Do you ever just want to leave the UK entirely?

[Pitstop Penny]

I love the adventure having a camper van brings. The ability to escape and slow down. Take the long road. It's pure heaven. The adventure. The unknown. But now and again, I do get a bit of an existential crisis and think what it might be like to escape the UK altogether.

I know practically, that's not possible for a lot of us. But I have a few friends who are doing exactly that. By various means. And it's left me wondering about the second home in the south of France I've always dreamed about having.

I don't think I could leave entirely. But I'd love the idea of something out there that I could escape to, whenever I like. The feeling fades, the camper van gives me enough, but with this crap weather of late, and all that's happening in the news, it does make me wonder.

 

[WelshGas]

I love the adventure having a camper van brings. The ability to escape and slow down. Take the long road. It's pure heaven. The adventure. The unknown. But now and again, I do get a bit of an existential crisis and think what it might be like to escape the UK altogether.

I know practically, that's not possible for a lot of us. But I have a few friends who are doing exactly that. By various means. And it's left me wondering about the second home in the south of France I've always dreamed about having.

I don't think I could leave entirely. But I'd love the idea of something out there that I could escape to, whenever I like. The feeling fades, the camper van gives me enough, but with this crap weather of late, and all that's happening in the news, it does make me wonder.

Obviously you haven't kept upto date with the French news.

 

[acer]

I love the adventure having a camper van brings. The ability to escape and slow down. Take the long road. It's pure heaven. The adventure. The unknown. But now and again, I do get a bit of an existential crisis and think what it might be like to escape the UK altogether.

I know practically, that's not possible for a lot of us. But I have a few friends who are doing exactly that. By various means. And it's left me wondering about the second home in the south of France I've always dreamed about having.

I don't think I could leave entirely. But I'd love the idea of something out there that I could escape to, whenever I like. The feeling fades, the camper van gives me enough, but with this crap weather of late, and all that's happening in the news, it does make me wonder.

I’ve also thought about how nice it might be to have a second home in a nice quiet village in France. The trouble is, every time we visited it, it would always be in the same nice quiet village in France. We often get bored staying in one location for more than 2 or 3 days when trundling around Europe in our Cali.

Perhaps you need longer breaks away. We started off doing 2 weeks, which became 3. Before long 4 weeks became the new normal and now we do 2 x 6 week trips a year, one around May and the other around September. We don’t like the heat, it’s quieter and it’s a bit cheaper too with ACSI.

 

[Bluebird]

We have found after 5/6 weeks away it’s time to come home. We generally do summer in the Cali in Europe and winter somewhere tropical or Southern Hemisphere. No matter where we go we look forward to getting back. Everywhere has its own problems and a lot of them are, in our opinion, worse than what we have here.

 

[Loz2286]

Depending on the outcome of the next election I could well be thinking about leaving. I can't stand by and watch the country embrace fascism.

 

[Pitstop Penny]

Obviously you haven't kept upto date with the

I’ve also thought about how nice it might be to have a second home in a nice quiet village in France. The trouble is, every time we visited it, it would always be in the same nice quiet village in France. We often get bored staying in one location for more than 2 or 3 days when trundling around Europe in our Cali.

Perhaps you need longer breaks away. We started off doing 2 weeks, which became 3. Before long 4 weeks became the new normal and now we do 2 x 6 week trips a year, one around May and the other around September. We don’t like the heat, it’s quieter and it’s a bit cheaper too with ACSI.

Thanks for your kind reply! The real test begins later this month. We’ve finally got some time to enjoy longer breaks. Made possible with being able to work if we need to.

We’ve got a Starlink. Decent laptops. Pretty good setup. This will be our longest trip. Almost four weeks! I can’t wait.

And you’re right, Acer. We’d get bored in the same spot. The camper brings adventure. I think you just helped cement the growing feeling that we need to go away in September too. Where are you heading this time?

 

[Pitstop Penny]

We have found after 5/6 weeks away it’s time to come home. We generally do summer in the Cali in Europe and winter somewhere tropical or Southern Hemisphere. No matter where we go we look forward to getting back. Everywhere has its own problems and a lot of them are, in our opinion, worse than what we have here.

That’s a good point. And this is so nice to hear. I think we’re finally at a point where we could go away for a similar amount of time, too. We’ve earned it.

Where do you usually go? Just follow the gut or plan accordingly?

 

[Laura Hill]

Depending on the outcome of the next election I could well be thinking about leaving. I can't stand by and watch the country embrace fascism.

Bye.

 

[acer]

Thanks for your kind reply! The real test begins later this month. We’ve finally got some time to enjoy longer breaks. Made possible with being able to work if we need to.

We’ve got a Starlink. Decent laptops. Pretty good setup. This will be our longest trip. Almost four weeks! I can’t wait.

And you’re right, Acer. We’d get bored in the same spot. The camper brings adventure. I think you just helped cement the growing feeling that we need to go away in September too. Where are you heading this time?

May was Slovenia - we will be home next week. September is Sweden/Finland. Of course, it does mean that you need to do laundry once every seven or 10 days. Oh, the adventure.

 

[Flower Power]

All of the above sounds good to me....except for Starling.... Also not sure about French house on the right bank.... left bank of the river sounds safer. Greetings from West Germany

 

[Bluebird]

That’s a good point. And this is so nice to hear. I think we’re finally at a point where we could go away for a similar amount of time, too. We’ve earned it.

Where do you usually go? Just follow the gut or plan accordingly?

Our three most recent trips have been down to Sicily and back, Northern Spain and Portugal, Croatia and Slovenia.

We generally have a rough idea of what we want to do but don’t book ahead apart from the first stop. The rest of the time we follow our gut or in the case of Northern Spain we follow the rain radar and try to avoid it.

We will use ACSI to book sites a few days ahead or just turn up. Normally if they are showing ACSI discounts they aren’t operating at full capacity and have plenty of space.

We have just come back from a 5 week, 7 country trip to Croatia but we had to book in advance there as the ACSI window is, for most sites, a lot smaller than other countries.

Finally we don’t just use ACSI we use search for sites and park4night as they give plenty of other choices but the ACSI guide can be useful in giving an indication of whether a particular location is likely to be busy when we go.
Hope this helps.

 

[Pitstop Penny]

Our three most recent trips have been down to Sicily and back, Northern Spain and Portugal, Croatia and Slovenia.

We generally have a rough idea of what we want to do but don’t book ahead apart from the first stop. The rest of the time we follow our gut or in the case of Northern Spain we follow the rain radar and try to avoid it.

We will use ACSI to book sites a few days ahead or just turn up. Normally if they are showing ACSI discounts they aren’t operating at full capacity and have plenty of space.

We have just come back from a 5 week, 7 country trip to Croatia but we had to book in advance there as the ACSI window is, for most sites, a lot smaller than other countries.

Finally we don’t just use ACSI we use search for sites and park4night as they give plenty of other choices but the ACSI guide can be useful in giving an indication of whether a particular location is likely to be busy when we go.
Hope this helps.

It really does. Thanks so much for such a generous load of info. Food for thought!

 

[edocali]

My personal opinion - going on a trip, you like to be back home after a few weeks.
Having a 2nd home changes the dynamics, changes the flow of time.
if you can afford it, buy a 2nd home in a place you can call home and keep driving your van. You'll get the best of both worklds

 

[chockswahay]

I love the adventure having a camper van brings. The ability to escape and slow down. Take the long road. It's pure heaven. The adventure. The unknown. But now and again, I do get a bit of an existential crisis and think what it might be like to escape the UK altogether.

I know practically, that's not possible for a lot of us. But I have a few friends who are doing exactly that. By various means. And it's left me wondering about the second home in the south of France I've always dreamed about having.

I don't think I could leave entirely. But I'd love the idea of something out there that I could escape to, whenever I like. The feeling fades, the camper van gives me enough, but with this crap weather of late, and all that's happening in the news, it does make me wonder.

Sometimes we think it would be nice, however it could also become ‘same old same old’ rather quickly I reckon. Perhaps there is a message in your thought processs……. maybe time to retire and spend even MORE time travelling in the van!

I agree with many here, travelling is great, but sometimes it’s really nice to come back home, to that sense of familiarity, security, and ‘normal life’………… until reality kicks in……..and then it’s time to GO again!

The best thing about having a van is you can decide when, where and how you have your next adventure……..

 

[sidepod]

I might feel like I’m ready to go home from a trip but 5 mins on the M25 sorts that out!! A constant reminder how full to the brim with t***s this country is.

 

[BerndRos]

I am English but live between two foreign countries, Wales & Portugal. I purchased a house in Portugal 12 years ago and we live about half the year in each country, although always ensure that we are in the UK for just a few days over the half year, each year. We have Portuguese residency which we got as part of the UK leaving the EU so no issue with the 90/180 days rule. EES does not apply to us.

Still keep the Cali to use as and when but no longer drive it out to Portugal as simply to far.

Little traffic in our part of Portugal and Wales is far far more relaxed than busy England so situation suits just fine.

 

[acer]

I might feel like I’m ready to go home from a trip but 5 mins on the M25 sorts that out!! A constant reminder how full to the brim with t***s this country is.

You have a way with words.
We’re not alone in feeling that way. Full to the brim is what the Swiss are voting on this weekend. According to The Times, they have a word, ‘Dichtestress’ (density stress), to describe the high number of Germans that now live there and only 33% of their population was born in Switzerland.

 

[Black Forest]

The Swiss referendum that closes today is a hot topic and has probably, as you know, been campaigned on migration and parallels to the UK and Brexit.

https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/swiss-politics/twenty-initiatives-in-60-years-switzerlands-relentless-immigration-debate/91360287?utm_source=multiple&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=recommendation_deeply-read_en&utm_content=o&utm_term=wpblock_widget-deeply-read

I'm a "Grenzganger", working in Switzerland but not able to stay overnight unless on business...

https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/swiss-politics/will-switzerland-cap-its-population-and-risk-eu-ties/91522362?utm_source=multiple&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=bundle-front1_en&utm_content=o&utm_term=wpblock_teaser-bundle

 

[The Tall Luthier]

One thing to be wary of @Pitstop Penny is your own news feed.
Yes, the far-right are having a field day in the Internet social media age, that too will pass.
Most people receive news that tailors itself to their own tastes, if you select doom and gloom topics more will surely follow. We can find ourselves getting very, very worried about the state of things.

England and the Uk is a great place to live, the people are warm and generous, friends are fantastic….in the absolute main.

The grass is always greener, of course, and although much of Europe is stunningly pretty and interesting and gorgeous each country has its own problems with the internet too.

I find a good month away in the van soon makes me forget about the bad things.

 

[temporarysecretary]

The grass is always greener,

Where you water it.

 

[Pitstop Penny]

Such lovely replies. Thank you. Existential crisis averted. I've happily packed the van today, ready for our escape next weekend. Oh, how fun it is to pack the van. I always forget. And you're right. Switch off the news. And remember we're a brilliant place to live. We really are!

I wish I could retire early though! Haha.