1. Boomers Go Tiny

“Who are these Boomers?” You ask.

We're Noel and Sheila Boddington. Pleased to meet you!

Yes, we still quite like each other after 40 years, which I’d say is probably a good thing if we are going Tiny together! Living with a hyperactive husband in a Tiny House on wheels could bring with it one or two Challenges – but we’ve faced more difficult hurdles in that 40 years! We are ready for this!

We're parents to three awesome, crazy girls, Lara, Shaye and Ashleigh…. produced and delivered in that order.

and grandparents to three beautiful grandchildren: Sophie, Tyler, and Hazie.

Welcome to the wacky world of the Bodsquad and Co. Even Granny’s jumping for joy in this photo! But I think Shaye is the winner! Closely followed by Tyler.

Anyway, “Hi”. I hope you'll come along for the ride. I am anticipating a smooth and sometimes bumpy journey!

“But Why?” You ask.

That’s exactly what I asked Shaye 7 years ago when she built her first tiny house, called Lucy, I told her she was crazy. No one could live in such a small space!

Before I go any further, let me introduce you to Lucy.

Lucy came to life in our driveway, and I have to confess, we all grew quite fond of her, especially when she turned bright green. But I was still convinced that this lifestyle could never work!

Remember, I’m a Boomer! Our parents lived through at least one, if not two, world wars. Most of them vowed to do everything in their power to give their children a better childhood, a better life.

By the time they were old and worn out from providing for my generation they had shifted the norm as far as homes were concerned... Bigger was better and we kept up the momentum!

We all know the style of house we Boomers have grown accustomed to. No way could anyone live in such a tiny space.

But Shaye loved it and I was becoming more open to the

idea..... especially when a baby arrived in the house!!

Convincing Grandad took longer He started to consider the idea when Shaye and Hazie moved into their new home. A home she called Hazel and the youtube video went viral.

Hazel Design

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_43jFjkv4w

In fact, it was only when we both gave up our jobs of 20 years, Noel as a plumber and myself as a Fine Art and Design teacher, to work for Shaye in her Tiny House company that we became full converts! So we can blame Shaye’s Tiny Homes for the journey we are about to take. Noel loves the workshop so much it is hard to get him out of it!

She’s an awesome boss by the way! Some of her Instagram posts are a little unusual though!

You can thank her for this blog as well – she suggested I write one!

Anyway …. Fast forward seven years from the controversial Lucy days, and here we are, planning to move from our Boomer home into a Tiny home.

Reasons :

1. Half our Boomer house is not lived in now the kids have flown the nest.

2. Too many stairs.

3. Too much cleaning.

4. Too much gardening.

5. High rates.

6. High Mortgage.

5. Too much stress!

We’re getting rid of it all. It's time to have some fun, sorry kids .... we’re spending your inheritance!

“So what’s the plan?”

In a perfect world, we will move onto a lifestyle property with Lara and Andrew, Noel’s chillie eating buddy who also happens to be Lara's partner and the project manager of the first house we built in New Zealand – We have built 3 Boomer houses in the last 11 years.

Thought we would get rich but we didn’t!

This is House 1 – Where Andrew taught us all about building in New Zealand.

It was traumatic at times, especially when we found the existing house was riddled in bora and it fell to pieces! But the little old grey house turned into a beautiful swan.

And Andrew started dating our daughter! We are best buds to this day so he must have done a good job!

Say “Hi” to Lara and Andrew!

How’s the lifestyle property panning out?

Well, we've found the perfect property, had an offer accepted, sorted finance and have put our 2 houses on the market. All this during a level 3 covid lockdown and a few weeks out from Christmas.... worst possible time to try and sell but.... on Christmas Eve we sold our house! Done and dusted! Now it gets real! No turning back! Tiny living here we come!

I have to confess there are things I will miss about our Boomer house!

Its very pretty and I Love the inside outside flow.

But the thing I'll miss the most is the

beautiful garden, where the Kereru (wood pigeons) eat the berries off the Nikau palm literally 3 meters from our dining room table! The waterfall that took me a whole summer to build and the beautiful city views.

Moving forward !!! ...... there will be new views and new gardens to look forward to! I really WON'T miss the weeding, the many stairs inside the house and in the garden and I won’t miss all the cleaning! Yes, I’m looking forward to the future.