We have finally started our journey!
So, we have had a whole week in the caravan. There have been great moments, stressful moments, tearful moments, freezing cold moments and really relaxing moments. Also add yummy moments (campfire roasted marshmallows!). Basically, all the good stuff real life has to offer.
This week, I learned all about the 'laundromat scene'. This week, I learnt what the true definition of 'cramped' was. This week, I saw OTHER people walking on my balcony! Well, what was my balcony, my view, my home. That was hard. This week we got to have bbqs, walks and a farewell from church. The children made charcoal pencils from burnt sticks. They turned rocks into their own bush currency. They made boats out of bark and leaves and floated them down the river. They climbed over logs, got splinters and attracted mud. All the good stuff. :)
So? What's it like to have no house? Where do we store clothes etc? What do we have in the way of power?
Well, it feels strange to not have a house. I do miss the bath! But mostly, I feel free. My husband now doesn't have to work to pay for one. That gives us so much more time together! We feel very blessed by that! Life in the caravan takes longer to accomplish tasks than it did in a house. When we free camp, we have to boil water if we want it hot, for example. I now put on the kettle on the gas plate each time I start cooking, so we have washing up water etc. After a week, it is second nature and I don't notice that it is an extra task.
Where do we put clothes. Duncan and I have a cupboard next to our bed. It has a middle shelf and he has about 5 pack cell bags with his clothes in them on the bottom half, I have mine in my bags on the top half. The children have a wardrobe in which we have put a four draw stacker tub inside. They have one tub each for all their clothes. I think it fits roughly a week and a half's worth of clothing in it. Michael has 3 pack cells for his clothes and they live at the bottom of the second wardrobe, which also houses all our hanging items, like jackets etc.
Power comes in one of several ways. We have a gas cylinder, a battery, a solar panel and a generator. The stove and grill run off gas (with one electric hot plate). The air conditioner and the Thermomix need 240v power, so we use the generator to run those when free camping, or when at a powered site, we are plugged into 240v power on tap.
The hardest thing about this trip?
Being gracious to the flood of thoughtless comments.
I'm not sure what to say to them......
I'll butt in on myself and say that the majority of people are thrilled for us and think it is a wonderful thing to be doing. The best thing to be doing with our children. But sometimes, when I'm least expecting it, I'll get a comment that comes from left of field. And they wound!
We are not brave, or crazy, or about to get divorced. We are not super parents, and we do not sit in the caravan all day, whilst kids jump from the top bunk and throw popcorn and mud and scream.
It is not like that! Though, that would be funny for about a millisecond. Hahaha
Yes, there are challenges. Yes, we have bumps with each other. Yes, we are in close quarters. No, that doesn't mean we have constant chaos.
So, all in all. Life is taking a turn for the better. We are a family. We are learning what it means to take it slow for awhile. We are enjoying our children. We are enjoying each other's company. We are enjoying God's creation.
What more could you want?
Sara
