Around mid 2015 I began to realise that retirement and old age were heading my way fast and I did not wish to spend them living in the suburbs doing nothing except waiting to die so I made a decision to sell the house, buy a large caravan, take to the road full time and live in the bush.

In November 2018 I sold my home of 17 years in Frankston, Victoria and moved in with my son for a couple of months. During that time I purchased a new caravan and on 29th December 2018 left Frankston and spent my first night as a nomad.

It took a few weeks to get myself and the caravan organised to this huge change in lifestyle and at least another year before I really had a grip on things.

I have lived in many homes across the world, 17 at last count, and have never considered houses to be anything more than a utility, just somewhere to live so there was little emotional connection to break when I sold the house. Nevertheless intentionally making oneself homeless is a massive and probably irretrievable step; add to that having to throw out or give away most of the items one accumulates over many years of family life and running a business from home and it was a time of considerable stress. Indeed my long suffering son still has a garage almost full with my cardboard boxes which, in their turn, are full with "stuff" I have not yet decided what to do with or cannot bear to part with.

It's now April 2021 and I have been nomad for almost 2.5 years. Most of that time has been spent travelling Victoria and living in the bush. Unfortunately Covid 19 has severely restricted my movements but at least I was able to spend our two "lockdown" periods of three months each in a delightful bush setting by the Murray River and hardly noticed the lockdown at all.

I enjoy the nomad lifestyle, the ability to easily move to a new home when I choose, to be able to follow the good weather as the seasons change, meeting different and usually interesting people from all walks of life. It often feels as though I am on a permanent holiday.

I love living deep in the bush where I have to "make do and mend" and often use all my engineering skills to solve problems with very limited equipment and no assistance. I like being alone for moderate periods, not having to consider the needs of another, to be able to run the generator at 3am or go to bed at 7.30pm if I'm tired. I love the presence of the animals and birds and observing them especially once they become use to my presence - two weeks or so. I love sitting by my campfire and watching the night sky. I have no regrets as a consequence of choosing this way of life.


Page last updated November 2021