How did we end up in a camper !?
What drives a person to uproot their entire life, pack up their family along with two giant dogs, and venture into the unknown in a 23-foot camper? The answer lies in life’s relentless ability to chip away at your spirit, waking up each day feeling trapped in a situation you never signed up for.
I grew tired of waking up gasping for breath, riddled with anxiety and confronted by the same voice in my head, growing louder with each passing day: “What’s the point?” “This can’t be it.” It’s ironic how our best efforts and intentions can backfire if we don’t remain hyper-aware of our surroundings.
Truth is…We were living a lie, and deep down, I knew it. I tried to brush it off until the house of cards came crashing down, revealing that those we thought we could trust had turned their backs on us. And we were on our own.
We moved into a camper with no plan because the terrifying uncertainty of the unknown felt far better than the hollow comfort of a life that offered nothing but bleak prospects. Staying stuck in a life where we didn’t belong felt like a slow death, a suffocating existence dictated by others’ expectations.
The rural location we were calling home at that time was familiar territory for me—my childhood stomping grounds. The rugged coastlines and endless forests painted a picturesque backdrop, intoxicating beauty. A dream to live off the grid and raise my family in such a wild and free environment.
That was the dream.
Yet, this place and I had a complicated history. I had escaped from its reality as quickly as I could at 18, vowing never to return. Perhaps the salty air clouded my judgment, because here I was again, now living a life I had promised myself I would never embrace with my children .
It was a strange twist of fate, a reminder of how life can lead us back to the very places we thought we’d left behind to teach us lessons we thought we had already learned .
For a brief moment, we let our guards down, and it didn’t take long for the people around us to take advantage and dictate how we should live. They urged us to pursue high-paying jobs surrounded by people we disliked and couldn’t trust , to abandon our passions because they were deemed foolish endeavours, to forsake healthy living for the sake of conformity. The pressure was overwhelming: “Buy a house; your family needs a home,” they said. It was literally a prison to bury ourselves in. “Put your kids in school because that’s what you’re supposed to do.” (And just medicate them when it’s not working out ) Don’t question anything . And as for love? Well, “love isn’t enough.”
The expectations imposed by others left us in a perpetual state of disconnection. Numb and plagued by constant anxiety, questioning everything about the life we were leading. Everyone seemed to want something from us, it felt like we were constantly giving, pouring our energy and resources into others. But when we finally reached a point of exhaustion, when there was nothing left to offer, it was striking how quickly the tides turned. No one even bothered to check in on us; we felt invisible and abandoned. It was a stark reminder of how easily connections can fade when we no longer have anything to give.
And that’s why you blow the top off everything.
As the saying goes, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.”
I’m far from perfect, and I know the impact of the last three years will leave a lasting mark on our family. I’ve shut down, fallen apart, and found myself curled up in the fetal position on the floor in front of loved ones. But I got up . Then burned every bridge on my way out.
Lesson learned universe, thanks—this chapter of my life is now closed.
If you want change sometimes you have to be willing to say goodbye to everything and everyone you thought you knew .
It’s ironic how much easier it is to stay stuck. It’s simple to dwell in negativity, complain, and become complacent. Change is hard. Letting go is hard. Taking that leap is hard.
That’s why so many people express envy for this lifestyle and its freedom but never actually take the plunge. It’s actually terrifying!!! It’s raw, and it’s messy and sooo uncertain.
But, that’s all of life isn’t it !? It’s so delicate and so wildly unpredictable . Sometimes it takes realizing you have very little control and so much all at the same time. We still have no idea where we’re headed, but what truly matters is that we’re together, finally being true to ourselves. Authenticity has opened our hearts and led us to meet many beautiful, like-minded souls along the way.
Of course, it’s not always smooth sailing. There are ups and downs, but the connections we’ve built and the experiences we’ve shared make every challenge worthwhile.
