by Marie-Claude Reimann
At 16 when I left the scout movement because I had reached the end of this adventure, nothing predicted that I would make a “comeback” with my Sparkling Otter “skills” 25 years later.
I had given, I had done my part, I had loved the movement in which I still believe a lot, however the uncomfortable portion of camping life in the forest was less my cup of coffee, let's say. Yes, I tried to stay open and enjoy the nights of being cold in a tent that got damp, washing my bowl with sand and trying to light a fire in the rain and there I spare you my duels with the mosquitoes. In short, at the end of my last year as a scout, 16-year-old Marie-Claude decided to retire from camping, until 4-5 years ago, a little bubble rose in my husband's brain (Eric the Meri).
A surplus of “vacation banks” gave us a desire for long trail runs and the outdoors, so instead of booking our stay in an AirBnb in Vermont, Eric suggested that I invest in some rudimentary camping gear (in big: tent, inflatable mattress, cooler and mosquito repellent) and set off on an adventure. My husband had never really camped and I was rather rusty, but apparently camping is a bit like cycling, you don't get lost.
So it was during a hot and very humid week in early August that I reconnected with the pleasure of camping and passed on my meager knowledge on the subject to my partner. All in all, it went very well, with the exception of the visit of squirrels who emptied our chocolate reserve. (Did you know that squirrels on sugar can be really very funny and not really relaxing, I didn't know that. But hey, I can't imagine if a bear had come across our reserve before the squirrels, I wouldn't have maybe more here to tell you this story.)
The same year we revived the rudimentary camping experience sometimes and it was almost at the end of our first season as old new campers that we began our search for more comfort, that is to say, a small, light trailer with mini bathroom and kitchen to be able to enjoy the season a little longer. We realized that we really liked this way of breaking away from our busy schedules, this proximity to nature, to live with the sun and natural light, to take the time because yes, everything takes more time when camping. Everything is a little more complicated and longer and requires a certain amount of planning and saving energy, which is completely the opposite of my 7 to 4 metro-work-sleep and repeat.
With the purchase of our first trailer, we put our finger on something, we had just opened a door to adventure (in a cozy way), to new discoveries, to encountering a slower way of life to refine our learning of letting go .
Ending the vacation for us where we need a vacation to recover from our vacation. Camping made me slow down and appreciate the simple things, the things that we find in our environment, that we enjoy at our own pace and for free. Surprisingly I don't even miss room service , I no longer have the fear of missing a visit to a tourist site or the best restaurant due to lack of time. In fact, the least explored places and trails are the ones that fascinate and attract me the most since I became a weekend nomad. For me there is no longer any question (for the moment) of a big trip where we visit one after the other. I rather enjoy capturing moments that will remain anchored in my memory for a very long time.
If, like us, you want to try this way of traveling, to get away from it all and slow down time, here are 6 tips to get you started and start your part-time (and maybe one day full-time) nomadic life:
- Don't wait for the right moment, it may never come, you have to provoke it. I often say, perfection is the enemy of good, we must act now even if it is not perfect. In hindsight, imperfect adventures are the basis of perfect anecdotes to tell.
- Start small, no need to go far, for very long stays, or to have state-of-the-art equipment to get started. Renting or borrowing equipment is a great option. You have to keep it simple always.
- There is no such thing as a bad plan, just be realistic and flexible in your expectations. We learned to crawl before we run, so yes, your first experiences may be a little difficult (insert my story about chocolate-stealing squirrels here), but the little detours and challenges will become your baggage and help propel you into a future. bigger and ever more beautiful adventure. Don't hesitate to ask other campers for help, we're all very good people and we all started as beginners!
- Stay open, don't limit yourself to exploring certain places only. At the beginning we are looking for a bit of a camper and the playground can be as close as it is far away, the possibilities are endless (places, seasons, themes, etc.) and you will see and experience beautiful things and meet great people. everywhere.
- Combine business with pleasure, combine the practice of your favorite sport with adventure. I got back into camping because I wanted to do more trail running with some elevation gain. If you play a sport or have a passion, it is very likely that your new lifestyle will take you elsewhere in the practice of it.
- Of course, there is the whole health and safety portion of the experience, don't put yourself at risk on that side, ever. Take the time and act safely for yourself, for others, for nature and the environment. I believe this advice is the most important in my message.
I'm far from being an expert and I still have a lot to live up to as a camper, but I've found several good tips to make my life easier. Among other things, everything we carry must have dual functionality and this also applies to my clothes, so you will understand that my KSL wardrobe is an essential for me when camping. The Zoey neck warmer , which converts into a beanie and also serves to absorb sweat when needed, is never far away. Fanny sweaters in merino wool, more technical, which keep us warm despite the humidity and which dry quickly, are always part of the adventure. The cycling arm warmers that turn any t-shirt into a long-sleeved sweater in no time. The Alexe dress that I put on to keep me warm after running training is also perfect at the end of the evening around the fire. The Maria jacket with its pocket for carrying around the first aid kit when hiking or the bottle of wine for dinner (it depends!). This last weekend in April I took a chance and brought a new thing, a Beth sweater and it made a great impression in my camper clothes drawer.
In closing, you will have guessed that this brain bubble that my Eric had 4 years ago was the premise for the creation of a great big project, that of becoming a full-time nomad. This dream that we cherish is rather big and destabilizing. It involves getting rid of a lot of things, but after all when you break it up it's not so bad and it's with our weekends and our vacations in our sardine box on wheels that we realize that ultimately this dream is perhaps closer to us than we think. We have a goal, we have a date, we know that it may not be perfect and will certainly be difficult, but in the meantime we practice dreaming with our eyes wide open !
Marie-Claude Reimann
Instagram: @marieclaudereimann