When Retirement Beckons, There’s Always This Pasadena Hobbit House

So the Gusman and I have been talking more about retirement lately. The majority of our conversations have been around how we both no longer want to work. We want the money but not the labor. We’ve Googled “money for no work” and the answer has been unsatisfactory. Neither one of us think we’re being unreasonable. We’re nice folks and in our estimation we’ve worked enough but still desire the moolah so we can do fun stuff. That push toward retirement, though, got even stronger since I found the house featured in this week’s column. This home is absolutely perfect.

I just love RuPaul’s Drag Race. I digress.

Just so we’re clear, this isn’t just any whackidoo house I typically write about. This is the Wallace Neff Shell House located in Pasadena, California. “The home’s monolithic form blurs distinctions between structure and sculpture, embodying Neff’s belief that architecture could be economical, resilient, and profoundly modern.” Oh I absolutely want to retire to a home described as monolithic.

Also known as the “Bubble House,” it is a reinforced concrete construction, erected with an inflatable balloon and then sprayed with gunite. It looks like a lovely little hobbit house which is perfect for me since I am just slightly taller than your run of the mill hobbit.

Pasadena. Let’s take the Mimi hobbit to Pasadena.

The owners of this home should get a standing ovation for preserving the integrity of Neff’s original architectural intent. It is a sensational, intact artifact of mid-century innovation and it’s just plain cool.

The bathroom is brilliant. Now for the part of this property that adds the “o” to “perfecto” is the 1,000-square-foot detached studio space. Guess where the Gusman will be staying? Realistically, he could never pass as a hobbit. He’s much too tall.

Tall ceilings, lots of space, this is perfect for the Gusman. Or should I say this is perfect-o for the Gusman?

Now what is really awesome about this space is that there is a bomb shelter. “Further underscoring the property’s historic significance is a rare Airform-constructed bomb shelter, added in the 60s, approximately 15 feet below the studio.”

This guy doesn’t know what he’s talking about.

On the days when we want to visit with each other, the Gusman and I can have tête-à-tête in the yard.

Palm trees, Pasadena and the cool, California lifestsyle. What more could a girl want in retirement? I need to go find some crazy house to write about for next week.

The Shell House, which is the sole surviving example in the United States of Neff’s visionary Airform construction system, is listed for $1,950,000.