Couch living
We begin a new series on the program, called Living Arrangements. The first episode introduces us to young people who have taken to "couch living". (not couch-surfing; couch living!)
We can thank Lord Philip Stanhope, the Fourth Earl of Chesterfield for commissioning the first one in the early 1700s. The purpose was to allow gentlemen to sit in comfort without wrinkling their clothes.
But ever since there have been chesterfields — or sofas or couches — they have been used for other purposes. Like sleeping ... which is now being done in a most 21st century way.
For some years now, there has been a website where — with a couple of clicks — you can find a couch anywhere in the world where you can sleep for a night or two. For free.
But couch surfing is being pushed to new heights, or horizontals, with aficionados living on other people's couches for weeks and weeks on end.
Couch surfing meet couch living, and livers.
These new "urban nomads" keep their laptops, cell phone chargers, clothes and toothbrushes in backpacks and plastic bags, ever thankful not to pay rent, ever ready to move on. All night long...and in the very early morning.
David Gutnick's documentary is called "The Perfect Size for Me."
The second instalment in our new series is called Radical Resthomes.
And we would like to invite you to contribute. For more information, please click here.