Life on the water... Cliff Smith relaxes on his boat The Swallow at Careys Bay. Photo / Otago Daily Times
He doesn't have a toilet. He doesn't have a television set. He doesn't even have any land.
But what Cliff Smith does have is what many people search for and some never find happiness.
You will hear few complaints from Mr Smith (73), despite residing on a boat
which doesn't move, with living quarters smaller than the average kitchen, and no heater in sight.
"It's the best move I've ever made. Life just goes so fast," he said of his choice of residence.
"I'm an independent bugger. I've got mates who I go and see, and the cats for company.
"Never had a phone. Never wanted one... never got married, wasn't really interested in that sort of thing."
Mr Smith, a retired labourer, had a bad car accident in Roxburgh in 1976, and this later affected his hips.
"They did say back then I would never walk again but I showed them."
When his hips worsened about four years ago, he decided to sell his Fairfield house because "I could not do the housework".
"It was either this or a caravan, but I couldn't live in a caravan."
About 18 months ago, a thrust bearing failed on the boat's motor, and The Swallow has been tied up at the Careys Bay wharf since.
He has fallen into the water just once, when the tides were high, and says he goes to friends' houses to wash.
He eats two meals a day in his 7sq m living quarters he "never liked lunch" and entertainment is reading and a radio.
Berthing fees are about $100 a month. Lighting is provided by solar power, he cooks with a gaspowered oven, and never gets cold.
"I had bad asthma when I was living in Fairfield, so one day I threw away all the heaters and opened up the back door and let the air in. I've never had asthma since.
"I just wrap up here.
"I've never had a cold the entire time I've been here."
And how does he solve the crisis of a call of nature in the middle of the night ?
"There is a toilet up at the wharf there... I do go over the side but that's very rare."
- OTAGO DAILY TIMES
