From her early childhood, Cherilynne Hill felt a deep connection to the simplicity of life. Her summers were spent in Canadice, New York, where her grandparents introduced her to the concept of tiny living by converting an old school bus into a skoolie. Those memories of playing and sleeping in the converted bus stuck with her throughout her life.
Now, about 40 years later, Hill finds solace and relaxation in the minimalist lifestyle of tiny houses. She explains, “The absence of chaos and clutter lets me enjoy the space I have and need.” Hill’s journey into the world of tiny living as an adult began with a vacation at a tiny treehouse in Puerto Rico in 2014. Since then, she has explored various tiny lodgings, taking advantage of the more than 5,000 tiny-house listings available on Airbnb in the United States as of October 2023.
“I wanted to see just how ‘simple’ I could get, and the treehouse in Culebra, Puerto Rico, was very basic,” she shared. “It had a bed, tiny kitchenette and a shower that was half outdoors. I loved it! I could have afforded to stay in a condo or nice apartment, but I wanted something different.”
Hill’s interest in tiny living was further sparked by watching “Tiny House Nation” on television several years ago. The show showcased people experiencing tiny living and demonstrated the creativity involved in maximizing small spaces. This fueled Hill’s desire for a simpler and more peaceful lifestyle.
In early 2021, Hill, who was then working in Raleigh, North Carolina, and residing in a 2,300-square-foot townhouse, decided it was time for a change. Feeling the need to downsize and simplify her life, she stayed at a tiny-home development near Asheville, North Carolina, with the intention of moving there permanently.
Expressing her motivation for downsizing, Hill stated, “I really just wanted an easier, more peaceful and less complicated lifestyle. I was tired of focusing on ‘getting more stuff.’” Although purchasing in the initial development didn’t work out, Hill eventually found her dream home at the Simple Life tiny-house community in Flat Rock, approximately 25 miles south of Asheville. In spring 2021, she acquired a 1-year-old, 400-square-foot, 2-bedroom, 1 ½-bath tiny home for $123,000.
Transitioning from a large townhouse to a space less than 20% of its size presented challenges, but Hill approached the process with intention. She recounted, “I held every item in my hands, stared at it, and asked myself: ‘Do I truly want and need this?’ Getting rid of so much stuff was liberating!” However, like many tiny house owners, Hill does rent a small storage unit for items she couldn’t part with.
As a cardiac sonographer, Hill secured a job in nearby Hendersonville, and the scenic drive on country roads with a view of the Blue Ridge Mountains affirmed her belief that she had made the right decision. The move to a tiny house allowed her to embrace a lifestyle centered on simplicity and mindfulness, reinforcing the idea that sometimes, less truly is more.