The Caravan Mentality
Holiday Reflections
Recently we went on a family festive holiday, and no it wasn’t a cabin in lapland, instead we stayed in a caravan in Pwllheli, Wales. I have always loved caravans, and I am obsessed with the whole tiny living moment that seems to be taking off.
Every time I go away and spend time in a caravan, it changes me. I feel calm, relaxed and just enjoy the simplicity of life whilst spending time there. I always say to my wife that I could easily live in a caravan or a tiny home.
The question is why? What is it about a caravan that I find really appealing?
Closer to Nature
As someone who hates camping, a caravan provides the luxuries of a comfy bed and an actual roof over my head, whilst allowing me to wake up surrounded by nature.
Spending time in a caravan amplifies the senses, especially hearing and feeling. You can hear everything from the wind, the birds, the seagulls and squirrels running on the roof, and what I especially find therapeutic - the sound of rain on the roof of the caravan. The only thing between you and nature is a thin barrier, enough to provide protection from the weather whilst at the same time giving the feeling that you are close to nature.
I can also assure you that we felt the wind on our most recent stay in the caravan.
Functional & Tiny
When living in a tiny space in general, you can’t just buy big bulky items. Instead you must focus on compact, portable or tiny/mini versions of the product you require. When a larger item is purchased then it’s important that the item is functional, practical and simple.
When spending time in a caravan I realised that I don’t need big bulky items that take up lots of space. Many caravans have dishwashers that are narrow, mugs that are slim and general everyday essentials that are slightly smaller.
Then there is the multi functionality of items which the Japanese and Scandinavians have mastered, showing their creative and innovative ability. There is the classic fold up bed, the folding desk or the stairs that have built-in storage. In a caravan, it tends to be the built-in sofa that can be used for storage or turned into a double bed, or hidden compartments and shelves in places that are useful. Technology has made this even better, with our holiday caravan having built-in speakers installed in the ceiling.
Ultimately, it shows me the amount of wasted space that I have in my home and probably in the average home across the country. I can live in smaller spaces than I realised and have the feeling of simplicity in life.
Minimalistic
Parkinsons’ ‘law of clutter’ is the idea that belongings expand to fill a space, just like work expands to fill time. Buying a bigger home means you are likely to buy more stuff to fill that house. It also works the other way, space itself sets a natural limit; smaller space means less stuff because there is only so much you can physically fit in. This is called the container principle, which forces you to be intentional about what you keep in your space, and even breaks the consumeristic cycle.
Even for a holiday, every item must earn its place. What I found is that I need less stuff in my life and decision fatigue is reduced because there isn’’t numerous items around fighting for attention.
Ease & Efficiency
Caravans never used to retain heat well and they were often cold and even damp, especially when factoring in the wet, windy and bitter winters in the UK. Times have changed and caravans are now built to a higher standard with insulation. The caravan we stayed in not only retained the heat, but retained it far better than our house. Combine that with how fast it is to heat a smaller space and that’s rather efficient.
Another obvious point is that smaller spaces are easy to clean in comparison to larger spaces. Combine that with smaller compact items and embracing a minimalist and decluttering mentality; cleaning becomes even quicker and easier. With less cleaning comes more free time, which is great when you’re on holiday, but equally important for everyday life. This is a big factor when downsizing or going tiny.
The more I reflect on this the more I see further ease and efficiency that I would like in my own life, not just my holiday.
Slowing Down
Small spaces seem to feel like a retreat, a place we can go to and unwind, relax or think. These same small spaces can also create a sense of coziness and with a simple life and less distractions it slows us down.
I personally find that smaller spaces help in slowing me down and prevent me from rushing through tasks and hobbies, allowing me to appreciate them more.
Design
I find that caravans, like lodges and tiny homes, are designed very well and given more thought than standard houses. There just seems to be more effort and creativity going into making the space work, embracing function and practicality, whilst making the space feel cozy and comfortable. Everything seems to flow; instead of multiple rooms you have a kitchen that opens into an eating area and a living room. It’s more open-plan and makes the space feel bigger than what it is.
Combine that with lots of natural light, due to less walls and more windows, and the space feels open and bright.
Summary
Many of my points are not exclusive to caravans, but can be applied to tiny houses, cabins and other alternative accommodations. You may argue that holidays are different, you're naturally in a more relaxed mood, and there is a nostalgia of staying in a caravan, but I like the phrase “build a life you don’t need a holiday from”.
Ultimately, it comes down to what I value most: minimalism, functionality, simplicity, freedom, tiny travel-size items over big and bulky, and being intentional with life choices. A caravan fits within these ideas, philosophies and way of living, which is why I enjoy caravan life so much.
What do you appreciate the most about caravan life?