Do We Still Need Our Campervan?
A quiet reflection on family, freedom, and why we are keeping our campervan for now — even when it is not always easy.
Lately, I have been coming back to a quiet question — not dramatic, not urgent, just quietly present in the background:
“Do we still need our campervan?”
August 2024 - Waiting for the ferry to Harris and Lewis, we spent a few hours by the coast — resting in the grass, dogs nearby, sunshine and calm before the journey ahead.
Our van has become part of our life. A small second home. It is ready to go at any time — already packed, with bedding, mugs, and torches in the drawers. We travel as a family of four with two dogs. The space is small, but the freedom it gives us is wide.
We use it often. Sometimes for a weekend in the hills or forest, sometimes for longer trips in the UK or Europe. We cook in the van, stay in quiet spots, and even on windy, rainy days, we always find something we enjoy.
Owning a campervan is not only fun and freedom. It also comes with responsibility. It costs money every month — fuel, insurance, maintenance, and repairs. It is not a free holiday, even if it feels that way when we park by a loch or in a quiet spot. There is always some work behind it, and the simple fact that this kind of freedom has a cost.
There are also muddy paws, wet clothes, and boots by the door. There is always one bit of floor that needs sweeping. We do not always manage well with the dirt, the small space, and the general mess. Sometimes we think about having more room and an easier setup.
But we still end up with the same feeling. We enjoy it. Even when it is cold or crowded. Even when the weather keeps us inside. We like waking up to birdsong, drinking coffee with the doors open, watching the dogs run around, and hearing the girls talk and laugh at breakfast in the middle of nowhere.
Our daughters are now 12 and 14. They still come with us happily. They still enjoy sleeping in the van. They still ask, “Where are we going next?” We know this time is precious — and maybe shorter than we wish.
July 2024 - Walking through the old streets of York with the girls and our two dogs — a quick summer stop on our way home, full of laughter and little memories.
So our decision is simple: we will keep the van, for now, without guilt. We will keep using it — slowly and intentionally — for as long as it fits our life. And if one day it no longer does, we will know when the time has come.
September 2025 - This was somewhere near Pitlochry, on a very windy day. We had to stay inside the campervan, watching the hills move in the wind. Even though we could not go out, just sitting by the window with a cup of coffee felt good enough.
If you are asking yourself similar questions, you are not alone.
Not everything has to last forever. Not everything needs a reason.
Sometimes it is enough to simply say: this still brings us joy.
And that is reason enough.
I would love to hear your thoughts — do you ever wonder if something still feels right for you?
Feel free to share your story in the comments. 🌿