Living In A Camper Van

[eve1974]

Ive always been a minimally materialistic person. Husband is the opposite. Ive always (since about age 8!) dreamt of living in a camper van on of some sort (husb hasn't).

I have no regrets marrying my man (26 years together) but sometimes I wish he'd be willing to TRY understand this dream and consider it even for a temporary period. He just won't budge and my dream is unimportant to him.

I think as we are both getting older (not old yet but hey its approaching) now is the time to try this. Even if for only 6 months or so. He is 56, I am 47. but I cannot convince him :(

Maybe I'm overly simplistic whilst he is very cautious but I wish he'd try dream my dream

[bednobs]

Do a compromise. You live in a van in the garden. He stays at home

[ToraToraTora]

just spend a weekend in one, you'll be cured.

[Mamyalynne]

I don't think your husband is being unfair, after all as you say - it's been your dream for almost 40 years and not his.
It's a totally different way of living and I can understand his reluctance to be honest.

Bednobs idea seems sound.

[bednobs]

My idea was tongue in cheek mamya.

[elliemay1]

Agree with the others, as it's your dream and not your husband's try it on your own for a while

[dave50]

I think it sounds a wonderful idea. Do you mean selling up and just being a kind of gypsy travelling round?

[douglas9401]

BiL had an idea for when he retired. Buy a camper and tour the golf courses of the land in alphabetical order playing a round at each one.

Moved to Spain in the end instead. :-)

[jourdain2]

How about hiring one and using it for a long holiday to see if it can work for both of you? A 3 or 4 months (or even less) would help you both to see the pros and cons of moving around. 'No fixed abode' can be problematic in many ways. Otherwise there are some small versions around that you could holiday in for several months of the year, taken with breaks back to base camp.

[Mamyalynne]

Sorry Bednobs :-)

[JimF]

A very good friend of mine did this. He gave up his job of 20 years, bought an Airstream and went off grid for seven years. At that point, he just couldn't stand it any more and bought a house where he still lives.

[woofgang]

two words. Chemical. Toilet.

[Smowball]

Agree with TTT - try it for a weekend. Do neither of you work?

[Khandro]

I really wish you could follow your dream eve, but it takes two to tango. Best advice I ever had when I was young was always do the 'wrong' things, (and it's worked out pretty well!)
Good luck.

[Ellipsis]

> He is 56, I am 47.

I assume one or both of you are still working?

So, let's assume you're living in the van, and each going to work every day. Where's the van parked?

[Bazile]

//two words. Chemical. Toilet//

Enough to put you off your fry up in the mornings

[piggynose]

Btw i knew a woman who had lived in a van for 15years.

[Peter Pedant]

1,2,3 are lucid answers

I mean try it and see - so long as your are not in Lambeth
actually Lambeth might not be bad

I did concrete floor in southern egypt northern sudan for six month, no I was not chained to a radiator
and like 1,2,3 I wdnt do it long term

[Peter Pedant]

chemical toilet sounds a bit high tech for where I was

I mean the armed forces when I was doing concrete floor loved Dartmoor and crapping behind a rock

[david small]

I lived in a caravan for ten months. In winter my brown suit had a perfect green layer of mould. When the sun shines, them’s the good times.

[eve1974]

what a lot of interesting replies.


And Dave50 21:44 30th June - yes thats exactly what I mean

Yes - totally get that for many the novelty would wear off. For me though - I really think it may not. But of course don't know for sure unless I try and as husb won't even try I guess Im unlikely to find out.

And that's "just how it is" (as some have pointed out its been my dream for nearly 40 yrs not the husb).

I love him and no it wld never be a "will husb win or the camper van" decision lol

but

I think the part I'm struggling with is that husb won't even consider it?

I have given up a lot of things for his dreams (I dont expect a round of applause as my choice - he didn't hold a gun to my head !) and id just like him to try consider mine (I mean think about it, not even "do" it but just consider / talk about it)