The other morning in Seyne-Sur-Mer was the perfect start to a perfect day. My crew gets up around 9 am. Lucky us, both our kids like sleeping in. I’m usually up at least an hour earlier, go for a run, take some pictures, do some yoga, pranayama and meditation on the beach, followed by a swim, then swing by the local Boulangerie for some fresh croissants on my way home. After brekky and a bit of house/van-work we go out to explore, either boats, locations, beaches, playgrounds, parks, villages, cities…whatever we happen to  find on our doorstep. If we stop in a Café I always make sure to have some healthy snacks and toys in my bag, like nuts, fruit and Spirulina bars; cars, cards, puzzles and little books.

Roughly from 2 to 4 pm is nap time which we either use for driving, or to catch up on reading, meditating, jogging, studying… After a little snack (amazing banana smoothie with chia-chocolate-mousse today) activities in nature, if not a boat viewing, call again. We often take the bikes out for a ride or go for a swim and play in the nearest river or ocean. Dinner is mostly improvised, either outdoors or within Wilson’s cozy living area. Story time precedes the kids’ bedtime, after which another hour or two usually pass quickly, reading, writing, chatting or studying, before we too go to bed. If we haven’t done many kilometers and are in need to do so, we put the kids to sleep in their car seats and drive another few hours at night.

Even in such an unusual lifestyle, or even more so shall I say, there is a certain routine. This, I believe, is crucial in giving kids the security they need to explore new places with confidence, happy tummies and well rested bodies and minds. Two year old Noah seems to feel at home no matter where we go and after less than a week of living in our motor home he already called it home. For us, so called ‘grown-ups’, similar is true.

In summary, nomadic life, whether in a camper van, a boat or a horse-carrier, has many similarities to settled living, but is completely different at the same time. The main difference I believe is that the highs are higher and the lows are lower. For instance, after three days without a shower, a waist-of-time boat viewing, burns on my hands from fiddling with two pans at the same time while the gas was still on, I come home just to see the van in a huge paddle of shit from the nearby overflowing gully… I’d like to get my old life back. The next day, I wake up in a new spot to the amazing perfume of fresh croissants from the Boulangerie next door, go for an energizing run to discover the most beautiful historic village, end up at an incredibly picturesque beach, and after a dip, yoga, meditation and fun brekky with the smiling kids we take our bikes out for the first family ride to nearby St Tropez, the pearl of the Cote D’Azur,… I wouldn’t wanna be anywhere else.