As we spend more months travelling, being away from the life that for us was everyday, it is strange to learn what you can and can’t live without. A few nights ago, Rhys had a clementine as part of his bespoke birthday tea, the first in nearly six months. As he opened it, it was just like Christmas at home, the smell bringing on a huge wave of nostalgia. Rowan piped up that the smell she associated with home was the smell of us – so she never missed home, as we’re all here. We certainly couldn’t do this without any part of our family.
But we could, and can, do without many things. TV is a prime example. Most campsites we have been in have TV lounges. Though the kids know they’re there, they choose instead to play in the park. We find it incredibly liberating to be away from it – particularly the news. Anything vital will show up on our homepage whenever we log on, but whenever you see a headline like “woman crushed by lettuce” or “duck survives shooting and freezing” as we have in the last week, you know that the world order is not in too much trouble. Or maybe it is …
We’ve found we can live happily without knowing what is going on politically, hearing about the tribulations of half-baked celebrities, or what macabre methods people have found for hurting each other now. Before we left, we were already sounding off to anyone who would let us about the anxiety society that seems to be being created by a nasty mix of government and media in the UK. Fear is pumped through the airwaves. Fear of terrorism, of strangers, of other nations. Rowan also says she has had far fewer nightmares since she’s stopped catching news on the radio or even on Newsround. Well that says it all, really, case closed.
Before we left, we had no real concerns about the ‘dangers’ of what we were doing, but of course we expected theft in some places and minor nuisances in others. But, without jinxing ourselves, I’m pleased to report we have had not a penny nor one single item stolen. The vast majority of people: at least 9 out of 10, have been friendly, welcoming and genuinely nice. Joe says this is one of the major lessons he has learnt. That wherever you go, most everyday people are utterly nice. I would say at least 4 out of 10 have been even more: fascinating, with amazing lives, or kindness personified, going out of their way to help or befriend us.
Also in the back of our minds was the threat of terrorism. Though you outwardly dismiss it, the media’s preoccupation can’t help make you aware of it, and the uncovering of an apparently imminent attack on UK-US flights four days before our flight to New York does unsettle you, as well as make for administrative joys!
But, as far as we can tell, there have been no major attacks anywhere in the world for the last six months. No huge trials or uncovering of terrorist cells. You have to ask yourself: how real is the danger? When the vast majority of people all around the world are so great, should you be living in fear of genocidal maniacs?
We don’t need half the space nor material trappings that we thought we did. We are more than happy living in a small campervan, or one hostel room. True, Joe and I don’t get much of an evening these days as the kids bedtime has slipped to an average of 10 o’clock, but no one wakes up in the night with heebee jeebies. We all still really like each other. When Joe was living part of the week in a one-bedroomed flat in London we remarked each holiday when we all stayed that the kids seemed very happy. And this has certainly been confirmed! They, and we, will sleep anywhere. I do wonder how well they’ll sleep, especially Jenna, when they are apart again at different ends of a big house.
Things that would be very hard to live without though include the I-Pod, for stories and music. Books, which we seem to buy and swap more and more of. The internet! How would we live without it? It is our lifeline to you, our friends and family, our research tool, our booking and arranging machine. Having the laptop allows for writing, games, films and education for the kids. If you take away all other things, please leave us that!
But most of all it is as Rowan says. We have each other, and so can’t feel homesick. Home is wherever we all are.
Facebook
Twitter
Youtube
StumbleUpon