Big decisions are made in all the micro-decisions that happen in the hours, days and months leading up to them. That is certainly how it felt for us. We didn't just wake up one morning and decide to uproot ourselves and our children, leave our house and our lives behind, and head off in a campervan. It was a series of steps that happened quietly, probably without us realising. After all, we are influenced by what we read, what we watch and listen to, and who we surround ourselves with, whether we realise it or not. These are the resources that slowly changed my viewpoint, and encouraged me to re-point my compass.
TV series and book
New Lives in the Wild, and Inspire, by Ben Fogle
Ben visits people around the world who have left their old lives to start new ones in nature. They are usually trying to live off grid, in remote parts of the world, immersed in beauty. These people have often had an illness they are trying to overcome, or are searching for healing from traumatic events they have lived through.
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It has been inspiring for us to watch these programmes and these brave people. Our own existence is quite tame by comparison, quite normal, and maybe that is the appeal for us. Ben himself is a compassionate presenter we both relate to. The stories in his book Inspire, drawn from his own life, from rowing the Atlantic to climbing Everest, do just what the title suggests: they inspire.
We spent four weeks in France in a campervan, in the summer before we left the UK, guided by this book. We chose our campsites by how many wild swimming spots were nearby. The book gave us coordinates, parking and walking directions to the most secluded and stunning swimming spots, places we would have struggled to find without being locals.
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Cold water swimming had become a big part of my life by then, and this trip deepened our love of it. The camping spots were stunning, and the solace of being in nature soothed us all. My favourite was the Dronne: diving under its icy water, then drying off on the banks by the picturesque town of Brantôme, is an experience that is hard to beat.
The Salt Path, and the books that followed, by Raynor Winn
Raynor's first-hand account of her husband's neurological illness, and of living on the fringes of society and the prejudice they faced after losing their house, was deeply moving to me. I could relate to their experience of a healthcare system that could give them no answers, and to the way nature helped him when the drugs couldn't.
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I followed their journeys across three books, along the Cornish coast, across Iceland and down from the Scottish Highlands, and gained personal insight from the reflection of us that I could see in them. Whatever the questions raised since about how true her story is, I found in it the meaning I needed. I think it also meant something to me that she felt compelled to write the experience down, to make sense of it for herself, as that is often how I feel.
This is probably the most radical book I have read, but it is hard to argue with Sarah's compelling case. Reading it made me more conscious of our impact, something I was already aware of. Travelling obviously increases our carbon footprint, but we try to be as considerate as possible in the way we do it.
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Her minimalist stories, including living out of a 15 kg backpack for several years with only three outfits, inspired me. Her struggles with mental health, which she shares openly, and her stories of finding healing on long walks in nature, resonated with me. That made her strong words about the planet easier to take on trust, and to put into action in the ways we could: saying no to takeaway cups and using our own glasses instead, giving up paper towels, buying fewer things through a minimalist lifestyle, working hard to reduce our food waste, and parking up in spots where we wouldn't need to move the van for two weeks and could get everywhere on foot.
A UK-based platform that lets you stay in someone's home in return for looking after their house and pets while they are away. It has proven invaluable for us, keeping our costs down when we return to the UK or stay in other expensive places.
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We have made friends, furry and human alike, and have been touched by people's welcoming generosity. The platform makes it super easy to find house sits, and the insurance that comes with the premium membership gives us peace of mind.
We had an amazing family experience volunteering at a school in the remote northern foothills of Thailand. We spent time at the school helping to teach the children English, playing games and teaching lessons.
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It was fantastic for the kids to get involved too, and we were made so welcome. We stayed with the host family, which gave us an insight into local Thai life and customs. We have talked about this experience so much since, and hope to do another some day. You sign up to the website and search for volunteering experiences; most seem to be in teaching or farming.
This book cemented the way I think about life. The novel tells the story of Nora Seed, who is caught in a space between life and death and gets to live out the different lives she could have had if she had made different choices.
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It draws on the idea from quantum physics of many worlds, and the infinite possibilities that can branch from each decision we make. The book explores the idea that there is no one set path for us, that part of living is the journey itself, and that the decisions we take are neither good nor bad, just decisions.
