We went away camping for the night, at the weekend. Guided by the old aphorism, βA change is as good as a restβ we bundled ourselves into our camper van at the last minute and headed out for a one-nighter at an undisclosed location in the woods.
π π΄σ §σ ’σ ·σ ¬σ ³σ Ώ π³ πΏοΈ π¦ββ¬πΆπ»π π
Pretty idyllic, right?
Absolutely, but there's one side effect of taking three people from a house and placing them inside a small metal tin can on wheels, and that's bumping into each otherβand the various edges of these newly cramped quartersβfairly regularly.
It's not unusual to sustain one or two bumps and scrapes from such outdoor pursuits, which, after a while can become a little⦠wearing, shall we say.
But we have the perfect solution for this, and it's just three words:
βIn a van!β
In a box for a month
It's a policy my wife and I chose consciously, years ago, when we honeymooned for a month in an old, clapped-out, much-loved, issue-ridden VW T4 camper.
We drove through France and Spain to Morocco, with Fez being our most southerly destination, before returning. It was hot, dusty, heart-achingly beautiful, and also punctuated by serial breakdowns, and multiple minor injuries.
Here β enjoy some honeymoon photos from life on the road:
I thoroughly recommend Montserrat (Catalonia), the Picos de Europa (Cantabria) and Fez itself.
A pact is made
We learned very quickly that van life involved these daily bumps and scrapes, and as tensions mounted (and the air turned blue) we decided that we'd be pretty miserable if we got cross every time we trapped our fingers, skinned our knuckles or smashed our headβagainβinto a corner, an edge or a roof that's lower than is natural for two near-6ft people.
In fact I almost came to conclusion that I wasn't cut out for van life, until we slowed down, took stock and realised two basic facts:
- It's utterly pointless getting cross with inanimate objects
- Just how damned privileged we were to be doing this at all in the first place!
The knocks and scrapes we were experiencing weren't a signal that something was wrong, or bad. They were a reminder that we were doing exactly what we wanted to do β living the dream, on the road, in a literal mobile home!!
That's when βIn a van!β became a thing:
π₯π€ Sit up too quickly first thing in the morning, smashing your head into the cabinet above?
βIn a van!β ππ»
π€π»π©Έ Reach through a small gap to grab something, taking the tops off your knuckles on the way?
βIn a van!β π₯°
π«£πͺ Practically take out your eye on the corner of an unexpectedly-open, head-height cupboard?
βIn a van! β π₯³
And it's lasted all these years. Because I still whack myself with alarming regularity when we go on these little trips, but you know what?
It doesn't ever really bother me. Because I'm βIn a van!β
Lessons in acceptance
We have come to see these little moments of adversity as an opportunity to accept that life doesn't come neatly (softly) packaged in a way that's acceptable to our egos.
βIn a van!β is less of a re-framing, and more of a slowing down to appreciate this gift we've been given.
Because whatever path you take (including choosing to live on the road in an 8ft square cube) you're going to encounter hardshipsβ¦
β¦and this is the path you have taken.
(I'm reminded of that great Byron Katie quote: βWhen I argue with reality, I lose. But only 100% of the time.β)
This is it β this is all you're getting. And you can moan and blather about how it's not fair and the world (or that bloody cupboard door!!) is out to get youβ¦ or you can realise how damned privileged you are to exist in the first place.
ππ» β¨
So the next time things don't go your (ego's) way, you could remember this little Daily Reminder, maybe take it a step further, and remind yourselfβ¦
βIn a life.β
π₯°
Giles
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Giles P Croft
More arguing with inanimate objects.