It all began after another rubbish day at work last October. We were sat at home relaxing, when the conversation changed...."what´s the point in working when most of ur money goes in2 some1 elses pocket?!" If it´s not the taxman´s, then it´s some other company´s!.
There we were like every1 else, working all hours, earning our money n watching it disappear! (U´ve got 2 admit that sounds familiar!). And getting sick of looking out the window n seeing the same people, doing the same things at the same time everyday... there goes that woman with her dog, there´s Fred off 2 work and oh look no.23 have got a new car! Blah blah blah.
There´s got 2 b more 2 life than knowing what ur neighbours do and when they do it! Don´t u wish that u could open the curtains 1 morning n c something different?
We did, so we looked at how we could do it. Central heating wasn´t a necessity! If u get cold, u put a warmer jumper on! The things u really need 2 live boil down 2; food, water, warmth somewhere 2 sleep and some sort of mental stimulation 2 stop u going mad. U don´t NEED a 6ft wide t.v, microwave, coffee maker and dishwasher u lazy lot!! as long as u have those few things, the world won´t end!!!
We started looking round at campervans and vans 2 convert, and ended up with an ex-school minibus. We spent hours with bits of paper deciding where 2 put the units, as it´s cheaper 2 build one n very easy 2!! Finaly we sorted a layout and started taking measurements 4 the wood.
Wood is really cheap n tools from the "£ shop" ain´t 2 bad either! It took about 7hrs 2 build, (an hr after work each night) By the wkend we had a home on wheels for 1/2 the price of a purpose-built job! In november last year we moved in, left our eager-palmed landlord and hit the road.
The first couple of nights on the road were a bit noisy but u get used 2 it, it´s just like moving from a town centre 2 the country (where u find it 2 quiet 2 sleep!). We woke up the first morning with a strange feeling, the feeling of freedom, the knowing u can go where u want, when u want and not have 2 rush back cos ur already home.
Some people find it fascinating 2 think that u can sleep in a van, let alone live in it full time. We often get stupid questions like "where do u wash?" 2 which i´ll reply, in the sink, where do u wash? and "how do u cook ur food?" (u can work out my answer from the last 1!) The list is endless though and i can´t help but laugh at them when they ask!
It´s brilliant 2 b able 2 do pretty much anything in the blink of an eye. We wake up in the morning and say, i wouldn´t mind going there, and we´re on our way in 10mins. Money´s no problem as there is work everywhere and we don´t have any bills bar fuel and food so there´s always something left over, add up ur monthly bills and c how much ur wasting. In this life, £200 can last over 3 wks!
We´ve travelled round basically all of England in the last year, and i do remember driving from Exeter 2 the lakes 4 the day cos we felt like it! Can´t beat that sort of freedom can u?!!
We´ve recently come back 2 kent from the G8 protests in Edinburgh, n believe me the real story ain´t nothin like the paper´s say but that´s another tale!
