How Did I Get Here?
‘How did I get here’ focuses on travelling solo. The purpose of the book is to document each stay, recording likes and dislikes and to describe my perceptions along the way.
There are many social media pages which focus on travelling, yet the book discusses many other aspects of doing something like this and predominantly, describes my solo journey as a female traveller.
There is a story behind the travelling. The book describes an opportunity for escape and isolation. A chance to reflect on life, family, relationships and work, but ultimately, an attempt to understand how I got here.
It recounts my journey around the towns and cities of Britain I have visited, in a campervan, paralleling the history of my life from birth until now. If someone can resonate with my story then perhaps it will reduce their sense of feeling like they don’t fit in.
More About “How Did I Get Here?”
The main goals to achieve are:
Cost is one of the factors influencing people’s choices, and what they can get for their money. It’s important to understand how we can make things cheaper, how I’m currently doing this by using campsites which are advertised in a variety of places, comparing what they offer and the things I’ve enjoyed about staying there. Reading reviews is extremely important, especially when travelling alone.
There is a huge appeal for ‘off-grid’ camping. This is something I would like to attempt, although the fear of someone banging on my window or shaking my van in the early hours is somewhat scary, and not appealing. I’ve given the worst-case scenario here, yet one must consider every outcome.
Pub stopovers are also now a popular way for people to go away for the weekend or for a few nights. They can be cheap to stay over as long as you eat or drink at the pub, (please check the terms and conditions with the pub directly, do not rely on ‘hearsay’ as rules can change) and support for the pubs can be crucial to enable them to keep going.
Some towns and cities are changing their attitude towards campervan and motorhome owners. Vehicle parking regulations in some towns and cities have been updated to be more inclusive. However, some have made it more difficult for people to use their vans by increasing the cost of parking fees quite considerably.
There is huge debate about what is deemed acceptable, whether people should be allowed to ‘pitch up’ anywhere. There are downsides to this as some leave their mark in a negative way, annoying residents in the process.
The book provides tips on how to earn money whilst travelling. Living in a van can be a sustainable lifestyle, depending on what you do for a living. The book covers the best way to approach something new, like house or dog sitting.
Tutoring is another option and an expected pathway for me, but there are positives and negatives to all forms of income when there is no ‘home base’.
There are thousands of people like me and many more considering a solo, nomadic lifestyle, all of us part of a community with a common interest. ‘How did I get here’ brings everything together in one place.
Travelling solo is something I have never attempted before. This is a huge deal for me, but it also serves another purpose. When I finished teaching and sold up, the plan was not to go jumping into another property purchase immediately. I do not have a fortune to work with so I must remain grounded and think carefully about my next ‘permanent’ home. Travelling gives me the opportunity to reflect, yet it also helps me to decide where I want to be. The ultimate goal is to find my ‘happy place’. Perhaps living freely will suffice for many years to come. Maybe a nomadic lifestyle will be short-lived, who knows.
I’m now in a different part of the country and plan to continue for a while longer.
The journey is not over yet.
