "flat" permit expires too.
Our Granny flat turned out to be an in-law apartment for my mother. Totally handicapped accessible, she had a large sitting room, bathroom (the shower alone was 6 ft by 8 ft) and bedroom. She had access to the deck and we could keep an eye on her, but she was as independent as she could be.
Now the concept has a new twist, in part thanks to Katrina. The June 16, 2007 issue of the New York Times [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/14/garden/14park.html] lauds the park model in the article entitled "A Resort Cottage to Go." It is truly a little house on wheels, but not the trailer we know or the larger mobile home. Think cute little beach house, or Adirondack rustic motel, or English cottage. These are priced within reach - $20,000 to $80,000 - and are not taxed as homes, but as vehicles.
As a Boomer, I can see it now - the hillsides dotted with these miniature homes, the owners once again sharing a communal life as they might have during the 60s. Mobile, but stylish. Let the children pay for the 3600 sf house with huge utility bills and taxes. Granny's on the go!
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