Work Life Balance?

[ZootHornRollo]

A few things to throw into the hat.

I think it's ever-so-easy to fall into the trap of comparing your lot with people that seem to have more; instead of with those that are less fortunate. I do it all the time. And it's a recipe for discontent.

And 'stuff' is rapidly loosing it's value to me; it can start to restrict your ability to focus on the important things in life. I'm now in the process of getting rid of most of it. I just want to live a life with as few things as possible. And I ask the question: if somebody stole it would I replace it? If not, it goes.

I also like the quote from Hugh Laurie: "I've never been convinced that happiness is the object of the game. I'm wary of happiness. It is a snare and a delusion. It's jolly nice sometimes, like steak and chips, but is it a goal?"

Am I happy when I'm running? Sometimes. Often I feel pain and self-doubt. But it leaves me with an enormous sense of well-being afterwards. And I keep going back for more.

Here's to a minimalist life with enough time for running and each other.

I think this is possibly the wisest post on the thread. Good avatar pic too Quosh!

[daz h]

I was talking about weeks and months at a time - living in the thing, not just a couple of weeks here and there.

Do you want to live on a mattress and some pallets for a year WD? Come back and tell us about it afterwards.

Now having a tent in the back of a van to camp with qualifies as some sort of namby-pamby comfort-driven lifestyle ... perhaps I'll just find myself a cave, eh?

Yes its a point
Some people can stand it for longer than others.
I personally could stay for months in a van( I lived out of a suitcase for years when I was working on site).
Ian makes a good example of what you can do. He has a very basic van which some people would no doubt laugh at if you said kip in that tonight.
Suppose Im a bit like Ian in that I can just drop down anywhere.
My van is very spacious compared to his but its took me years to get the one I wanted.
For me I cant be doing with booking in campsites etc. Prefer to do my own thing.
You both make good points

[JohnK]

Wheezing Donkey is right it is perfectly feasible to go long term and a lot do a bit of reading for you http://www.fulltiming.co.uk/ and another :-

http://3lib.ukonline.co.uk/mclifestyle/living.html and another :- http://campervan.hopcott.net/

OK probably not as basic as WDs but there is no need to go overboard, comfort really only need be somewhere warm and dry, with basic facilities in order to stay clean and fed.

Personnaly i reckon a decent matress/or sleeping bag on a well insulated piece of ground on pallets or whatever would give you as much comfort as the same mattres on a purpose built unit and i agree that too many people are comfort driven.

[daz h]

Wheezing Donkey is right it is perfectly feasible to go long term and a lot do a bit of reading for you http://www.fulltiming.co.uk/ and another :-

http://3lib.ukonline.co.uk/mclifestyle/living.html and another :- http://campervan.hopcott.net/

OK probably not as basic as WDs but there is no need to go overboard, comfort really only need be somewhere warm and dry, with basic facilities in order to stay clean and fed.

Personnaly i reckon a decent matress/or sleeping bag on a well insulated piece of ground on pallets or whatever would give you as much comfort as the same mattres on a purpose built unit and i agree that too many people are comfort driven.

I just roll a mat out and then use my sleeping bag or blankets
I mean wheeezing Donkeys crates are just plain luxury
Van floor for me, he he

[JohnK]

I just roll a mat out and then use my sleeping bag or blankets
I mean wheeezing Donkeys crates are just plain luxury
Van floor for me, he he

Pure style Daz

[daz h]

Pure style Daz

I mean Ian has a fold down STOVE . MSR rocket for me. I bet Trail magazine cant do a fish kedgeree on that

[Brotherton Lad]

Couple of mess tins and a hexamine block for me. A hedgehog rolled in clay. Use a log for a pillow just like the Romans. Youngsters today, hey?

[ZootHornRollo]

well OK let's not argue over nowt, I'd suggest we're after pretty much the same thing

[wheezing donkey]

Use a log for a pillow just like the Romans. Youngsters today, hey?

Nahh! Some spare clothes in the sleeping bag's stuff sac; works a treat!

[wheezing donkey]

But having said all this; has anyone on here googled "The Work Life Balance Company"? My Bowland clubmate John makes an excellent living from giving presentations to people in high pressure occupations - doctors, sales reps etc. and thoroughly loves it. It slots right in with his degree in psychology.
And his one-man campervan is a very nicely appointed, but in no way ostentatious, 110 Land Rover Defender.