Nature: The True Catalyst for Change
The outdoors and nature have always been key to my success in life. Whenever I felt low or overwhelmed, stepping outside was what lifted me. Nature had a way of healing me, clearing my head, and helping me find perspective. So, I spent more and more time outside—walking, exploring, and immersing myself in natural surroundings. The more I did this, the clearer my mind became, and the more I could start creating a new path for myself.
Even before this journey began, Joe and I rarely watched TV, and we weren’t on social media either (believe it or not!). We found joy in being disconnected from those distractions and just living in the moment. Every time we stepped out the door, we were amazed by what we found—wildlife, beautiful sounds, or unexpected happenings. Nature never failed to surprise and ground us.
We loved the outdoors so much that camping became a way of life. At first, we camped in tents with the girls. Then we upgraded to an old two-bedroom caravan—which we lovingly painted green. Later, we got a newer caravan, and eventually, we bought a campervan too. We were hooked. Being outside felt more like home than being inside four walls. We just wanted to be surrounded by trees, fresh air, and the sounds of wildlife.
From a young age, we encouraged the girls to get outdoors and dive into hobbies—whatever sparked their interest. We tried it all: biking, paddle boarding, skating, surfing, hiking, horse riding… you name it! Eventually, the girls had done so much that they began to enjoy some quiet downtime in their rooms—especially our eldest, who really valued her space to wind down. Now, she’ll call us up and say, “When are we going to jump off rocks into waterfalls again?” And that’s the beauty of part-time living—you can always return to it.
Camping with friends
One of the biggest reasons we knew we had to leave the “rat race” behind was because of the freedom our campervan gave us. We realised we were spending more time in a tiny van than in our spacious house—and that spoke volumes. We were paying so much to live in and maintain a home we barely used. That experience showed us clearly: we didn’t need more space or more stuff—we needed more time, more freedom, and more connection.
When we finally decided to go all in and sell up, we had to part with everything—including our beloved campervan and our cars. It wasn’t easy, but the memories are priceless. And who knows? Maybe one day we’ll welcome a van back into our lives. For now, we’re done with over-consuming and constantly wanting more. We’re choosing a simpler life—one filled with adventure, connection, and real joy.
Our 4 bedroom house, cars, caravan and camper van (oh, and Joe)
