What I love most about living in a campervan

If you have read my post ‘What no one tells you about living in a campervan’ you may have been put off by the whole idea. Living in a campervan is full of ups and downs and unexpected twists and turns but the benefits will always come out on top. I know I will walk away from this trip remembering the joys I get to experience everyday while the downsides will become insignificant or in some cases very funny stories. Here are some of the things that I love most about living in a campervan.

You live a simple life. The things you own and the things you do are there because they are necessities to get you through life. There is no confusion, complications or second guessing yourself. You put those jeans on because they are your only pair and you routinely wash dishes three times daily because you only have enough cutlery to get you through one meal.

You have no address. You are officially labeled as a ‘wanderer’ which gives you a new found freedom you’ve never had. You are not tied down by anything or anyone and are free to move from place to place as you please.

You will rarely spend more than one night in the same place. This means everyday is a new day which could literally take you anywhere. We have discovered old towns, secret side roads and private swimming holes all because we needed to find somewhere to camp for the night.

You are faced with a new challenge everyday. You never know what the challenge will be and it may come out of absolutely nowhere. These may range from deciphering road works warning signs in different languages, finding your next emergency toilet stop, or causing a ruckus reversing out of a small cobbled street all because your GPS failed to tell you there was no way in hell your oversized camper would ever fit down there.

You ‘let go’. You will stop caring what others think and simply start being yourself. You are removed from normal everyday social life and as a result feel no pressure to act or be in a certain way. You will really start to enjoy life.

Time is on your side. You will stop consistently glancing at the time on your phone wondering when your work day will finish or how much of your precious weekend you have left. You will do things at a time that suits you best.

You don’t have to think about what to wear. Every time I have gone to a bar or club (which is a lot) I have worn the same outfit. It’s the only ‘going out’ outfit I have. On the road I wear what’s comfortable or what’s clean. Easy.

You can eat food while in a traffic jam. This may sound silly but it’s actually awesome. We have been stuck in some serious traffic jams for several hours that were made all the better by the fact that we could whip up salads, sandwiches and tea and coffee while receiving some serious jealous stares from truckees idling beside us.

There are no travel timetables or schedules. You have reduced stress simply because you do not have to rely on trains, buses or planes to get you from one destination to another. You also do not have to deal with packing and unpacking as you move around.

It’s cheap. After initial start up costs living in a campervan is a cheap way to travel. We very rarely eat out or indulge in touristy activities meaning our main costs are diesel, supermarket shops and checking in to a campground every third or fourth night. By not travelling in luxury our time abroad can be extended.

Travelling in a campervan is one of the best decisions we have ever made. It’s fun, full of adventure and is sure to create long lasting memories – that’s why I love living in a campervan.