Scotty Doherty's rented caravan may only be 8sqm, but he's happy where he is and does not want to leave. Photo/John Borren
Scotty Doherty's rented caravan may only be 8sqm, but he's happy where he is and does not want to leave. Photo/John Borren
Blind in one eye, glaucoma in the other, living in space no bigger than the average-sized bathroom, many may view 74-year-old Scotty Doherty as a man who has fallen on hard times.
But that's not how Scotty sees it.
Scotty, has been living at the Te Puke Holiday Park, in his rented 8sq m caravan for the past 20 years.
All his worldly possessions are within arms reach. A small TV, a bunch of videos, a small stereo and a deck of cards are some of the most prized possessions.
The only ornament, a rock and shell sculpture a fishing friend gave him, hangs from the wall.
"I eat well, steak for dinner and maybe a chicken roll for lunch, I don't starve". He should be able to look after himself - he's been a baker and a chef among his long list of jobs.
74-year-old Scotty Doherty peering out of the caravan he's been living in for the past 20 years. Photo/John Borren
Well travelled, he admits that his lifestyle isn't for everyone, but living in a caravan is luxury compared to a lot of countries he has visited.
Moving to Wellington from Scotland on April 9, 1968, Scotty was warned about the capital's gale-force winds, so when the Wahine disaster happened the following day, he just assumed that it was normal weather.
He takes most things in his stride, so when a friend convinced him to move to the Bay from Hamilton, he jumped at the chance and has loved living here ever since.
He has friends that pick him up once a week to get his shopping and the park owners have been good to him.
"I have good neighbours and if they do get a bit rowdy I just bang on the side of the caravan and it soon stops," he says.
Holiday park co-owner Ray Goosetree, bought the business, which caters for mainly migrant workers, almost 11 years ago. He says Scotty came with the sale.
"When we first got the business there were a lot of undesirables living here, which we got rid of, but Scotty wasn't one of them. Honestly he shouldn't be here, but I think it would finish him off, if we told him to leave."
The kitchen area of Scotty Doherty's caravan. Photo/John Borren
Ray has told Scotty on several occasions that he might be better off in a pensioner flat, but Scotty says he's happy where he is and pleads not to make him leave.
"Even when offered another caravan to live in Scotty has turned down the offer, he's as stubborn as a mule, but he loves it here," Ray says.
"Some of the residents do call on him to see how he is, have a cuppa or watch a movie, but he generally he keeps to himself, watching movies, playing cards and listening to music. He rarely ventures out."
Scotty Doherty, 74, has lived in a holiday park for the past 20 years. Photo/John Borren
Ray and his wife Samantha help him out with taking him to do his shopping from time to time and, come Christmas, Samantha will make him dinner which he has in his caravan.
Others might not aspire to Scotty's living conditions but he appears perfectly happy with where he's landed in life.
"People don't know what their talking about if they think I don't like living here [but] I like it here.
"I want to be independent. I don't want to be in an institution."
