With his extensive experience in acting, McNeill is no stranger to living in small spaces, but the idea of going from a full-sized house to a tiny home seemed absurd at first. However, with his increasing health issues and the need to move from his nearly hundred-year-old harbourside cottage in Otago, the idea of living in a tiny home started to become more appealing. The tiny home idea was first suggested by Brian's brother, who offered to have it sited on his riverside property in Tauranga.
Brian initially dismissed the idea, but after researching more about the topic, he began to appreciate the simplicity and solitude that came with the tiny home lifestyle. Brian's tiny home was built by Build Tiny in Katikati. The only downsides he has experienced so far are high insurance premiums and the need for a WOF on the trailer. In his article for Stuff.co.nz, Brian writes, "Maybe becoming a full-on anchorite wasn’t on my bucket-list, but I’d always favoured simplicity, and solitude was in my nature." As he neared his 80s, Brian realised that possessions meant little to him and that making an impression on others was no longer important. With this realisation, he decided to embrace the tiny home lifestyle and take on the challenge of downsizing.
Brian's tiny home is 9.5m long by 2.55m wide, just over 24m2, and has everything he needs to live comfortably. He made sure to include a wood burner in his design, which he considers a primal necessity and a nostalgic reminder of his days and nights in the deep south. However, finding small enough logs to fit the doll's house fireplace was a challenge, but Brian found a solution. He also managed to include a bath in his tiny home, something that was important to him, along with a fitted aircon unit.
Brian states, "There was much to like, and as I was now of an age where possessions meant little and making an impression on others meant nothing at all, then why not look into it further?" For Brian, downsizing to a tiny home was the perfect solution to his health issues and the challenge of maintaining a large house. With a minimalist lifestyle, he's been able to simplify his life and focus on what's truly important. Brian's story serves as an inspiration to all those considering downsizing to a tiny home. Despite the initial skepticism, Brian embraced the lifestyle and found it to be the perfect solution to his needs. He has been able to simplify his life and focus on what is truly important, and his story serves as a testament to the benefits of downsizing to a tiny home, no matter your age.
