Time for a change

I have experienced a number of massive life changes over my six plus decades on this earth; all of them have been generally positive, certainly they've been exciting and stimulating. I think I have grown to need change and risk perhaps it's something of a drug.

I find myself in a situation I never expected: single and, let’s not mince words, old. My family, except for one dearly loved son, blown to the winds never to heal so I am on my own. I didn't plan for this but, in many ways, think it's a good way to grow old. I have only myself to care for, only myself to think of, no one to consult regarding decisions, no partner to care for if they are sick. Of course the converse applies; no one will care for me either, no one to be sad with, laugh with, no warm breast to cup in my hand as we snuggle together to sleep. Can't have everything.

I have led a full and diverse life: I have loved dearly, I have raised children, I have travelled and lived around this world, I have known many very different people, I have known women - some good some not so good, I have cried, I have laughed. I have found solace with my soul. I am happy. For what more can one ask.

But now I enter the final stage of life and it is again time for change.

I have sold my house and bought (five month delivery) a caravan which I shall tow around Australia and live a nomadic lifestyle of gold prospecting, camping, fishing and generally having a good time. I'll not own another house or land but, instead, will camp on public land and live in the bush.

Scary eh?

You bet your ass (or even your donkey) it is!

But, damn! It's exciting and challenging too.

Over the past twenty years I have spent a considerable amount of time travelling and rough camping in the bush in Victoria and I understand its vagaries well. Having a (quite posh) caravan will be total luxury to me. The bush is where I feel at home, where I find peace. As my friend Russell put it "Being in the bush soothes the soul".

Such a lifestyle is not as uncommon as you may think and in the past was very common indeed. There is a "Grey Nomad" sub-culture in Australia of people who either by choice or financial circumstance find this to be a preferred lifestyle.

There are, of course, both positives and negatives to such a choice:

Illness is most people’s first concern. Sure, that’s a real possibility especially as I age. Some time past I made a decision that I do not wish to live beyond the age when life is fulfilling. I have seen too many people grow old and lose their dignity and joy of life, such an end is not for me so if life becomes a burden I'll take steps to negate that, I have no desire to try and live forever.

For lesser illnesses I'll find a caravan park in the vicinity of a good hospital and ensconce myself there until all is mended.

Isolation: there will be quite a lot of that and I'm very comfortable with it. I’ll talk to myself rather more than usual but Amateur Radio provides a wonderful avenue for me to engage with others on a daily basis.

Being removed from mainstream society appeals to me; I am sick to death of the current Politically Correct climate which pervades modern life and wish to be rid of it.

Interestingly, I think I will be less isolated that had I chosen to remain in a house. For example; in my present home I have virtually no connection with neighbours (miserable bastards) and the only people I connect with daily are the check-out operators in Safeway and with self-service tills not even them! Additionally I’ll not be bothered by “bad” neighbours who can really make one’s life a living hell.

On the road, I shall be stopping at "free camps" and will connect with other grey nomads and, I suspect, have a far better social life than currently.

The reduced cost of living is also attractive: no rates, electricity, gas or water bills. I estimate my annual costs will be around $14k.

Space wise: as a single person at this age I don't need more than a comfortable caravan and its surrounds in which to live? I'll be damn glad to see the back of the lawns I never mow and the house I don't maintain.

The psychological concept of not having a "fixed" home will be one with which I have to come to terms but it does not unduly concern me.

I first considered this course around 18 months ago and have analysed it extensively since... the more I look at it the more sense it makes. It will be fascinating to see how the reality matches the theory. Perhaps I'll write a book about it.

Without change we stagnate and, once again, I wish to jump off the cliff to see if I can fly - wish me luck :)

9th October 2018

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Update - 23rd November 2018:

Things are happening faster than expected.

Earlier this year I was informed that if I wanted some of the many options available with my caravan the van would have to be specially built and the waiting time was five months. However, having gone through the options list in some detail with the dealer, I decided there were only three options  I wanted and even they were not worth waiting five (now six) months for so I decided to purchase one of the vans they had in stock. I have paid a deposit and it will be ready for pickup in a few days.

As I still have some sorting and selling/discarding of possessions to do it will be a few weeks before I'm ready to hitch the van up and drive off so I'll get the dealer to store it for a while but, with luck, I should be a full time nomad before Christmas.

A number of people have asked which caravan I'm buying - here it is:

Snowy River SR-19

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Update - 18th December 2018:

On or close to the 27th December 2018 I shall be taking to the road permanently.

I pick my caravan up on 20th December and will be keeping it at a friend's place over Xmas whilst I transfer things into it and check that it's all working as it should. Then it's off to Pakenham to camp for a couple of nights at Pakenham South Village Hall which rents some of it's grounds to passing travellers. These will be my first nights in the van and an opportunity to discover the things I have forgotten of not thought of. As Pakenham has both Safeway and Bunnings I should be able to buy the items I need. Spending a couple of nights from the 27th in Pakenham will also allow the worst of the holiday traffic into Gippsland to pass - and a lot of traffic from Melbourne heads east at this time of year. I would not have chosen the Xmas/NY period to head bush in the van for the first time but that is just the way it happened.

Then it's up to a bush campsite I know on the Timbarra River in east Gippsland, a delightful spot. I plan to stay there for about one month and, as it's a 1.5 hour drive from Bairnsdale and shops, I need to ensure I am well stocked with food and similar.

After the Timbarra camp I have no idea what I'll do next. The caravan will need it's first service and, maybe, some warranty work so I may return to Melbourne for a few days or I may head to Bairnsdale to restock and then continue east to some other places I know in that region. I'll avoid the coast until March or later in order to allow the holiday makers to dissipate.

The start of a new and very different life is nigh - the reality is both exhilarating and scary :)