Retirement in the South Cariboo need not be so costly or so lonely, says recent retiree, Brenda Norfolk.
With the help of her handy friend, Steve Hetherington, Norfolk says they are together building a “tiny home” – the latest and greatest in low-costs living for anyone who wishes to simplify, cut costs, and stay independent.
The Tiny Homes on Wheels (THOW) movement generally involves small homes build on a sturdy trailer frame, so they are low cost – to build and to live in – as well as being mobile, and licensed and registered with ICBC as a recreational vehicle, she explains.
“I’m going to tow it for camping to some really outpost lakes, and that kind of thing, we’ll just see – the ‘world is my oyster’. I was thinking to go visit my granddaughter in Alberta, to see the dinosaurs, because she is so into dinosaurs.”
Aside from the freedom of exploring the country in a mobile tiny home, and Norfolk says her vision is to develop a co-operative living site, with her friend’s help.
“We’ve had absolutely stunning local interest,” she says. “I can’t keep up with the tremendous interest.”
Therefore she hopes sharing her story will lead more folks to search online for THOW movement, as there are many sites about those, as well as some other co-op sites she hopes to potentially emulate, Norfolk adds.
From there, seniors and others needing to cut costs can live on one property, deeded or rented, to benefit from shared services, she adds.
This can be almost anything, from snow removal to visiting health care nurses, while heating and electrical costs are minimized through shared solar power generated on site.
Tiny home on Wheels (THOW) builders typically construct them with structural insulated panels, so residents can stay warm with reasonable heat sources, she explains.
For her, living with a lower carbon footprint in a low-impact home that is often made of recycled materials is part of the draw, as is the encouragement it gives this local senior to living a simpler life.
These THOWs allow for RV-style hookups for water, electric and propane (tanks) – which must be installed by professionals to meet codes required for licensing.
Plenty of other tiny home appliances are all available now, along with the recommended composting toilet, she says, adding the latest, urine-diverting designs have improved the operating function of those.
By forming a co-op type arrangement, seniors living there could also benefit from being in a group, not only for added security and costs savings but also for easier access to some daily or weekly assistance, with a committee to handle their needs, she explains.
Norfolk says her and Steve’s investigations throughout this building process have revealed they can be towed by a flat deck or a heavy “fifth wheel” RV truck, and must be sized under 30 ft. long by eight ft., five inches wide and no more than 13 ft., six inches high to meet licence requirements (unless wide-load licensing arrangements are made).
Even that height includes a sleeping loft in her own tiny home, she explains, which she is confident will provide sufficient room to store living needs while also encouraging her to downsize and a simpler life overall.
Anyone who wants more information is asked to first look up what they can on the THOW movement online, and then for further inquiries, interested people are welcome to call Brenda Norfolk at 250-706-3969.
