Living Lakeside in a Tiny Home - Reuniting A Family with Shipping Container Conversions

Deb and Ron are high school sweethearts from Pennsylvania who fell in love with being grandparents. When work and life moved their daughter and her family to Alabama, daily visits lessened to a few months out of the year, and living around the corner turned into 13 hours apart.
When a lakeside property in Alabama became available, Deb and Ron knew this was their opportunity to spend their retirement enjoying weekends on the lake with their grandchildren.
First they tried living in a motorhome, but dangerous storms rocked their RV.
With the help of Alabama Tiny Homes, Deb and Ron were able to convert a shipping container into a lakefront tiny home that provided a safe and cozy space for them to enjoy their retirement and be closer to their family.
If you’re curious about living in a shipping container, interested in off-grid tiny homes or want to hear more about Deb and Ron’s journey to lakeside Alabama - watch our video!
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CHAPTERS
0:00 Reuniting a Family
0:30 Deb and Ron
1:55 Smith Lake, Alabama
2:45 Alabama Tiny Homes
3:56 Converting a Shipping Container Blueprint
4:53 Container Conversion Cost and Build
5:37 The Family’s Tiny Home Tour
8:27 Better Together
For more information, please visit: www.aarp.org/adu.
AARP's Your Home section has great home improvement project ideas, reports on the best places to live and provides great tips on improving your home's value. www.aarp.org/home-family/your...
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AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to helping people ages 50 and older improve their quality of life as they age. With over 38 million members and growing, we lead positive social change through our extensive product offerings and services.
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[@zoeyjui8156]

Spending your retirement by living on a lakehouse together with your entire family is such a lifetime goal!

[@charlenejackson502]

Awww mom and daughter relationship is so sweet. I love it

[@judypierce8973]

You need a tissue to watch this video. So heartwarming putting God and family first. Both your tiny homes are absolutely beautiful. I thought a doggy door, so if you ever need a dog sitter let me know.

[@deluarhosainb4903]

This family story is amazing! We all want to be closer to our loved ones, and their lakeside tiny home is the perfect example of making it happen.

[@ELody136]

I know they are showing their container homes but their relationship is what did it for me. ❤❤❤❤. I do really like the homes too.

[@radar3twos887]

Not exactly what I was expecting for the money they paid, but as long as the owners are happy and can afford it, then that's all that matters in life! Congratulations on your new homes!

[@cerysmiller6716]

Deb and Ron's story shows how far we will go for family.

[@KeandraCopeland]

Debbie and Ron's determination to create a cozy home for their family is relatable. Their tiny home symbolizes love and unity.

[@DustinaWatkins]

This story has me longing for a lakeside tiny home. The tranquility and beauty of living by the water are so appealing!

[@everlydolg4373]

After seeing Deb and Ron's amazing shipping container transformation, I'm eager to explore the idea of having a container home of my own.

[@cjhoward409]

This makes me miss my mom. She’s been gone now almost 8 years. Time is precious ! So glad they can spend that time together. 😊

[@emilybird9761]

Mcgrath and Baier is going to have an amazing childhood and teenage life!

[@emilia9403]

Deb and Ron are such amazing parents and grandparents to Mcgraith and Baier!

[@JamettaWillis]

The thought of creating my own shipping container haven, just like Deb and Ron, has me intrigued. It's a unique and sustainable living concept.

[@ezekielmiles8665]

Shipping container conversion is fantastic! I'm seriously considering building my own cozy container home.

[@rebeccarothfuss-ym3gs]

Lovely 3 generational family. Great family values. Nice container homes.❤😊

[@jessiecave4205]

The idea of a compact, cozy container home is now on my radar.

[@carolinefontana9461]

What a beautiful family, to love each other so much, God Bless you all.

[@raemaxey3401]

Such a beautiful story! ❤️ This makes me miss my mom so much. Rest easy momma.

[@determined2win585]

Beautiful family dynamics ❤ God loves this unity.

[@sofianova10]

Living lakeside in a tiny home like this is the dream! Who wouldn't want to wake up to that beautiful view every day?

[@Jonathan-jn9nm]

Deb, Ron, and Amanda’ s lakeside tiny home is pure inspiration! I can't help but dream of living lakeside in a cozy little space like that.

[@evebarry369]

This shipping container success story is inspiring. I'm seriously considering building a container home-it's a stylish and eco-friendly way to live!

[@yingyang4086]

So excited for this tiny house 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@levt2156]

This was so heartwarming. I used to have that kind of relationship with my mom and so watching that mother/daughter love brought tears to my eyes. This was very special. Thank you.

[@MGHTYMATT]

Give me the simple life!

[@ceeseaM1234]

I teared up while watching this video. This is so beautiful, their relationship, their homes and their location! I can relate to the mother with having her children as her favorite people! Thank you for sharing 😊

[@AARP]

Thank you so much!!

[@MarkS-yb1bl]

We are retired and downsized to a tiny home in Lakeside, Arizona. Been here for 4 years. Much easier to make ends meet.

[@mayaeva3550]

Who wouldn't want to retire by the lake and be closer to family? Anyone who values family moments will relate to Deb and Ron's story.

[@laurenmallon4963]

love that your family is together ! Nothing is better than family !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@kylebressant7331]

So Many Options. Finally 1920s a little more modern. ❤

[@pamelawoodsum8608]

Beautiful

[@sharicooper-michener8177]

What a lovely family

[@Kitkat-qq7oh]

❤❤love this video, and the family. It made my heart 💜 smile 🎉. I wouldn’t mind retiring there 😊😊.

[@josefinaquintero2950]

Daughters they care for their parents, sons are different a list on my situation I don’t think that one of my three sons would do something like that for me . Don’t misunderstand me , I have a very good relationship with them but I think daughters take more care of their elderly parents . I would like a tiny house just like that one on the same land with one of my sons 😔

[@Frannieville]

Depends on the culture. Sons don’t do that kind of stuff in the USA.

[@SlayerUvAlienGods]

Add another box on top with a cut off roof with a upstairs "inground pool" the master bedroom 😎 or a patio on top with a nice fire place 🔥 😎

[@evemennitt1089]

Y’all are awesome! Love this family.❤

[@ParahSalin]

inspirational

[@jeannerountree952]

Beautiful homes

[@RioGirl16]

After losing my mom just 3 short months ago, this hits home 😢 No pun intended

[@dawnsullivan6233]

✝️God bless all of you✝️

[@ninjanana102]

Wonderful video & you do need tissues.❤

[@lyndabooker5536]

Beautiful video!

[@lamh5265]

You should consider insurance that will get you out during a flood. Everything is the American way when the USA was smarter. Family is America and it it is why the country exists. Families built this country to be great.

[@tammihughes6229]

Love your story ❤

[@marilynraines2301]

This is so nice

[@Hummunnahummunna]

How sweet. Transition from PA to AL culturally has its own costs, no?

[@susandaniels9733]

What good is less space if you pay as much as you would for a normal size home...?

[@safetysolutions1087]

What about singles? Where would I put a tiny home? I like the concept.

[@BrianEllinger-hh4rm]

🙂

[@mandybradley3079]

So where is the father of the two boys? They are selfish to leave him out.

[@Shellross65]

What about Ron,Jr.????

[@user-qb2zh7br1m]

Hi

[@-GloryDays]

They moved to Ala because the husband got transferred. So… where is he

[@Frannieville]

I was wondering that myself. But for the daughter this is her getaway house. She lives somewhere in town. Probably in a mansion. Just $250,000 for the two houses plus whatever the property cost is a boatload of money.

[@ROBINstrawBERRYwine]

🫶🏻

[@TheresaLyonhart]

Did I ever get emotional.🥺 The things that matter most aren’t things. It’s all about family. Not necessarily blood but it’s priceless when you are also blood related. My friends are my family. And my family are my friends. I’m looking around for any info I can get from Northern California regarding the best companies to get for container or any tiny home plans. Wish me luck. I need my daughter, my son-in-❤ and my grandsons. Time’s a’wastin’. Really sweet video. It touched me. ❤

[@emilyhumphreys6110]

Deb and Ron's story shows how far we will go for family.