This Slate Article is very poignant considering I occupy one of those smaller homes (1,600 square feet) in the temperate states without any basement or attic. We actually do have an attic, but it’s cramped and hard to access. My wife and I are always trying to figure out where to store stuff, and we were looking at Gorilla Racks for the garage this weekend. I really miss the basements you see in the houses in the Midwest. It’s interesting that some wealthy home owners in this area are building very large basements since they’re easier to get approval for than above the ground additions to a home.